- Address: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador;
- Official page: galapagospark.org;
- Phone: +593 5-252-6189;
- Foundation date: 1959;
- Area: 7,995 km²;
- Admission price: adult $ 100, children $ 50.
To the west of the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean is a large group of islands of volcanic origin. This Galapagos - 13 large islands and more than a hundred small rocky islets, scattered in the ocean. Most of these islands are included in the Galapagos National Park, and the marine area around them is declared a marine conservation area. The Galapagos are a province of Ecuador, the four islands - Santa Cruz , San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana - are inhabited.
Why go?
The Galapagos are famous for their unique fauna, many exotic animals live here, many of which are endemic species: giant tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, seals, pelicans. The Galapagos Islands are a natural phenomenon, which for a long time was hidden from civilization by the Pacific Ocean, it was based only on pirates and whalers. Many islands remain uninhabited to this day, although in recent years the population of the islands is rapidly increasing. The Galapagos Islands National Park was created to preserve a unique ecosystem and maintain rare animals that are now on the verge of extinction. If you are interested in wildlife and you love wildlife, then you need to go to the Galapagos , where you can come close to miracles that are beyond the Galapagos National Park.
To the tourist on a note
Wild animals on the islands are absolutely not afraid of people, sea lions, iguanas and pelicans walk around the streets, beg in fish markets, sleep on beaches, benches and terraces. For them in the National Park Galapagos all conditions for a safe existence are created. And accordingly, for tourists there are many strict limitations:
- on the territory of the islands you can not make noise, burn fires, smoke;
- you can not approach animals closer than 2 meters;
- when visiting the islands that make up the National Park Galapagos (this is about 90% of the entire territory) you can only move around the permitted hiking trails;
- To survey the coast of many islands is allowed only from the ocean on tourist ships;
- on islands it is forbidden to bring animals, birds, plants, fruit;
- From the islands it is forbidden to export anything other than what tourists will buy in souvenir shops.
Climate
The weather in the Galapagos Islands depends on two factors - location at the latitude of the equator and the presence of ocean currents. Solar radiation can not be shown on the street without a headdress, tourists are recommended to use sunscreen. At the same time, the cool Peruvian current softens the heat, so the average annual temperature ranges from +23 to +25 ° C. The summer here lasts from December to May, at this time the heat increases to + 35 ° C, the water temperature in the ocean reaches + 28 ° C, rains are raining. The dry period lasts from June to November, the air and water temperature drops to + 20 ° C, it becomes windy.
Things to do?
Tourist infrastructure on the islands is poorly developed, only three of them - Santa Cruz , San Cristobal and Isabela have hotels of different levels of comfort. The beaches here are wild, no sunbeds and umbrellas, only black or white sand, quite strong surf and the neighborhood of sea lions and iguanas. Walk in beautiful outfits nowhere, instead it is necessary to take with you comfortable clothes and strong sneakers for excursions along the trails from volcanic lava. The most common type of excursion is one-day group tours under the strict supervision of the guide.
The Galapagos Islands are popular among divers. On the island of Santa Cruz is a large dive center, on the island of Wolff, there are stations for diving and observation of hammerhead sharks. Surfers from all over the world come to the Galapagos to ride on a good ocean wave.
How to get there?
The most budgetary way to get to the Galapagos Islands is by plane. On the islands there are two airports - in Balti and San Cristobal, before they can fly local airlines from the capital of Ecuador to Quito or the city on the coast of Ecuador Guayaquil .
A cruise on a ship or on a yacht is the most popular type of holiday on the islands. Typically, tourists book a cruise from home, but in travel agencies in Quito, Guayaquil or on the island of Santa Cruz, you can buy a burning tour.
The monetary unit on the Galapagos Islands is the American dollar, the official language is Spanish. It is better to go with cash, tk. ATMs are rare, and in shops, travel agencies and restaurants, they may refuse to accept a 100-dollar bill, preferring a $ 20 dollar bill.
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