Travel To The Galapagos Islands
FIND HOTELS ON THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
GENERAL INFO
The Galapagos Islands are not considered part of Polynesia, but are in fact part of south America, but as part of their landmass is situated in the south Pacific Ocean they have therefore been included on this website.
The Galapagos islands are an archipelago of 123 islands, islets and rocky outcrops situated in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 926 km west of Ecuador, of which the archipelago is an outlying province. The archipelago covers a land area of 7,880 square kilometers and covers a sea area of 45,000 square kilometers.
The group consists of thirteen main islands, of which the five islands of Baltra, Floreana, Isabella, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are the only ones which are permanently inhabited. The Islands have a permanent population of 25,000 people.
The islands are one of the few places in the world that does not have an indigenous population. The islands were all originally uninhabited until the Ecuadorian government set up several penal colonies on the islands during the mid eighteen hundreds. Most of the present population of the islands are descended from these former convicts or prison warders and their families.
The archipelago is one of the few Pacific island groups to straddle the equator, although the whole group is generally considered as a south Pacific island group.
The largest island of the group is Isabella Island which covers an area of 2,250 square kilometers and is one of the few Pacific islands that actually straddles the equatorial line.
The island group's provincial capital city is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno situated on San Cristobal Island, but the island group's largest city is actually Puerto Ayora situated on the island of Santa Cruz.
The Galapagos Islands are world renowned for their unique eco-system which consists of rare flora, fauna, wild life and rare endemic species all of which have rendered the islands both a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site and their surrounding waters as a biological marine reserve.
Due to the highly protective nature of the national parkmost of the visitors to the Galapagos Islands travel via a cruise company or specialist tour companies, although independent travelers are ofcourse welcome. There are several hotels located on the islands as well as several marinas for visiting yachts and other sea going vessels.
The predominant religion of the Galapagos Islands is Catholicism.
The official language of the Galapagos Islands is Spanish.
The currency of the Galapagos Islands is the United States Dollar.
The Galapagos Islands are located on time zone UTC - 6.
LOCAL TRAVEL
There are two airports located on the Galapagos Islands, San Cristobal Airport on the island of San Cristobal, which receives international flights from Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador and domestic flights from the island of Baltra, and Seymour Airport on the island of Baltra, which also receives international flights from Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador and domestic flights from San Cristobal.
Visitors tend to travel throughout the islands of the group by boat where there are port facilities located on all five inhabited islands.
Most of the Galapagos Islands cruise companies are booked months in advance so it would be wise to book cruises well before you intend to travel. Please ensure the company you select conforms to all health and safety laws of the sea before booking. When booking cruises which have island excursions please make sure that there are Galapagos Island certified guides to escort you as you will not be allowed to wander at will around the protected areas.
Tourists to the national park must first register at the Santa Rosa Control Point on Santa Cruz island. Tourists will also be able to obtain sea fishing and camping permits from this control point.
Local transport is poor in the Galapagos Islands as are the roads and bridges.
Taxis and bicycle hire is plentiful everywhere on the islands.
PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO
The island group’s capital city is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno situated on San Cristobal Island.
The city is renowned for being the first landfall in the island group of naturalist Charles Darwin who is remembered throughout the city by way of several locational names.
The city is served by a small harbour where visitors can take boats to any of the other islands and two stunning beaches located at Punta Carola and Playa Mann.
The city is home to the campus of the Institute for Arts and Sciences and the Interpretation Centre which hosts several important environmental and historical exhibitions about the Galapagos Islands.
The city’s main cultural and shopping area is located at the Malecon on Avenue Charles Darwin where there are several artisan shops, bars, restaurants and galleries displaying local art.
Natural attractions around the city include the Puerto el Junco a large freshwater lake, Tonga Reef a popular surfing location and Frigate Bird Hill – Las Tijeretas – an area popular for it’s hiking trails and stunning panoramas.
Taxis and bicycles are the best way to get around the city.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK & WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The world famous 7,995 square kilometer national park, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Marine Park located within all the islands and surrounding waters of the Galapagos Islands have 116 official visitor sites, fifty four terrestrial sites and sixty two marine sites. It is advised to visit these areas accompanied by an official Galapagos Islands certified guide.
There is no jet ski-ing or water ski-ing in any of the marine areas around the islands and strict no smoking laws and no camp fires allowed within the national park. Visitors wishing to camp anywhere on the islands must first obtain a permit from the Galapagos Islands National Park’s Santa Rosa Control Point situated on Santa Cruz Island.
CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH CENTRE
Another major attraction of the islands is the Charles Darwin Research Centre situated at Puerto Aroyo on Santa Cristobal Island. The centre is a world renowned scientific and research centre which is also home to the islands world famous giant tortoises, of which the island group was named, and a host of flora, fauna and other wild life.
PUERTO AROYA
Puerto Aroya is the island group's largest and most populace city and is located on Santa Cruz Island.
The town is home to the world famous Charles Darwin Foundation and Charles Darwin Research Centre where the giant tortoises and other animal and bird species live.
The city has a large harbour where visiting cruise liners dock and a bustling yacht marina situated on the city's Academy Bay where visitors can also take inter-island ferries to the other islands or water taxis over to the neighbouring Baltra Island. The port area provides a host of bars, restaurants, artisan shops, regular shops, cyber cafes and night clubs, as does the city's downtown area too.
Just a short walk from Puerto Aroya is Tortuga Bay an area of the national park which hosts several sea bird colonies, marine iguanas, Galapagos crabs, Galapagos tortoises and white tip reef sharks.
Also situated on Santa Crux Island is the headquarters of the national park, the Santa Rosa tourist control point and a protected mangrove estuary located at Black Turtle Cove, which visitors must travel to by dingy, in order to see the area’s pelicans, seals, turtles and sea birds.
PUERTA VILLAMIL
Puerta Villamil is a small fishing village on the southern coast of Isabela Island. The village has a bustling yacht marina and a wide pier which spans a salt water lagoon out across to a giant tortoise breeding centre. The village is also surrounded by some fine beaches which host a multitude of sea birds and marine animals.
ALL INHABITED ISLANDS
Visitors to the islands can also indulge in hiking, bicycle riding, horse riding, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing. Special permits are needed however in order to go sea fishing, which can be obtained from the national park's Santa Rosa Control Point on Santa Cruz Island.
All the island’s towns provide visitor centres, shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. The best way to get around the islands is to take a local taxi, walk or hire a bicycle.
WEATHER / NATURAL PHENOMENA
The Galapagos Islands are situated either side of the Equatorial line, in fact the island of isabella is situated actually on the equator.
This gives the islands a moderate all year round temperature of around 80f / 26c. The islands also experience a wet season between January and April, although it can infact rain at any time of the year.
The Hunboldt Current causes the waters of the southern islands to cool quite considerably during the months of May through to December giving the islands and surrounding waters a certain chill factor. The islands also experience El Nino winds every seven years.
The islands were all formed from the Galapagos Hotspot, a seismically active area of the Pacific Ocean which causes concurrent vulcanism therefore there is the threat of volcanic eruptions on the islands.
CRIME
The threat of crime on any of the Galapagos Islands is low as is the threat of terrorism.
Homosexuals are free to conduct open relationships within the islands.
The possession of narcotics or child pornography is dealt with by way of harsh prison sentences.
The emergency number for the police on the Galapagos Islands is 101.
HEALTH
No vaccination programs are required before travelling to the Galapagos Islands.
The biggest health threat on the islands is the tap water. Do not drink it nor wash your teeth with it.
There are two main hospitals on the Galapagos Islands, one located at Puerto Aroya and one at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. There is also a Red Cross – Cruz Roja – facility in Puerto Aroya.
Hotels and tour companies tend to refer visitors to private doctors for consultations. In the event of surgery patients would be airlifted to mainland Ecuador therefore a good medical travel insurance will be required.
There are also several good pharmacies and dental clinics located on the islands and there is a hyperbaric facility at the hospital in Puerto Aroya.
FOREIGN CONSULATES
There are no foreign consulates located on the Galapagos Islands. Visitors requiring consular help should therefore contact their relevant embassy or consulate located in either of the Ecuadorian cities of Quito or Guayaquil. For a full list of consular services in either of these two cities please visit - Embassies in Ecuador.
VISA INFO
Visas are not required for stays of up to ninety days. All visitors must have a valid passport which must remain valid for a period of six months from the date of arrival.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 – New Year’s Day.
Good Friday.
May 1- Labour day.
May 24 – Battle of Pichincha.
August 10 – Independence Day.
November 1 – All Souls Day.
December 25 – Christmas Day.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve.
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
For the Galapagos Islands tourism website visit - www.galapagosislands.com
For the Galapagos Islands National Park website visit - www.galapagospark.org
For the Galapagos Islands UNESCO page visit - whc.unesco.org/en
For the Charles Darwin Research Centre website visit - www.darwinfoundation.org
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Image – Galapagos Island Giant Tortoise – Courtesy of Ryan Holliday, wikimedia commons.
