Located in the central part of the Galapagos archipelago, the small, flat island of Baltra (also known as South Seymour island) is the only island that is not part of the Galapagos National Park as it operates as a military base and is home to the local airport. With its extremely arid landscape and its sparse vegetation consisting of little more than prickly pear cacti, salt bushes and palo santo trees, arriving on this remote island can feel like landing on another planet. As the island has been designated as a non-visitor site, travelers who arrive in Baltra will immediately be taken by bus to one of two docks where they will either board a cruise ship or a ferry that will take them to the island of Santa Cruz.
Neighbouring Colombia and Peru, Ecuador is a relatively small country that nevertheless offers an enticing array of scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife species and interesting cities. Dense Amazon rainforest, towering Andean mountain peaks, palm-fringed Pacific Coast beaches and fascinating historical sites are all part and parcel of Ecuador’s prolific charms. The former Inca town of Cuenca is the nation’s third-largest city and a Unesco World Heritage Site. This alluring city, with its cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and photogenic plazas, boasts a huge variety of museums and art galleries. The vibrant capital city of Quito is also worth a visit. Arguably the most dazzling jewel in Ecuador’s crown is the Galapagos Archipelago in the Pacific, about 1000 kilometres west of the mainland. Their magnificent, pristine landscapes and prolific wildlife, which inspired Charles Darwin, have made this cluster of islands a world-famous travel destination.
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Dotting the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of South America almost 1000 kilometres from Ecuador, the mystical Galapogas Islands are known for their historical significance and ecotourism. Darwin Island, named after the scientist Charles Darwin, is one of the smallest of the archipelago measuring just one square kilometre in size. This remote island’s main attraction is the sheer abundance and diversity of marine life inhabiting the surrounding waters. It has no dry landing site as it abruptly rises vertically out of the ocean, which makes it popular with liveaboard diving vessels. The Arch, also called ‘Darwin’s Arch, is renowned for its abundant bird life and its spectacular diving opportunities. Visitors can look forward to immersing themselves in this wildlife mecca, spot dolphins, manta rays, humpback whales, shark whales, and hammerhead sharks; or view the elaborate courtship rituals of the Great frigatebirds trying to secure a mate with its red inflatable neck pouch.
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The most westerly of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina (Narborough) is the youngest and most active volcanically, with eruptions occurring from its single volcano, La Cumbre, every few years. The island boasts an astonishingly pristine landscape which showcases various types of lava flows and some spectacular mangrove forests. This otherworldly environment is home to an impressive diversity of wildlife including the area’s famous flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos fur seals and the largest colony of marine iguanas on the islands. Punta Espinosa is the island’s sole land site and is one of the best places to see the unique Lava Cactus as well as the island’s breathtaking mass of marine iguanas.
Resting in the western part of the Galapagos archipelago, Isabela Island is larger than all of the rest of the islands combined. Comprising six volcanoes, the island is about 120 km long and covers 4,585 square kilometres. Travellers who make the effort to this visit this remote location will be richly rewarded with a profusion of fascinating wildlife including large numbers of flamingos, typically spotted at the lagoon in town or along the boardwalk to the impressive Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. Don’t miss Concha de Perla, a natural pool which is ideal for snorkelling and interacting with sea lions; Las Tintoreras, a lagoon where white tip sharks come to rest; and Los Tuneles, where you'll find an abundance of turtles, rays, and fish swimming in the canals and pools.
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The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands famous for the fact that they were unpopulated by man until the 1800s and the amazing endemic species, especially the giant tortoises which give the islands their name. The islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the surrounding waters are a national park and a biological marine reserve. Of the 18 islands Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are now populated by more than 25 000 people. The original names were given by an English pirate, but the Ecuadorians have given the islands Spanish names. The Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin after he visited them on his scientific voyage on the HMS Beagle and the endemic species here contributed significantly to Darwinian Theory.
As one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing, this volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group makes an ideal stomping ground for avid nature enthusiasts. Charles Darwin was famously inspired to write his seminal work, ‘The Origin of Species’, after witnessing the veritable treasure trove of natural wonders exhibited on this extraordinary archipelago. Darwin was so intrigued by the unique landscapes, colourful rock formations and exotic wildlife of these islands that he named one of its most unusual islets after his close friend and fellow naturist, Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan. Today, Bartholomew Island is no less fascinating that is was in 1835 when Darwin first arrived. Visitors typically swim and snorkel around the iconic Pinnacle Rock where they are treated to an impressive natural world of penguins, marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other marine creatures, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.
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The island of Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora, the largest and most developed town in the Galapagos. While many visitors use this island as merely a springboard for the more remote surrounding islands, those who dig a little deeper will discover that this island has plenty to offer. With numerous visitor sites, easily accessible beaches and remote highlands in the interior, Santa Cruz makes an excellent base for adventurous activities. The most popular attraction is undoubtedly the Charles Darwin Station which offers an impressive turtle breeding area and interesting information about the conservation of the unique biosphere of the Galapagos. Don’t miss the opportunity to swim or snorkel at one of the island’s magnificent beaches where you will find white sand and turquoise waters as well as an abundance of fascinating wildlife including pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas.
