Insight Guides: Equador & Galapagos My go-to source of information before (and after) a trip are the Insight Guides. I particularly like their format with lots of information on the people, history and culture of the country as well as its geography, regions and environment. They also give detail about places and things to see and do, with lots of useful information on things like currency, power plugs, and transport. This guide has several chapters on the Galapagos Islands covering the … [Read more...]
Introduction to the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a magical place. They have been on my must see list for as long as I can remember. To a biologist they are the equivalent of Mecca - a place that you must make a pilgrimage to at least once in a lifetime. They are the place that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection when he saw the large numbers of supremely adapted bird and marine species that can be found nowhere else in the world - truly a living laboratory. … [Read more...]
Wildlife on Galapagos
We saw so many different creatures in our travels around the Galapagos Islands that I thought it would be useful to have a record of these all together. For more detail on visiting the islands see my trip journal under the Galapagos tag or via the Travel category. … [Read more...]
Ecuador & The Galapagos
Sept- Oct 2011 From the snow-capped Andes to the dense Amazonian forests and the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, diversity is the secret of Ecuador's charm. We'll visit the colourful market at Otavalo and walk in the shadow of Cotopaxi volcano. We travel into the jungle, home to the Quichua Indians, exploring on foot and by canoe. The Cordillera is a breath-taking 'Avenue of Volcanoes' within which we will encounter bustling Indian markets within the small traditional villages we … [Read more...]
Day 1 Galapagos
29 September 2011 This morning we flew from Guayaquil to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are 1000km off the coast of Equador, right on the equator. Baltra Island is just north of the main island of Santa Cruz, it was used as a US Military base during WWII and was stripped of almost all its vegetation. At the airport we walk through a trough to sterilise anything on our shoes and are thoroughly searched for anything that might harm any of the wildlife in this … [Read more...]
Day 2 Galapagos
30 September 2011 We have sailed overnight to Española Island. Each evening Daniel gives us a briefing of what to expect the next day and what we will need. He was previously an art teacher so we are treated each day to drawings to match what we will get with our programme. It is the cool, windy season at the Galapagos - not so good for the swimming but good for walking. This morning is grey and overcast but we are keen to have our first real exposure to wildlife on the islands. We board … [Read more...]
Day 3 Galapagos
1 October 2011 Today we awake in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Galapagos on San Cristobal island. We head in to the visitor centre to learn more about the history and environment of the Galapagos, and then have time to explore the town. It only takes 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other so we have plenty of time to visit cafes and shops for those so inclined or just mooch around seeing how the sea-lions have made the place their own: snoozing wherever the mood takes them. … [Read more...]
Day 4 Galapagos
2 October 2011 We have travelled overnight to Mosquera Island just north of Baltra where we first landed at the airport. We start the morning with some more bird watching and are treated to Frigate Birds still with their bright red mating pouches gliding along above us. Then we head to shore to explore Mosquera Island and a longer ride via rubber dinghy where we get to see the Magnificent Frigate Birds nesting in the trees. … [Read more...]
Day 5 Galapagos
3 October 2011 Bartolome Island is a little island off the larger Santiago Island. These islands are much newer than those we have seen up until now with their volcanic origin still very evident. In the bay we anchor in there is a volcanic cone that becomes much more visible when we look down on it. We start the day with an ascent of a volcano on Santiago Island - it is a very strange and alien landscape with only a few plants managing to cling in crevices in the barren rocks. The black … [Read more...]
Day 6 Galapagos
4 October 2011 Overnight we had a very rough sailing to Genovesa, one of the most northernmost islands. I am not a good sailor and have been taking Sealegs tablets daily as a preventative measure because I don't want to miss a single moment of this lifetime dream (Galapagos is like Mecca to a biologist). Thankfully the tablets are working well but even so it is a fairly sleepless night as we toss and turn on the waves. In the early hours of the morning we reach the safe harbour of the … [Read more...]