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Actually a part of Ecuador, Galapagos straddles the Equator in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles from mainland Ecuador. The capital of Galapagos Province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal. The other principal city, and the commercial heart of Galpagos is Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. There are actually 19 islands, and dozens of other islets and volcanic rocks giving the province a total land area of 3,086 square miles, spread over an area of sea covering some 20,000 square miles.
The lure of the Galapagos |
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The Lure
of the Galapagos
The lure of the Galapagos for visitors are the giant Galapagos
tortoises that meander distant highlands, and the prehistoric marine iguanas
that sun themselves on the black lava rocks along the shore. Add to this the
flightless cormorants and tiny penguins dart through the waters, along with the
graceful red-billed tropicbirds that screech across the sky. There are very
strict rules for vissitors to protect these different speices, as well as the
land on which they live. The Galapagos is best visited with a Galapagos
naturalist guide on an organized tour. On such tours, you will explore the
remarkable island ecosystems as you inch past lounging sea lions, scout for
breaching whales offshore and watch for pink flamingos in hidden lagoons.
Although these islands sometimes appear to be desolate, these rugged and rocky
islands are home to wonderfully strange and abundant wildlife. As Charles Darwin
some 200 years before, you will marvel at the highly adapted creatures found
nowhere else on earth.
For the most complete information about Galapagos, visit
www.govisitgalapagos.com
Language
Entry Requirements
Currency
Time Zone
Entry Requirements
United
States citizens must present a valid passport for entry. Currently no visa or
vaccines required for United States citizens traveling to Galapagos. For
complete information on passports and visas, check the
Ecuador
page of Getting Away.
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Language
The
official language of the Galapagos is
Spanish, although English is spoken by some of the locals in the larger cities.
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Currency
U.S. dollars
are now the standard currency in Ecuador and on vessels.
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious!
Time Zone
The
Galapagos is on Central Standard Time.
The best way to get to the Galapagos is on a scheduled tour. However, if you want to do it on your own, you can fly from Quito, the capital of Equador, or in Guayaquil, where you can then catch a domestic flight to the islands via the government-run TAME Airlines. TAME offers two daily flights to the Isla Baltra Airport. Bear in mind that the relativvely short flight of about an hour and a half can be pretty expensive. Prices are a little better during the low season. Ecuadorian and Galapagos nationals flying from Guayaquil to the islands only pay half fare tickets, therefore if you have an Ecuadorian resident visa or some sort of work permit, you maybe able to avail some flight discounts. There are also military logistic flights that occasionally carry passengers to the islands. But preference is given to Ecuadorian nationals first. A private airline AeroGal also flies to the Galapagos via Quito and Guayaquil to Isla San Cristobal Airport twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. When traveling here do not forget to make an advance booking for your ticket, as most flights to the Galapagos are booked solid during the high season.
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Getting Around the Galapagos
Islands
Getting around the
Galapagos Islands is easy to do. Along with buses, taxis and other public
transportation, you can also get around by boat, air and - the best wey - simply
walking or using a bicycle. The most important thing to remember is, if you are
staying in one island, before you go anywhere, make sure you don't need a
Naturalist Guide with you. Most places in all the islands are prohibited for
tourists and travelers who are not accompanied by a Certified Naturalist Guide.
This would not be true for the few public transportation systems that are in
place and on a schedule.
Santa Cruz has a bus that takes travelers to the airport and up to the sink holes in the center of the island. There are regular ships that transport travelers to islands (check at the docks for arrival/departure times as they vary). The most important thing to keep in mind while you're getting around on during your Galapagos holidays is that they are all protected. Keep on set paths and respect the islands.
Accommodation
Suggestions for the Galapagos
Santa Cruz Island
