Being in the Galapagos is like being in a nature documentary. You can see the wildlife up close and personal, and the animals are completely unafraid of you. Penguins come and play with you while you´re snorkeling. The sea lions follow your panga. And you are steps away from blue footed boobies dancing to attract a mate.
My sister Annie and I spent 8 days on board the M/Y Letty. Our two guides, Gabby and Ceci, were wonderful, as were the rest of the people in our group. Every day offered a completely different experience. Not only does each island have a distinct ecosystem, each part of each island is incredibly different with different animals.
Here are just a few of the thousands of photos we took.
Annie (right) and I. It was Annie´s first time snorkeling, and we saw white tipped sharks, sea turtles, and loads of fish at Devil´s Crown.
Annie enjoying the sun, sand, and wishing her life was a little more like the sea lion´s.
"The natural history of this archipelago is very remarkable: it seems to be a little world within itself."
- Charles Darwin
These are probably the most famous words ever to be spoken about the Galapagos Islands – much like the revolutionary scientific idea they helped shape, this archipelago of volcanic islands off the shores of Ecuador can inspire a different perception about our world.
The Galápagos Islands are 620 miles from the South American mainland and a world apart from anywhere else on the planet. Sometimes referred to as "the living laboratory" that inspired Charles Darwin and his Theory of Evolution over 170 years ago, they still offer a unique opportunity to explore a somewhat primeval natural ecosystem. Stepping onto the shores of the Galapagos Islands, you feel you have been transported to an alternative universe where the waves of the crystal clear ocean crash onto the impressively beautiful volcanic land and a diverse orchestra of birds, reptiles, mammals, marine life, flora and fauna are organized and arranged on principles of mutual co-operation.
Due to their remoteness and diversity, the 13 major islands of the archipelago allow for active multi-sport exploration –on foot, on wheels or in (or even under) water. The mainlands offer exquisite opportunities for trekking, hiking and mountain biking and the immensely rich and diverse marine life enables travelers to explore the surface and depths of Galapagos Islands by snorkeling, sea kayaking and scuba diving.
Galapagos on Foot: Hiking Explorations
Hiking through the archipelago's surreal landscape is a unique land-based Galapagos adventure, with seemingly endless sights on the varied trekking paths. You can take a volcano trail and explore the vast dry forests where the Galapagos' famous flora of cacti, acacia and cat's claw decorates the land. There are four defined ecological zones on the Galapagos Islands: coastal, low or dry, transitional and humid, and each offers a different glimpse of the unique flora and diverse wildlife of birds.
The volcano trail at the Isabela Island Highlands opens a door to a world of geological wonders, including the active Sierra Negra volcano – a destination that will make even the most experienced adventurers hold their breath at the sight of this powerful natural force. Isabela Island is formed by 6 active volcanoes – Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf, thus making Isabela Island one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Another amazing hiking experience is the Tintoreras islet, the mini-Galapagos, where a group of small islands offer a sight of almost all the archipelago’s iconic wildlife. The diversity of mammals inhabiting these areas is incredible, making this one of the top sites in the Galapagos for visitors. No other place on earth allows you to observe such a diverse wildlife of sea lions, penguins and turtles – all living in harmony and exhibiting extreme tolerance towards man.
Without doubt, most visitors come to the Galapagos Islands to admire the diverse wildlife – from giant tortoises across the highlands to comical blue-footed boobies and yellow-scaled land iguanas. But the marine life and the underwater world of the volcanic islands offers a still richer package of wildlife experiences.
To start exploring the Galapagos' rich ocean life, you can consider every water-related activity from snorkeling to kayaking and scuba diving. Snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands is one of the best ways to explore the seemingly endless marine life as you will have encounters with sea lions, penguins, marina iguanas, dolphins, colorful fish and marine turtles, as well as many other aquatic species. Snorkeling enables travelers to glimpse this unique environment and learn about ocean life.
Sea kayaking, on the other hand, offers a different type of experience. Traveling though the bends and inland waterways of the islands tends to hide surprises that would otherwise pass unnoticed. Surrounded by curious dolphins, playful sea lions and even gliding above white-tipped sharks, kayaking is one of the activities you should not miss.
From all the water-related activities you can engage in while on the Galapagos Islands, scuba diving is a must, but only for certified and experienced divers. The diving conditions are a result of six oceanic currents that enable a large diversity of marine life to flourish. Some of the species you encounter underwater could be whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas, seals, crabs, octopus, whales, sea turtles and dolphins. Diving conditions vary with the seasons and the variety of diving sites allow you to choose where you want to go and what you want to see. Diving in the Galapagos is generally difficult due to cold water and strong currents, so this is not a place to learn to dive.
There are two basic types of trips in the Galapagos Islands: land-based and yacht-based.
In the land-based trips, you will overnight on land in a hotel. There are three towns that can accommodate tourists: Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz; Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in San Cristobal; and Puerto Villamil in Isabela. Often, the town and island names are interchangable.
In a land-based trip, you will travel by day to various sites in the Galapagos. If you go by boat to nearby islands, it usually takes 2-3 hours. Of course, this will vary according to which islands you're visiting and the calmness of the sea. You will typically eat your breakfasts and dinners in town; lunch is usually provided while on the tour. Continue Reading
A multisport trip is typically a land-based trip, while naturalist and dive trips are typically yacht-based. There are certainly a few exceptions to this, such as a single-day dive trip or a yacht-based active itinerary.
On most multisport trips, you will see the famous animals but you won't see as much diversity because you won't visit as many islands. However, if you're on a multisport trip, you will spend more time outside viewing wildlife while hiking, riding bicycles and horses, sea kayaking, and snorkeling. The multisport trip can be a great option for families (though not for families with small children) or athletic travelers who may need more activity in their vacation.
A naturalist trip is typically yacht-based trip can take you to the furtherest sites and you can visit a wider variety of islands. You certainly won't be sedentary on a naturalist trip; you will be taking nature walks and have the opportunity to snorkel everyday. Additionally, some yacht-based naturalist cruises offer sea kayaks and SCUBA diving.
On a multisport or naturalist trip, if you're interested in wildlife, you certainly won't be bored. The Galapagos is an exciting destination no matter how you explore the islands.
There are 3 levels of naturalist guides in the Galapagos. Level III is the highest, and Level I the lowest rating. All of the Galapagos trips sold by Detour are either top-quality Level II or Level III naturalist guides. Continue Reading
Thinking about a last-minute Galapagos adventure . . . .?
The Angelito Galapagos Cruise has 2 last-minute spaces available on their April 7 - 14 cruise. This is one of the most highly regarded tourist-class boats in the Galapagos and on these dates, the Angelito will be visiting some of the best wildlife sites in the Islands. There also is a last-minute deal for this cruise that saves you $125 per person.
A cruise is the classic way to explore the Galapagos Islands. For good reason. You're able to reach more islands, explore more terrain, and see more wildlife. If you strip away boat amenities and get at the heart of what makes a great Galapagos trip, it's going to be your guide and the islands you visit... your itinerary.
While, truly each island has something different and unique to offer, there are some that really stand out. When looking through your options, a good rule of thumb for an 8-Day itinerary is that if a boat visits 3 of the 5 islands listed below, then you've got yourself a good itinerary. If you are interested in seeing specific species, like the Galapagos penguin for instance, then you might look for particular islands in the itinerary where spotting these species is more likely. Certain species, like sea lions, marine iguanas and blue footed boobies are sprinkled throughout the islands. Continue Reading
After months of delays Quito, Ecuador's, new Mariscal Sucre airport in the northeast suburb of Tababela, 37 km from the northern part of Quito, will finally open on Wednesday, February 20th at 9 am. February 19th the "old airport," which is within the city of Quito, will close down at 7 pm. The new airport is a modern terminal, equipped with a runway length of 4,100 meters (1,000 feet longer than the current airport, making it one of the longest in Latin America) and it will be able to handle 6 million passengers a year with 44 take-offs and landings per hour. The airport will be 1-1/2 hours from the main hotel areas in Quito.
Quito's New Mariscal Sucre International Airport Ready For Action
We went aboard the Eden with very average expectations and were overly impressed in every area, especially the guide, Reuben Montalvo and the crew. Helpful, careful, knowledgeable, cheerful, fun and always sensitive, inclusive and caring. As good as good could be. We loved it all and were sad to leave. Don't miss this trip!
Do you want to travel to the Galapagos Islands but you're worried that the trip will be too passive? If so, you sound just like my wife. Unfortunately for her, when she visited the Galapagos Islands in 2004 there weren't really any good options for a Galapagos trip other than to take a cruise. If only there had been quality Galapagos Multisport Adventures in 2004!
Wildlife viewing on a nature walk during a Galapagos cruise.
My wife gets sea-sick very easily, and she hates to be cooped up in small spaces for long periods of time. Continue Reading
Riding horses with the chagras near Volcan Cotopaxi, Ecuador
We've got a cool new trip, the Galapagos and Cotopaxi Multisport, from one of our great Ecuador providers Tropic, Journeys in Nature. This new trip combines a Galapagos Multisport Adventure with a great exploration of Quito and mainland Ecuador in a very active multisport trip that includes hiking, biking, horseback riding, zip-lining, kayaking, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing! Continue Reading
Kids on an Ecoventura Family trip up close with a sea lion.
The Galapagos Islands are one of the world's top family travel destinations, and a family cruise is a great way to experience the amazing archipelago. The weather is pleasant, the activities are not so strenuous or difficult that they can't be enjoyed by multiple age groups at once, and the wildlife viewing is out of this world! Continue Reading
This trip kept two very energetic people pretty darn busy! The snorkeling was so amazing. The animals did not spook easily. We played with a sea lion pup for 1.5 hours and could have stayed ALL day. We were the only people in the popular snorkeling area at the time too so it felt very special. Continue Reading
Snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands with Sea Lions. These guys don't need wetsuits. Do you?
Snorkeling is one of the top activities in the Galapagos Islands, as the wildlife under water is as unafraid of humans as the wildlife on land. On one trip there I found myself swimming in a living room sized cove with 5 large sea turtles, who, oblivious to my presence, were munching (happily I presume) on plants growing on and around the rocks in the small cove. It was incredible, and I will never forget it. But was it cold? Continue Reading
Lonesome George in the Galapagos National Park Logo
Celebrating the Life of Lonesome George , from Detour partner Metropolitan Touring.
Lonesome George in the Galapagos National Park Logo
When the Galápagos Islands became a National Park in 1959, conservation priorities were a top priority for the world’s scientific community. Giant tortoises, who gave their names to the remote archipelago, ranked high, together with the need to eradicate introduced animals (rats, goats, etc.) from the archipelago’s days as a pirate bolt-hole. Continue Reading
There are 3 islands that you can extend your stay on in the Galapagos: Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal.
Most trips start/end at the Baltra Airport, which is right next to Santa Cruz Island. So, this island will have the most options for hotels, restaurants, renting kayaks and other gear, scuba diving and joining day tours to nearby islands (i.e. Floreana, North Seymour, Isabela, South Plazas, Santa Fe, and Bartolome). A good option if you are just going to spend a couple extra days in the Galapagos.
Isabela Island is the largest island in the Galapagos. They have a very small town named Puerto Villamil. Isabela is much more removed from the main tourism flow that Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal receive. It offers some great beaches, sleepy sandy streets and a more authentic feel of life in the Galapagos. There are definitely some good day trips to nearby sites, but less options for food and other activities. To extend your stay on this island requires a minimum of 3 days, but would be best with at least 4 days.
San Cristobal Island also has an airport; some cruises will start/end here. San Cristobal is known for great surfing. They also have day tours to nearby sites (i.e. Kicker Rock and other sites located on San Cristobal), but there are less options. Scuba diving is also available and scuba diving at Kicker Rock is great for both beginners and experts alike.
TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE ISLANDS:
- There are flights between Baltra (near Santa Cruz) and Isabela & between Baltra – San Cristobal (approx $180 per person, one-way), departing every day except Sundays.
- There are public ferries that transfer from Santa Cruz to Isabela departing daily at 2pm and from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz departing daily at multiple times. Rates are approximately $35.00 per person (one way)
The Tsunami Warning and State of Emergency for the Galapagos Islands was lifted early Saturday morning, and flights and tours all resumed as normal on Saturday. We received a number of reports from our Galapagos partners, all assuring us that there were no serious injuries to people, and that damage was minimal. The tsunami, caused by the large earthquake in Japan, passed the Galapagos Islands on Friday, March 11, about an hour later than expected.
While the tsunami in the Galapagos was nowhere near as large as the one that hit Japan, it did cause some minor damage to both towns and natural areas in the islands. The timing of the tsunami meant that it hit at high tide, compounding the tsunami effects. The highest water level was close to 6 feet (1.8 meters) above normal, and the greatest damage appears to have been in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, and on San Cristobal island. Reports are not in from all natural areas just yet, but damage does not appear to be major. There are reports of damage to sea turtle and marine iguana nests in various locations. At Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz Island it appears that sea turtle nests, as well as a flamingo lagoon, were destroyed by the surging water.
Several hotels in Puerto Ayora were flooded, but repairs and cleanup have been swift and most everything is open and back to where it was before the tsunami.
Here is some video of the cleanup at the Hotel Sol Y Mar in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos:
Here is a report from the Charles Darwin Foundation
(http://www.darwinfoundation.org/english/pages/noticias.php?txtCodiCate=1&txtCodiNoti=88)
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos
"March 14, 2011
"In the aftermath of the tidal surges induced by the March 11th Japan earthquake and tsunami, a team of more than 20 staff and volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder to clear debris, retrieve equipment and clean laboratories, offices and storage buildings at the Marine Sciences complex of the Galapagos-based Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and Research Station on Santa Cruz Island.
"The powerful surf hit Santa Cruz with waves up to 1.77m /5.8 feet above normal according to data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), one of the highest readings in the Eastern Pacific. The waves also coincided with the local high tide, sending the first wall of water into the CDF installation at approximately 18:00. Two subsequent waves at intervals of 26 minutes raised the water level 1.50m/4.9 feet above the upper CDF Marine Lab dock. “The waves,” stated Dr. Volker Koch, CDF Director of Marine Sciences, “completely destroyed a concrete pump house, broke through heavy wooden doors, flooded laboratories, workshops and storage facilities, and carried off furniture and equipment,” despite advance emergency preparation. CDF Senior Scientist Stuart Banks observed that: “Equipment ranging from dive tanks, small boats, wooden furniture, freezers and field supplies was widely scattered. We found items in the ground floor laboratory, buried in sand and vegetation, driven 50 meters [165 feet] up the entrance trail and dispersed across a 200 meter [650 foot] radius around the mangrove-lined shore.”
"The first wave arrived 20 minutes after the ETA of 17:40 predicted for Baltra Island to the north of Santa Cruz. The receding wave lowered the water level in Academy Bay from full tide by more than one meter/3 feet within 12 minutes. The sea then rose rapidly to cover the CDF dock. The second ebb was stronger than the first and subsequent waves continued into the night, gradually reducing their amplitude into mid-morning of the following day.
"No injuries were sustained and no other areas of the CDF Research Station were significantly damaged. Staff are in the process of damage assessment and will calculate overall losses in the coming days."
We are very sad to hear the news about the earthquake in Japan today. Unfortunately, the news could get worse as the day goes on as Tsunami warnings have been issued for over 20 countries in the Pacific region, among them the Galapagos Islands and coast of Ecuador. We certainly hope the tsunami's don't materialize and no further tragedies occur.
Ecuador President Rafael Correa has declared a state of Exception/Emergency in Ecuador and the Galapagos, canceling all flights to the Galapagos, closing ports, and requiring everyone in the Galapagos to move to higher areas of the islands.
We've been receiving reports all morning from our Galapagos providers, and we are not surprised to see all of them taking such pro-active measures to protect travelers (and staff).
"The tsunami is expected to arrive in Galapagos later this afternoon, the exact time could be anywhere from 3 to 7PM local Galapagos time. Therefore, we do have sufficient time to take necessary precautions. Flights to Galapagos today have been cancelled and there is an evacuation order in effect. All tour boats are required to leave port and be at least five miles offshore. The local populations will need to seek higher ground to the highlands and mid sections of the Islands by noon today. Obviously, all visits today have been cancelled. The Flamingo and Letty, currently with passengers on board, will sail towards Santa Fe Island and stay 15 miles in between the islands. The Galapagos Sky, anchored in Cristobal will sail offshore and the ERIC is dry docked in Guayaquil."
Plans are for everything to return to normal tomorrow, although this will be modified if a large tsunami does hit and does damage in the islands.
Best wishes to all in Japan, as well as everyone who may possibly be affected in the Pacific.
Galapagos Conservancy announces their 2011 photo contest winners. Alice Bartlett of Fyansford, Victoria (Austrailia) won the contest with her Spotted Eagle Rays photo above. Click here to view the other contest winners. The Galapagos Conservancy (GC) is a United States advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to the long-term protection of the Galapagos Islands. Collectively, GC members represent the largest source of private funding for Galapagos conservation.
Annie (right) and I. It was Annie´s first time snorkeling, and we saw white tipped sharks, sea turtles, and loads of fish at Devil´s Crown.
Annie enjoying the sun, sand, and wishing her life was a little more like the sea lion´s.
Wet landing at Punta Pitt on San Cristobal Island
Winged Albatross on Española Island
Playful penguin checking us out.
Blue Footed Booby on North Seymour Island
