Fur University
Tips On Going To The Galapagos Islands
Of all the earth's's great wildlife destinations, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, found some 600 miles off the coast of northern South America, rank as one of the most rewarding for any person enthusiastic about natural history or photography. Cruises are the regular method of Galapagos Islands travel, and offer the adventure traveler quick access to many watchable species of exotic wildlife on this isolated archipelago.
It was here, in the early 19th Century, that Charles Darwin encountered the puzzling array of life that later led him to develop his Origin of Species, one of the most influential texts ever written.
Today, the visitor on a Galapagos cruise finds a nearly storybook land of wonderfully tame wildlife. Imagine yourself snorkeling face-to-face with sea lions, fur seals, and sea turtles,or viewing at arm's length rookeries of nesting seabirds, marine and land iguanas and giant tortoises! At night, on board your ship, wonder at the phosphorescent tropical sea and the blazing stars of the Southern Hemisphere's skies.
Choosing the Best Ship
Boat sizes range from around 16 travelers to above 100, maintained to world safety standards. Most vessels are air-conditioned, with in-suite lavatories and showers, comfortable public lounging areas (both inside and outside), and multilingual crews. Levels of accomodations and facilities go from basic to luxurious.
it is best to travel to the islands in little groups with a low leader/customer proportion; if possible, look for ships that have a leader/customer proportion of only 1:8 to 12. Most Galapagos cruises have Zodiac-style landing craft for shore excursions, and landings are arranged to reduce the presence of other boats' groups. Having to compete for wildlife watching with loads of other travelers on the beach is not the ultimate way to spend a holiday!
Most sailing is done at night, so as to maximise your time to visit these fascinating islands. All yachts have snorkeling kit aboard and, when you're not ashore on the islands, you can snorkel with sea lions and even penguins. There are embarkations on Saturdays and Sundays, throughout the year.
Tour guides on all Galapagos cruises must be approved and trained by the Ecuadorian Park Service. But many staff guides not only have this primary certification, but also possess school degrees, usually in a biological science. This insures that you'll receive broad and correct information regarding the complex biological processes the islands are renowned for. Most tour guides are totally multilingual (so are much of the boat crews), and in several cases speak a 3rd language. You may be confident that your tour guides are the highest quality.
When to Go
Since the isands lie right on the Equator, the weather in the Galapagos is reasonably constant all year long. Nevertheless the Humboldt Current from Antarctica moves northward in July and August, cooling the ocean of the Galapagos 1 or 2 degrees. This could lead to a mist over the islands during some periods, and a little cooler snorkeling. As far as animals go, something is breeding almost year-long, so there's plenty of activity by the birds and other animals.
How To Travel There
International flights arrive daily into either Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador. After overnighting in one of those two towns, you'll board another flight (generally purchased seperately from your international ticket) for the 1.5 hour flight to the Galapagos. After paying a modest park entrance charge, you'll be brought to your boat for your cruise to start.
Planning The Holiday
Figure on spending at least 2 nights in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador on your cruise: one for the night of your arrival and one upon returning from the islands. But don't miss other exciting things to do in Ecuardor! A short journey to the Otavalo Indian Market, high in the Andes is a great way to pick up some quality leather and wool goods for gifts. Even though it will add a couple of days to your holiday, a preferred add-on is to Peru's traditional lost town of Machu Picchu.
If you're interested in wildlife and the task the Galapagos Islands played in the development of scientific thought put this place on your must-do list!
John Randall is a photographer and guide focusing on adventure travel. He's a seasoned veteran of many Galapagos cruises.
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