The Galapagos
Islands -
Ecuador Destinations
The Galapagos Islands
are world-famous but they are not, as some people think, a
country in their own
right, nor are they part of Peru, despite the many package tours which
combine the two. The Galapagos Islands are a province of
Ecuador, nearly 1000km off the coast and in a time zone an hour behind
the Ecuadorian mainland. The islands are volcanic in origin
and have stark, dramatic scenery.
It's generally thought
that a cruise is the best way to see the Galapagos Islands
and
their unique wildlife. If your budget does not stretch to a
cruise, you can base yourself in a hotel on one of the islands and take
independent day trips or excursions to see the Galapagos wildlife, or
buy a land-based Galapagos tour package. You can combine the
two - begin or end a four or five day Galapagos cruise with a cheaper
couple of days in a hotel on one of the islands.
It's
important to get a detailed cruise itinerary from your travel agent to
ensure that your Galapagos cruise takes in your preferred islands.
Check this against a map of the islands for an idea of the
distances involved and how long you will spend travelling between
islands. A Galapagos cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for most tourists and does not come cheap, so make sure your
boat, itinerary and guide will do justice to this very special
holiday.
Get
a written description of your Galapagos cruise ship or boat and the
facilities it offers. In particular make sure that
the deck
offers some shade. Check if drinking water will be included
in
the cost - it is extortionately priced on some boats. Also
ask your travel agent about the level of tips
expected - this
can be a substantial amount of money, although some agents may include
it in the tour price.
Your
choice of boat will depend on
various factors. Large cruise ships are more stable but
embarking and disembarking takes longer with more passengers,
so you will have less time actually seeing the Galapagos
wildlife. Smaller boats offer a more intimate cruise
experience and more time with the wildlife, but are less stable if the
sea is rough and sharing a small space can be awkward if you don't get
along with your fellow cruise passengers.
Don't
count on
being able to buy anything on the islands other than souvenirs.
Supplies are limited and expensive, so take along whatever
batteries, sunscreen, etc., that you will need. Having said
that,
the boat cabins are usually smaller than they look in the photos, so
don't take everything you own. (You may be able to store
unneeded
items at your hotel in Quito or Guayaquil). If you can, take
eco-friendly sunscreen and toiletries, to minimise your impact on this
delicate environment. Check with your doctor for the latest
update, but the Galapagos Islands are generally considered to be a
malaria-free zone.
There
are very
strict rules about what you can take into the Galapagos Islands, in
order to avoid any more accidentally introduced species. Make
sure you are not carrying any kind of seeds, either in the form of food
and snacks, or stuck to your clothes or shoes. You might like
to consider taking eco-friendly or organic toiletries and sunscreen to
avoid polluting the islands.
It
was in the Galapagos Islands that Charles Darwin saw the now famous
Galapagos finches which are slightly different on each island, with
beaks adapted to the unique conditions of each ecosystem.
This led him to formulate his Theory of Evolution, which at
the time was highly controversial. A foundation and research
centre in the Galapagos Islands are now named after Charles Darwin.
Darwin is also a popular christian name for boys in Ecuador.
Useful
Spanish Vocabulary for an excursion to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador:
Las Islas Galápagos: The Galapagos Islands
crucero: cruise
lobo del mar: sealion (literal translation "wolf of the sea")
tortuga:
tortoise
