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| Bartolome
Has a climb up stair case to its summit from where one can obtain a great view of both bays and towards Santiago. This island is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, where sea lions and penguins can be seen. While on the southern side, there are nesting sea turtles (in season). Some of which are wanding in the shallow waters near the shore or resting on the sand. This beach is great for swimming, snorkeling; and close the shore white-tipped reef sharks. | back to Top| |
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Daphne
Mantains its typically volcanic shape, called a tuff cone. At the to of this cone thera are two small craters, which contain many blue-footed boobies nests. These built their nests on the crater rims, while other tropicbirds nest in the rocky crevices on the steep sides of the island. | back to Top| |
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Española
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Fernandina
Is the third largest, the youngest and westermost island in the Galapagos. Many eruptions have been recorded since 1813, making this island most likely to have volcanic eruption and witnessing them. Puerto Espinosa, across Tagus Cove, is a visitors site where some of the unique species of Galapagos can be seen. Marine iguanas conglomerate in large groups than in any other island. They bask around in the sand, swimm near the shore and blocking the way at the landing dock. Among these different species, is the Flightless Comorant. A bird that do to the lack of predators had to adjust their way of survival and perfectionate their skills of finding food in the ocean. Their wings, tails and feet progressively adapted for swimming. To see these birds, is to witness evolution happening right infront of you. | back to Top| |
| Floreana
Has had an interesting history. In the 1930's, strage events involving an erratic baroness and her three lovers, a doctor and his mistress, and a young couple of Cologne, have been ever since part of a murder and mistery story. But Floreana offers much more that just intriguing story. There are three sites on the north coast of Floreana. Post Office Bay has had a barrel thats been change many times, over the years. Whalers and Galapagos residents use to leave their mail inside it, waiting for a captain of any boat headed to where the mail was addressed to deliver it. Very close-by is a pleasent swimming beach. At Punta Cormorant there is a greenish beach, do to the accumulation of olivine crystal mineral. Sea lions swim and play around while you enjoy a good snorkel. The trail goes to a white sand beach which is a nesting area for Green Tultles, Stingrays (be careful) and White-tipped reef sharks swimming where waves crash, being visible from the shore. Devil's Crown is a half-submerged volcanic cone, considered to be one of the most outstanding marine sites of the Galapagos Islands. | back to Top| |
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Genovesa
Is a formation of submerged edges of a crater. Known as "the bird island", it is the best place to see a red-footed booby colony and it also provides great opportunity to visit other bird cvolonies, such as: masked boobies, frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, Pintail ducks, and much more... Both sea lion species can be found on this island and when snorkeling hammerhead sharks are seen, from above. Darwin Bay Beach is a coral beach with a trail that will leads to more seabird colonies. At Prince Philip's Steps many visitors climb to the plateau to take a glace at many seabirds and storm petrels nesting and wheeling overhead. | back to Top| |
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Isabela |
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Plaza
Sur One of a pair of small uplifted islands a short distance from the east coast of Santa Cruz, South Plaza has a unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia catuses landscape which provides some of the most interesting wildlife observation available in Galapagos. Land iguanas are easily seen from the trail, frequently under the shade of a cactus; waiting for a juicy, pricky pear to fall. Swallow-tailed gulls, along with various other sea birds use the rising air to glide effortlessly over the escarpment. The protected rocky seashore is prime habitat for a large colony of noisy sea lions. | back to Top| |
| Rabida
Rabida Island, is also known as Jervis and lies 5 km south of Santiago. Do to a high % of oxidized iron in the composition of the lava, the island has a redish pigmentation. This is one of the best places to see pelicans nesting while sea lions haul out. Near the beach, there is a salt-water lagoon where flamingos and white-cheecked pintail ducks can be seen, although during the 1900's the flamingos have not been seen lately. There is a trail that will take you up to a volcanic peek covered with palo santo trees, from where the red color of the beach and volcanic formations can be appreciated. At the end of this trail there is an excellent snorkeling spot. | back to Top| |
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San
Cristobal
Is the fifth largest island in the archipielago and has the second largest population. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital, is on the southwest point. There is a Banco del Pacifico with money exchange service, a small hospital, a post office, a poor telephone service, but all this is been improved. One hour northeast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is Isla Lobos. This small island is separated from the main island by a narrow stretch of rough waters. There is a trail where lava lizards are often seen. Upon its rocky shores, blue-footed boobies nest (in season), while sea lions rest and play. About two hours notheast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is another small rocky island called Leon Dormido or sleeping lion do to its resemblance. Leon Dormido is also called Kicker Rock. Small vessels navigate through the towering rock's split. | back to Top| |
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Santa
Cruz
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Seymour
Norte
Located slightly to the north of Baltra, North Seymour is a low, flat island, formed as a result of a submarine lava formation uplift. It is covered with low, bushy vegetation, which contains the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance, when nesting conditions are right. This goofy stride, picking-up high their blue feet in a slow motion, wing spreding, whistling and honking; is one of the highlight of this island. | back to Top| |
| Sombrero
Chino
This tiny island, southeast from Santiago, is a recent volcanic cone recognized for its descriptive name. To the north there is a small sea lion cove, where a visitor sight awaits. Taking the trail through the sea lion colony, marine iguanas scurry everywhere. There are snorkeling and swimming opportunities in which sea lions, manta rays, schools of topical fish and sharks can be admired. | back to Top| |
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US Dollars
and traveler checks may be used on board. Credit cards (Visa, Master Card
and American Express) are also accepted aboard the cruises. All safety
and fire prevention measures have been implemented on all vessels
and cruises.
The weather in the
Galapagos
Islands is largely determined by the ocean currents. Normally from
June to December, there is a cold current rising from the south which
creates a cool moist fog called a garúa close to the ocean making the
climate rather cool and dry. In December, the wind has less force, the
ocean is calm and the currents change, surrounding the
islands in the warm Panama Current from the North. These currents create
a definable weather pattern of hot sunny mornings followed by clouds and
occaisional showers in the afternoons. Needless to say, this is usually
the favorite time to visit. Based on all of this information, it would
be safe to say: June to December cool, cloudy and dry season, December
to June, warm, sunny and rainy season. |
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Luggage Clothing |
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Snorkelling
Sea
Kayaks
Galapagos
Cruises Galapagos
Diving Tours |
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*
ECUADOR
AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Lonely Planet Publications, Australia, 1992.
* GALAPAGOS: A NATURAL HISTORY GUIDE. Michael M. Jackson, University of Calgary Press, 1985. * SUBTIDAL GALAPAGOS. James Cribb, Camden House, Canada, 1986. * GALAPAGOS: ISLANDS LOST IN TIME. Tui de Roy Moore, The Viking Press, 1980. * A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE GALAPAGOS. Michael Harris, Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, 1982. * A FIELD GUIDE TO THE FISHES OF THE GALAPAGOS. Godfrey Merlen, Wilmot Books, London, 1988. * GALAPAGOS, BACK TO NATURE. Steve W.K. Lu, Steve Lu Publishing, Hong Kong, 1995 (pictures only/no text) * A Travels Guide to the Galapagos Islands. Barry Boyce. | back to Top| |
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