The Galapagos Islands, or the Colon archipelago, located in the Pacific Ocean, attract connoisseurs of the exotic from all over the world. This resort cannot be described in words, it must be seen and experienced for yourself, but we will still try.
The archipelago includes a whole group of 19 islands with a total area of 8010 square kilometers. The Galapogos Islands are a province of the same name in Ecuador, separated from the mainland. This place has concentrated a unique nature, a variety of flora and fauna, as well as an elite resort. It was on the Colon archipelago that Charles Darwin managed to prove the famous theory of evolution through natural selection, and tourists from all over the world - to conquer the wave and enjoy extreme sports, coupled with a measured beach holiday.
In today's article about traveling to a paradise on the planet, we will talk about the most amazing places in the Galapagos Islands, local nature, tourism and other interesting things. Well, let's go!
Geography
The Colon archipelago is famous for its flora and fauna, which are the main sourcestourism in the country. Where are the Galapagos Islands located? They are located 972 km west of Ecuador and are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. There are practically no sources of fresh water, and some islands are still at the stage of formation due to volcanic eruptions.
The archipelago is characterized by a cold current, which has a strong influence on the local climate. This factor explains why it is much colder on the islands than on other mainland parts at the equator.
History
It's no secret that the archipelago is of volcanic origin, to be more precise, if it weren't for tectonic activity, we wouldn't see any islands today. Then the first settlers appeared here, but all this information has no documentary evidence, these are just the assumptions of scientists.
It is known that the first person to set foot on the land of the Galapagos Islands in 1535 was Thomas de Berlanga, a priest with Irish roots. The history of the discovery of an exotic area is quite interesting. Thomas kept a certain course, moving towards Peru, eventually he and his team stumbled upon an island with giant tortoises, which were later called Galapagos, which means “elephant turtles”.
Further, the archipelago received the status of a national park of Ecuador, and in 1978 it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Islands
We have already mentioned that the Colon archipelago consists of 19 islands, but this is not enough for a full acquaintance withGalapagos Islands. To date, only half of them are the most famous. Let's get acquainted!
Isabella
The island of Isabel was named after the Queen of Castile and is one of the most popular destinations in the archipelago, since it is here that the active Volcano Volf rises at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level and the equally famous Sierra Negra volcano with a crater diameter that ranks second place in size all over the world. The island also has its own Western Wall and a unique bay with a black sandy beach.
The local wall was erected in the 20th century by the hands of prisoners who served corrective labor here in difficult conditions. There are practically no hiking trails on this island. For the most part, Isabella is suitable for a private holiday in the Galapagos Islands, as the main attractions here are volcanoes, VIP yachts, fishing and a reef with turtles and white sharks.
Santa Cruz
This is the main tourist island and at the same time the most densely populated. Santa Cruz is home to the main Galapagos port of Puerto Ayora. This island is famous for its beautiful vegetation, rare birds, as well as cacti and mango thickets. Not far from Puerto Ayora is the luxurious Tortuga Bay beach, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The beach is a kind of home for giant tortoises and the site of a national park.
The island offers a wide range of opportunities for vacationers, such aslimitless diving with a rich underwater world, yachting and horseback riding, beach holidays and simply unforgettable landscapes. There is a chain of hotels on Santa Cruz Island offering tourists rooms of various categories: from the most budgetary to the most expensive presidential suites.
Travelers can also rent a boat here for a few days and go sailing on their own to explore the archipelago. In addition to all of the above, Santa Cruz Island is famous for its largest operating Darwin laboratory, where research and work is regularly carried out aimed at preserving the nature of the Galapagos Islands.
San Salvador
On this island there is another equally popular beach, “Puerto Egas”, formed from volcanic tufa. By the way, black sand has healing properties, especially rest on such a beach will be useful for people with problems of the musculoskeletal system. The island of San Salvador has the only source of fresh water in the form of a volcanic lake in the crater of the El Junco volcano.
Fernandina
Real connoisseurs of the exotic and extreme go to Fernandina Island. It is on its territory that the most active volcano La Cumbre is located, which erupts lava every few years. Here is one of the rarest and most beautiful coral reefs in the Colon archipelago.
San Cristobal
This island is the second most populated among the entire archipelago, and here is the current capital - the city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. On San Cristobal you can meet everythingvariety of tropical nature: from arid and semi-desert areas to subtropical climate. On the territory of the island there is a small park with sea lions and a museum where tourists can tell the whole history of the Galapagos Islands.
Santiago
Such a beautiful name for the island could not have come about by accident. It is on the island of Santiago, or rather, on one of its coal-black sandy beaches, that you can observe all the variety of animals on the Galapagos Islands. The highest point of the island for many tourists acts as an observation platform, from where a picturesque view of the surrounding landscape opens up.
Turtles
The central figure of the Galapagos is the local "large-caliber" turtles. They reach up to 1.8 meters in length and weigh up to 400 kilograms. Turtles of the Galapagos Islands are the main centenarians, whose life expectancy is more than a century, or even all 170 years. The diet of elephant turtles on the island is quite monotonous - these are local shrubs and grass. Remember, they are all vegetarians. Their favorite delicacy is the manzenilla plant and prickly pear from the cactus family.
All turtles living on the Colon archipelago differ in size and shape of the shell. Large islands with high humidity tend to be home to large reptiles, while arid areas tend to be smaller and with saddle-shaped shells.
After the situation on the island became critical due tohuman invasion and the spread of livestock, the population of turtles has decreased significantly. Fortunately, people managed to come to their senses and released the cubs raised in captivity, which helped to stabilize the situation. But despite this factor, elephant tortoises are still on the list of vulnerable animals.
Other representatives of the animal world
Iguanas and sea lizards are other representatives of the local flora and fauna. They spend most of their time in the water, and crawl out onto land only to soak up the sun. Don't be surprised if you find lizards on the beach sneezing at the same time - this way they eliminate excess sea s alt.
Unexpected information for many readers may be the existence of penguins in the Galapagos Islands. These representatives of the animal world prefer colder island territories, such as Isabella Island or Fernandina. Penguins are amazing creatures, the behavior of which is definitely worth watching for tourists coming to rest.
Special attention deserves a variety of birds that live on the Colon archipelago. Flightless cormorants nest on the same islands as penguins, and rare pink flamingos can be found on Lago B althazar Lake. The best place to watch the large birds of the Galapagos Islands is Fragata Bird Hill, located on the island of San Cristobal.
Going to the territory of the island of San Salvador, you can meet entire clusters of fur seals, as well asiguanas, sea lions and even dolphins. But the favorite meeting place with a wide variety of living representatives for every tourist in the archipelago is the underwater world. Divers definitely have a place to turn around here. The waters of the archipelago boast their marine life: colorful fish, coral reefs, fur seals, sharks and rays.
The most popular among travelers and experienced divers is the grotto on the island of San Salvador and the Devil's Crown. The second place is located near Santa Maria Island and is famous for its predatory inhabitants.
How to get to the Galapagos Islands
Before you start talking about how to get to the Colon archipelago, you should discuss the issue of entering the country. Any trip abroad for Russians raises the issue of paperwork and visa processing, but not this time. Fortunately, Russian citizens can stay in the country for a period of no more than 90 days in a visa-free regime.
Let's figure out how to get to the Galapagos Islands. There is only one way to reach the territory of the Colon archipelago - by plane. In addition, there are no direct flights from Russia, so you will have to use transfers in the United States or in one of the European capitals. The average cost of a one-way flight is about 60 thousand rubles.
The final destination in the international flight will be Guayaquil - the largest city in Ecuador. At the local airport, each tourist will have to pay the establishedtourist tax equal to 10 US dollars, which in terms of recalculation is about 600 Russian rubles. Further, travelers will expect another two-hour flight to the archipelago with one of the local airlines. The price of the last flight ranges from 10 to 15 thousand rubles.
Upon arrival at the Galapagos Islands airport, tourists will again have to fork out a little and pay a tourist fee of 100 dollars (6,000 rubles).
Ethnic cuisine
The Colon Archipelago is famous not only for its exotic vegetation, rich wildlife and excellent tourist routes, but also for its national cuisine. Here, like in any other country, they have their own delicacy called ceviche. Seafood lovers will especially like this dish. What is ceviche? Local chefs marinate fish and other marine life in lime juice, then carefully season with hot chili sauce and serve with a side dish, which is usually vegetables.
Those who simply cannot imagine their life without first courses are also delighted with the local cuisine. The islands serve signature rich meat soups from a variety of carcass parts. Also, the Galapagos Islands can boast a variety of exotic vegetables and fruits, which Mother Nature herself awarded them.
Recreational conditions
The most civilized conditions await all travelers in the city of Puerto Ayora, but Santa Cruz Island can boast of an equally interesting choice of hotels. On the GalapagosOn the islands, every tourist can afford a place to stay, the most budget rooms start from $15 (900 rubles), and luxury lovers can treat themselves to rented mansions for the entire holiday period.
Do not forget that if you decide to visit this wonderful place, you should follow the established rules in order to preserve nature. The territory of the archipelago is a protected national park of the Galapagos Islands. It is better not to take the initiative to move between the islands into your own hands, but to entrust this matter to a local guide. By the way, excursions to the Galapagos Islands are very popular among tourists. There are even a couple of local travel agencies in Puerto Ayora. There are specially laid paths for movement, and it is strictly forbidden to make fires and make loud noises in the archipelago. Appreciate nature!
Colon has one and only tourist street named after Charles Darwin, which stretches along the coast in Puerto Ayora. All the best hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and entertainment program are concentrated in this area. But the reviews note that the prices for souvenirs are a little high here, and there is not much to choose from as a keepsake. For example, there are local T-shirts, Darwin figurines and more.
Season
Many travelers face the question of weather conditions during a certain period of the year. If you decide to spend your vacation on the Pacific coast, on one of the islands that are part ofarchipelago, it should be remembered that the season here begins at an unusual time for us. From June to the end of November, the Galapagos Islands experience cold winds and dry climate conditions, but in the other half of the year - a warm and humid climate.
In summer and autumn, the earth warms up to 25 degrees, but cold winds prevent a good and relaxed holiday. Many residents consider this period to be terribly cold, perhaps because they have never visited Russia. Although in the cool island season you can easily go here. As for winter and spring, these are warm weather conditions, but incessant rains. But despite this fact, this is the best time for tourism, according to reviews. It usually rains in the first half of the day, and it may be lucky that there will be no rain at all for some period.
Attractions
On the islands, the main attraction for all tourists is Mother Nature, and on the Colon archipelago, she is truly amazing. Here you can meet a century-old tortoise roaming freely on the grass, unknown plants, virgin rocks and much more. All this is quite capable of driving you crazy.
Puerto Ayora Promenade
The main street in the city of Puerto Ayora, running along the Pacific coast of the Galapagos Islands, bears the proud name of Charles Darwin and is an important tourist destination in the archipelago. Here you can find a wide selection of cafes and restaurants, and sometimes a travel agency. Every morning, at the beginning of the street, a seafood sale is organized at the fish market, and in the opposite part of the streetthere is a city port from where you can go to neighboring islands.
Puerto Villamil
The waterfront of Puerto Villamil, located on Isabella Island, is significantly different from the capital. It seems to be the same port, picturesque nature and animals, but the atmosphere is completely different. It seems that time has stopped here, and life is relaxing and unhurried.
The full name of the embankment is “Melekon”. Also, tourists are provided with a place under a palm tree in a hammock, where you can contemplate a beautiful view of the beach.
Tours, reviews
As for trips to the Galapagos Islands, here, first of all, you need to decide on the duration of your vacation. No one comes here for one day, because this is an absolutely irrational approach. Only the road from Russia to the archipelago can take more than 24 hours of free time. The ideal duration of the trip can be considered a week, the minimum - three days. Reviews note the fact that traveling on the principle of “one day - one island” is simply physically impossible.
Travelers also recommend the following places to visit:
- Turtle farm. It is here that thousands of different century-old turtles are presented, thanks to which the archipelago has become famous throughout the world. Each of them is unique in its own way: they differ in size, weight and even the shape of the shell.
- Galapagos caves. As we have already noted, the Colon archipelago consists of several volcanic islands. The catacombs of lava flows have survived to this day and today attract many tourists from all over the world.
- Howwe have already noted that the Darwin Research Center located on the island of Santa Cruz is actively working to preserve nature and animals in the Galapagos Islands. The main task of the center is to protect the local flora and fauna from other plants and animal species subsequently introduced by pirates and Spaniards. Darwin Station is one of the main local attractions of the scientific plan. At the biological research station, each tourist will be told about the unique island nature, fauna and underwater world, and even show some of the individuals living on the territory.
- Flora and fauna also occupy an important position in the list of attractions of the archipelago. Absolutely everything is beautiful here: from a pebble to living representatives. Some tourists are even given the opportunity to swim with sharks, as a rule, they are kind in the Galapagos Islands.
- Twin craters. On the way from the airport, you can meet Los Gimelos, which means “twins” in Spanish. These are two giant craters that look like two large abysses in the ground. Once upon a time, they kept gas deposits in themselves, but one day he got out, thereby collapsing the surface of the earth. Now everything here is overgrown with greenery, and a beautiful forest with fern trees grows around.
Many travelers start their travel itinerary from well-trodden paths, such as searching for local temples. No, the Colon Archipelago is definitely not the place to be if you are looking for unique sanctuaries. Although on the island you can find very amazingbuilding, this is a church in Porta Ayora with images of a turtle on its walls.
Conclusion
The Colon Archipelago is a gorgeous place on the edge of the earth, hard to get to and even harder to leave. At least, such a conclusion can be drawn by studying the numerous reviews of the Galapagos Islands. Local landscapes, deep blue ocean, exotic plants and unique wildlife will never leave your memory. Every tourist is simply obliged to know that the money spent on a trip to the archipelago can be called an investment rather than a whim of a tourist. Investing in nature, yourself and everything beautiful that is in our wide world.
We hope that in our article you managed to find everything you need about this amazing place. Now you know exactly where the Galapagos Islands are, so keep traveling and discovering a truly beautiful world!
