What ocean are the Galapagos Islands in? Land elephant turtles. Holidays in the archipelago

No wonder that Galapagos Islands so interesting to study, because many unique species of flora and fauna live here, some of which are on the verge of extinction. The archipelago belongs to the territory of Ecuador and is its separate province. Today, all the islands and the rocks surrounding them have been turned into a national park, where crowds of tourists come every year.

Where did the name Galapagos Islands come from?

The Galapagos are a type of turtle that lives on the islands, which is why the archipelago was nicknamed after them. These clusters of landmasses are also simply referred to as the Galapagos, the Turtle Islands, or the Colón archipelago. Also, earlier this territory was called the Enchanted Isles, since it was difficult to land on land. Numerous currents made navigation difficult, so not everyone managed to get to the coast.

The first approximate map of these places was made by a pirate, which is why all the names of the islands were given in honor of pirates or people who helped them. Later they were renamed, but some residents continue to use the old options. Even the map shows names from different eras.

Geographic features

The archipelago consists of 19 islands, 13 of them are of volcanic origin. It also includes 107 rocks protruding above the surface of the water and reclaimed land areas. Looking at the map, you can understand where the islands are located. The largest of them, Isabela, is also the youngest. There are active volcanoes here, so the island is still subject to changes due to emissions and eruptions, the last one occurred in 2005.

Despite the fact that the Galapagos is an equatorial archipelago, the climate here is not at all sultry. The reason lies in the cold current washing the coast. From this, the water temperature can drop below 20 degrees. The average annual indicator falls in the range of 23-24 degrees. It is worth mentioning that there is a big problem with water in the Galapagos Islands, since there are almost no sources here. fresh water.

Exploring the islands and their inhabitants

Since the discovery of the islands in March 1535, no one has been particularly interested in the world wildlife this area, until Charles Darwin and his expedition began to explore the Colon archipelago. Prior to this, the islands were a haven for pirates, although they were considered a colony of Spain. Later, the question arose of who owns the tropical islands, and in 1832 Galapagos officially became part of Ecuador, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno was appointed the provincial capital.

Darwin spent many years on the islands, studying the variety of finches. It was here that he developed the foundations of future evolutionary theory. The fauna on the Turtle Islands is so rich and unlike the fauna in other parts of the world that it could be studied for decades, but after Darwin no one did this, although the Galapagos was recognized as a unique place.

During WWII, the United States staged here military base, at the end of hostilities, the islands were turned into a haven for convicts. Only in 1936, the archipelago was given the status of a National Park, after which they began to pay more attention to protection. natural resources. True, some species were already on the verge of extinction by that time, which is described in detail in documentary about the islands.

Due to the specific climatic conditions and the formation of the islands, there are a lot of birds, mammals, fish, as well as plants that are not found anywhere else. The largest animal living in this territory is the Galapagos sea lion, but giant tortoises, boobies, sea lizards, flamingos, penguins are of greater interest.

Tourist centers

When planning a trip, tourists want to know how to get to an amazing place. You can choose two popular ways: during the cruise or by plane. There are two airports in the Colon archipelago, but most often land in Baltra. This is a small island north of Santa Cruz, where the official military bases of Ecuador are now located. From here it is easy to get to most of the islands popular with tourists.

Photos from the Galapagos Islands are impressive, because there are amazingly beautiful beaches here. You can spend the whole day in the blue lagoon, enjoying the tropical sun without the sweltering heat. Many people prefer to go diving, as the seabed is replete with colors due to the volcanic lava that has solidified in the coastal zone.

In addition, some species of animals will happily swirl in the whirlpool with scuba divers, as here they are already familiar with people. But sharks live near the islands, so you should inquire in advance whether diving is allowed in the chosen place.

What country would not be proud of such amazing place like the Galapagos, given that it's on the list world heritage. Landscapes are more like pictures, as they surprise with an abundance of colors from each side. True, in order to preserve the natural beauties and their inhabitants, you have to make a lot of efforts, which is what the research center is doing.

This is a continuation of a story about a trip to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, from which I returned in April.

Also please see the story. "How I Survived on Death Road in Bolivia"

The whole route (no details). Period 52 days. Galapagos Islands on the map - on the left.

Usually most tourists visit these three countries (Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia) in two visits.

At least 15 days are needed to visit Ecuador with the Galapagos Islands. (These islands are the territory of Ecuador).

And yet, at least 30 days are needed for a trip to Peru and Bolivia.

We, with my fellow traveler, combined these two trips into one, so as not to fly twice across the Atlantic Ocean.

I ended the first story with the fact that we are flying from the capital of Ecuador - the city of Quito to the Galapagos Islands. (At the same time, we are caught trying to transport prohibited products to the islands, a protocol is drawn up and miraculously they are not shot :)

So - Galapagos Islands:

Since childhood, I have been attracted by places with beautiful and cryptic names: Paramaribo, Montevideo, Recife, Ivory Coast, Zanzibar, Queen Maud land and many others.

Places you want to visit even just because of their names. Well, I can’t believe that a place with the name “Ivory Coast” or Zanzibar can be uninteresting!

One such place with an interesting name was the Galapagos Islands for me.

The islands got their name from the giant tortoises that lived on them, in Spanish "galapagos" - "water turtles".

With turtles, the story is sad - ships sailed for them, collected them, stored them in holds. For what? They were used on long-haul flights as "live canned food". Turtles without water and food remained half-alive and were edible for a year!

The archipelago was known by a different name - the "Enchanted Islands" (Enchanted Islands) because of the fast ocean currents, which made navigation difficult.

I also knew about the islands that penguins live there on the equator (!) (how can they not be hot!), fur seals and many unique species of birds and animals that are only on these islands.

And that it was the diversity of species that Charles Darwin observed there that allowed him to come up with his theory of evolution.

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago in pacific ocean, 972 km west of Ecuador, consisting of 13 major volcanic islands. On the map, under the red flag.

The youngest islands - Isabela and Fernandina - are still at the stage of formation, the last volcanic eruption was observed in 2005.

The islands are best known big amount local species of flora and fauna.

In 1832, Ecuador annexed the Galapagos Islands. The government then turned to all countries - like, is it okay if we take it for ourselves? After all, no one lives there. Well, except that the pirates sometimes stopped. Nobody objected then.

Until the 60s of the last century, no one lived there permanently at all (only pirates a long time ago). In the 60s, one and a half thousand people settled. And today there are already about 25,000 of them.

The main threat to the unique flora and fauna of the archipelago is introduced by accident or on purpose, various types of plants and animals, such as goats, cats or cattle. Rapidly multiplying, these species devastate the habitat of the indigenous inhabitants.

Due to the small number of natural predators on the islands, native species are defenseless against introduced species and often become their victims.

Many species were brought to the island by pirates. famous traveler Thor Heyerdahl pointed to documents that indicate that the Viceroy of Peru, knowing that pirates eat wild goats on the islands (they brought them and released them into the wild), ordered dogs to be released there to destroy these goats.

Although the government of Ecuador thought about the problem of preserving local species for a long time and in 1959 announced the creation of a national park on the territory of the islands, it was only in the 80s that some significant measures began to be taken.

Now even volunteers are engaged in the destruction of, for example, blackberries. They pay for the flight from Europe, accommodation and meals. On one forum, a girl from Russia described how she was a volunteer there.

Places we visited in the Galapagos Islands.

There are airports on two islands: San Cristobal and Santa Cruz.

Naturally, it is rational to fly to one island and fly away from another. Because: - firstly, it is noticeably cheaper (the policy of the airlines).

Secondly: one segment is saved on moving between the islands. And this is an important point, because sailing between the islands is long and not very comfortable, especially for those who have seasickness.

The average travel time for a speedboat between different islands is about 1.5 hours. The slower ones take longer.

My Edited Video

Moving on small boats at a decent speed across the Pacific Ocean is tough :) It's better not to eat before the trip :). Here is a video, it shows how it throws up quite strongly on the waves.

There are two types of island travel:

The first type is a cruise for several days on yacht-boats with an overnight stay on yachts.

And the second type is to live on 2-3 main islands and move between them on regular boats.

There were many unpredictable moments with the cruise - for example, the quality of housing, food, excursion program is not known in advance. Judging by the reviews, there may not be places on the yacht if you buy a tour 2-3 days before the start.

Paying in advance through the Internet a fairly round amount (from $ 1,200 per person and more) to some local travel agency is somehow risky.

Therefore, the second option was chosen - to live on the three main islands: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabella.

So - we arrive from continental Ecuador to the island of San Cristobal. The island is marked with a red flag on the map.

San Cristobal is an island relatively little visited by tourists. The bulk of tourists do not fly here, but to the central island of Santa Cruz (it is marked in green on the map).

This is most likely due to the limitation of tourists in the number of days of their vacation.

The central island of Santa Cruz is full of people, few animals, and expensive hotels and excursions.

And on the islands of San Cristobal and Isabella, on the contrary, there are more animals and birds, but fewer people and inexpensive hotels.

Each tourist who enters the islands pays a tax of $110. A flight from the continent to the islands costs from $450.

It turns out that in order to visit the islands, a tourist must pay at least 450 + 110 = 560 dollars.

With such high costs, it makes sense to be on the islands for at least 10 days. I think it is irrational to get there for 3-5 days, there is little you can see in such a short period and with such a short time, and pay only for getting to the islands, the amount of $ 560!

Eat organized tours Russian tour operators, the program of which provides only 2 full days on the islands.

This is extremely small! We were 12 full days + the day of arrival and the day of departure. During this time, we calmly managed to visit many interesting places and relax on deserted beaches.

Three airlines fly to the islands. The best in those parts is "LAN". Site lan.com

On the island of San Cristobal, the main settlement is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

We sit in a taxi at the exit from the airport, and for $ 2 and 2 minutes we arrive at the hotel, which I looked after in advance. Los Kactus. $15 or $20 (can't remember exactly). Located 3 blocks from the waterfront. (Taxi drivers know all the hotels.)

We go to the embankment ... There are a lot of fur seals on San Cristobal. They are everywhere: on the shore, on the benches, under the benches, sometimes they go into stores :)

You have to step over them if, for example, you go on a boat.;)

When we first met, we thought they might bite. Then they realized that they were just playing, and began to swim with them almost in an embrace! :)

Photo https://princessa.site/

Photo https://princessa.site/

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Photo https://princessa.site/

Too bad we didn't have an underwater camera with us. Because cats are very funny.

They are so fast and graceful underwater!

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Photo by Discovery Channel. I am posting so that dear readers have an idea of ​​the grace of seals under water.

... Here is a huge cat rushing straight at you, there are 20 centimeters left from his face to your mask, and it seems that now there will be a collision with him, but at the last moment he sharply dodges to the side.

Moreover, the expression of the muzzle is - with superiority and condescension - as if it wants to say - "Well, why are you people so clumsy?"

Due to their speed, the owners of underwater cameras often do not have time to film the cat. Almost always, only the “flippers” of this beast get into the frame. Therefore, it is better to shoot a video.

Once a phlegmatic cat swam towards me with his eyes closed, which surprised me greatly. And I already thought that we would collide. But at the last moment, he opened his eyes sharply and widely - surprise was read in them - “you see, all sorts of people walk around here, you can’t even swim with your eyes closed!”

Cats are on boats...

There are two more on the boat.

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in 1831-1836, Charles Darwin traveled around the world on the Beagle ship, thanks to which the scientist founded the theory of evolution.

Darwin explored the geology and biology of the islands. Having carried out numerous studies of the local flora and fauna, he collected a fairly large collection of animals and plants.

Thanks to the observation of the diversity of these birds, Darwin first had the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe variability of species, on the basis of which he subsequently developed the theory of evolution.

In history geographical discoveries the voyage of the Beagle left a mark on the work of surveying the area to map the exact coastline of the southern part South America. However, the worldwide fame of the Beagle is associated with Charles Darwin.

Naturally, Darwin is the most popular person in the Galapagos. Streets are named after him, a scientific station, even I saw him on tattoos at local residents!

Monument to Darwin. Perhaps a little strange. As one traveler said, he resembles some drunken intellectual who stands in line for a morning hangover and with his gesture, as it were, indicates that - “you will follow me!” :)

There are two main excursions on the island:

1. - by boat to the island of Los Lobos and to the rock of Leon Dormido (sleeping lion) 50 USD

2. land - visiting the El Junco Lagoon (The largest fresh lake of the archipelago - El Junco - located in a crater in the highlands) plus a visit to the La Galapagera turtle reserve and Loberia beach. $25

A few photos from the Tour of the island of Los Lobos and the rock of Leon Dormido:

Blue-footed boobies. The older the bird, the more intense the color of the legs. Those with a bluer color are chosen by females.

Again communication with cats. Photo https://princessa.site/

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Photo https://princessa.site/

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There are so many beauties out there.

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Excursion #2: La Galapagera Turtle Sanctuary plus Loberia Beach:

Loberia Beach is a 10 minute drive across the island of San Cristobal from the island's capital. It is a coral white sandy beach.

Galapaguera Turtle Park: It is located in the southeastern part of the island of San Cristobal, 22 km from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the island.

The park was built to improve the condition of the island's tortoise population, in an environment similar to their natural state.

Galapagos tortoises lay their eggs between June and December. The female is looking dry place where the egg-laying receives sufficient solar heat, with an average of 10 eggs per clutch.

Park workers take the eggs from the clutches and place them in the incubator. Young turtles grow in terrariums.

This is done in order to protect the eggs from predators brought to the islands by people (rats, cats, dogs).

Photo https://princessa.site/

Photo https://princessa.site/

On the way to the park. Photo https://princessa.site/

A turtle swims along the beach. Only the shell is visible above the water.

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Goodbye, San Cristobal… Sailing to the second island of Santa Cruz…

Santa Cruz Island (central island of the archipelago).

There are more tourists on Santa Cruz Island and more expensive hotels ($20 without AC, and from $35 with AC).

From Santa Cruz Island there are such excursions on boats:

1. to the island of Bartolome

2. Seymour Norte Island

3. to the island of Floreana

Excursion to Bartolome Island:

Bartolome Island.

The name of the island comes from the name of a friend of Charles Darwin - John Suliven Bartolome, who was the captain of the ship "Beagle".

The main attraction of Bartolome is the Pinnacle rock and landscapes, considered among the most beautiful among all the Galapagos Islands.

The tour includes: a small track to the highest point, from where the best views islands and plus snorkeling on the beach.

Pinnacle Rock

Bartolome is the youngest of the Galapagos Islands. Therefore, there are such “alien” landscapes around.

Some slightly blue plants - well, for sure - another planet!

The path to the top goes along a wooden deck.

The island is very hot, so we see mirages, the same as in the Sahara desert.

After a walk on the "other planet" - swimming on the beach. The beach or snorkeling is included in almost all excursions in the Galapagos.

And here is a penguin posing in the background pinnacle rocks Rock

The Galapagos penguin is unique among other penguins in that it lives - not in the Antarctic regions, but on the Galapagos Islands located on the equator.

The air temperature in habitats ranges from + 18-28 ° С, water - + 22-24 ° С.

The Galapagos penguins have a black head and back, there is a white stripe that goes from the throat up to the head and reaches the eyes, in front the penguins are white.

The mandible and the tip of the mandible are black, the mandible and the skin around the eyes are pinkish-yellow. The penguin builds nests on the shore, making minks in the sand.

Penguins are very fast swimmers (see video):

Penguin frolicking near the pier.

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Excursion to Seymour Norte Island:

Seymour Norte Island is a kind of bird paradise - a place chosen by colonies of birds.

The island has a large population of blue-footed boobies and Galapagos gulls. Also here is one of the largest colonies of frigates.

Photo https://princessa.site/

Male frigatebirds, in order to attract the attention of the female to themselves and their nest, inflate a huge red bag on their chest, throw their heads back and make a call.

The bird laid an egg...

Photo https://princessa.site/

Land orange iguana. On different islands, the color of iguanas is different. On Floreana they will be red.

Opuntia cacti - iguanas feed on them.

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Excursion to the island of Floreana.

Floreana is a volcanic island in the Galapagos archipelago, named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose reign Ecuador gained control of the islands.

Floreana was the first Galapagos island to be inhabited.

The ubiquitous cats never cease to touch.

Florean red iguanas. If you look closely, you can also find a blue color on the teeth of the back.

During the tour, pirate caves are visited, where these same pirates seemed to live.

In general, nothing special. You need to go to the caves past the German colony, fenced with barbed wire.

In general, about these Germans in the reports of tourists who rented rooms from them, I saw negative descriptions. It seems like there is bad energy there, they worshiped some kind of idol, etc.

We met two Germans on the way back from Floreana to Santa Cruz. They took our "trump" places at the stern of the boat. (At the stern, it throws up the least on the waves).

They threw off our towel and quite brazenly did not want to make room.

I already remembered the Great Patriotic War, and really got ready to exert a physical impact, although it would not be easy.

But managed to drive the invaders through the captain. In general, they are somehow muddy, these Florean Germans :)

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Excursion on the island of Santa Cruz "Crevice Las Grietas»:

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Las Grietas cleft is a landscape formed by lava fissures. “Two giant walls, as if parted, letting through blue ribbon salt water."

Cacti over Las Grietas crevice.

The road to Las Grietas, or rather there is no road - you need to walk on such pebbles.;)

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The third island we lived on: Isabella Island.

Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands.
The island is named after Queen Isabella of Castile, who supported Columbus' voyage to America.
There are 6 volcanoes on Isabela, 4 of which are active.

Puerto Villamil is the main settlement, you can say a village with 5 streets :)

There is a calm and relaxed atmosphere, no one locks the car.

You can leave your camera on the shore, go swimming, and no one will touch your things.

Expensive cameras lie on the embankment almost unattended ...

For those who travel for a long time in South America, the islands are a place where you can relax and not think about the dangers that exist on the mainland.

There are few tourists and locals. Therefore, during the day, everyone usually meets more than once, and inevitably get to know each other.

To say that the locals are lazy is to say nothing! It is not easy to find an open travel agency, it seems that they work one hour in the morning and another hour in the evening :)

But on the other hand - how nice it is when they don’t bother you “Buy something!” . And this applies to all the Galapagos Islands.

Excursions on Isabella:

Excursion on the island- Sierra Negra volcano and Chico volcano.

Boat trips from Isabella Island:

1. Excursion to Los Tuneles with two snorkeling sites.

2. 10-minute drive to Las Tintoreras, where you can snorkel and walk along the island, consisting entirely of black volcanic stones, in the form of bridges over the ocean.

So: excursion Volcan Sierra Negra (5-hour walking tour to the crater of the Sierra Negra volcanoes and the Chico volcano, cost $ 30, start at 8.00)

The entire route is about 17 km long.

All food and water must be brought with you.

Sierra Negra has the second largest crater in the world with a diameter of 11 kilometers. Height above sea level - 1124 m.

The last eruption occurred in October 2005. As a result of the eruption, the bottom of the crater is covered with black lava.

The view is beautiful, but I liked the views on the way to the neighboring crater, the Chico volcano, even more. see below:

Fantastic colors - landscapes of the Chico volcano.

Multicolored volcanic rock.

In the photo - one of the lava tunnels.

Lava tunnels are obtained by uneven cooling of lava flowing from the slopes of the volcano.

The surface layers of lava, due to contact with air, cool faster and become monolithic, forming a solid crust. It creates thermal insulation for the inner layers, which remain hot and fluid.

As a result, closer to the center lava tunnel the lava flow is still going on, even when the upper layers have cooled.

And even when the source of lava dries up, the contents of the tube continue to slide down the slope, leaving behind voids, which are called lava tunnels.

Leaving the tunnel, lava leaves behind open passage at one of its ends. The lava in the tunnels travels long distances, because the speed of the lava flow in the pipes can reach 60 km/h or more.

Photo https://princessa.site/

Photo https://princessa.site/

Photo https://princessa.site/

And over the ocean it's raining...

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Excursion Los Tonnels (boat excursion + 2 snorkeling trips, $60):

First, we swim to the rock, on which the waves beautifully crash, and then the foaming water slowly recedes along the slope ...

Birds live on the rock.

These creations of nature are more like bridges than tunnels.

Blacks rise above the water natural arches on top of which grow cacti.

Blue-footed boobies.

On the video: the song of the blue-footed boobies.

On the way back we swim to a place where there are many small sharks and large turtles.

Lots of turtles. We observe simultaneously in the field of view up to 4 pieces.

Sharks hide in underwater arches. The guide specially frightens (or kicks? :)) them from the other side of the cave, and they swim out from our side and rush under us.

Again cute cats

Sunset on Isabella Island.

Iguanas on the beach.

boat team :)

Penguin in the port.

Flamingo. The nearest place with a flamino from the village is not far - take a taxi for $ 2 or walk past the turtle breeding station. (taxi drivers know).

Flamingo closer.

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Excursion Las Tintoreras (boat and walking tour + snorkeling, $ 25, start at 14.30, time 2.5 hours):

The name of the tour comes from the word Las Tintoreras - "sharks". Sharks and rays swim into the channel formed on the island, and it is convenient for tourists to look at them.

The island is full of iguanas:

There are so many iguanas that you think - how not to come! :)

Photo https://princessa.site/

marine iguana is an iguana that lives exclusively in the Galapagos Islands.

It has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to spend most of its time at sea.

On the shore, the lizard basks in the sun, holding on to the stones with the help of powerful claws. The black color helps keep you warm.

Excess salt swallowed with food is excreted with the help of special glands through the nostrils. They funny spit salty water from their nostrils.

Blue-footed booby penguin.

Deserted beaches. O. Isabella.

photo https://princessa.site/

photo https://princessa.site/ According to legend - who will climb this pillar ...

https://princessa.site/

Goodbye Isabella, the most relaxing island... We are sailing back to central Santa Cruz, because tomorrow we will fly from it to Peru.

We accidentally learn that one of the two regular boats broke down and we were offered to sail tomorrow. Tomorrow will be close to the plane. So we took the money for the tickets.

If the flight was canceled, then you will find out about it when you come to get on the boat, because travel agents don't give a damn, and in general they rarely come to the workplace.;)

Although we learned about it earlier, there were still no places on the second boat. We (and other tourists) were taken by some "left" captain on a non-travel boat.

Departure was 2 hours later than the regular boat. Along the way we met the first boat. He broke! And all the passengers waited 2 hours for our boat to arrive.

And they put everyone with us in the middle of the ocean. The boat was packed! Naturally they rode standing up.

So book a buffer day before flying to Santa Cruz. Because if you sail from another island to Santa Cruz ON THE DAY OF DEPARTURE, you may not catch the plane.

Here, briefly, I wanted to talk about the Galapagos Islands.

Diving is also praised there (although there are strong currents). We are not diverly. Therefore, few sharks were seen from the surface and only once a hammerhead shark.

Nastya once rode a sea turtle underwater.

The hot Galapagos came in handy at the end of February. Next we were waiting for the country of Peru, And then Bolivia.

The change in the situation was quite abrupt when we flew from the hot Galapagos, where there is a relaxed atmosphere and the absence of crime, to the capital of Peru - the city of Lima.

We got into the city at one in the morning. Around ... imagine the shots from thriller films where the streets are filled with gangs :) Here everything was exactly like that. And it's in the city center. The police are nowhere to be seen. There are many of them during the day, and at night they hide :).

In some taxis, the driver is fenced off from the passengers with bars.

Hotel employees communicate with you through the locked bars.

In one hostel, an employee had the imprudence to open this grate and almost got a heart attack when I accidentally tried to go behind the counter to point my finger at a table on which the types of rooms and prices were written.

He backed away and shouted - do not come nearer!

In Lima, we stopped at the interesting hostel Espana. Inside it looks like a castle. Old building. There are sculptures, mirrors in the corridors… Real skulls for decoration. Colorful.

In the darkness, Nastya, on the move, collided with a peacock, which was sitting on a branch.

The next day we saw that there are 2 peacocks, large parrots, turtles roam under our feet ... In general, the night meeting with Lima was a little stressful) . But daytime Lima then made a favorable impression.

To be continued;) I hope I find the time to continue ... Thank you for your attention.

I am looking for a travel companion.

P.S. A little about the organizational part: We never booked a hotel during the whole trip. Always chose on the spot the optimal ratio of quality to price. Always traded on the spot.

Since we were not tied to specific dates, I found domestic flights at a low price.

To do this, you need not only to “play with dates”, but also with a sequence of places.

For example, after going through dozens of options for dates and sequences, I found flights at a common minimum price.

The route involved arrival from continental Ecuador to the island of San Cristobal and departure in 2 weeks from the island of Santa Cruz (Baltra).

If you put in places at least one point of arrival and departure, or at least one date, then the price soared one and a half to two times.

Then I took another step to reduce the total cost of flights. It's called "ringing". The fact is that we flew from Ukraine to Quito (Ecuador) and flew from Lima (Peru). Accordingly, the route of domestic flights began with Quito, and ended with Lima.

"Loopback" is to add one more segment to the route - namely, the return to the starting point. In our case, the city of Quito. But we did not need to go there, so we did not fly this last segment.

The cost of the looped route was about $300 cheaper than that of the non-looped route. $615 per itinerary, including $7 Expedia commission.

At the mention of the Galapagos Islands, many people remember Charles Darwin, who made a round-the-world trip on the Beagle and the pirates who hid in these parts from the Spaniards and the British.

Someone will say about incomparable diving, and someone will object to him that there are a lot of sharks in the Galapagos and better here do not dive.

We will tell you some informative facts about this resort, introduce you to photos and reviews of experienced tourists, tell you how to get here and lift the veil of secrecy regarding prices for tours and tours.

Where are the islands

19 islands form the archipelago we know as the Galapagos Islands.

These picturesque pieces of land are located in the Pacific Ocean at a distance of 972 kilometers from the coast.

Relative to Ecuador, the islands are located in the west.

Most of the province is a national park, and the waters surrounding it are a marine reserve..

The archipelago is one of the provinces of Ecuador and consists mainly of volcanic islands.

Few people live here - about 25 thousand, and most of the inhabitants are concentrated on Santa Cruz, where the city of Puerto Ayora is built - the main tourist centre Galapagos.

But the capital of the archipelago is located on another island, San Cristobal, and bears the poetic name of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Actually, this is the administrative heart of the islands.

The Galapagos are called the "laboratory of evolution".

In addition, there is an airport where your plane will land from Quito.

We list the key islands included in the archipelago:

1. Isabela. The largest island of the Galapagos, pleasing to the eye:
   • numerous lagoons,
   • Urbina Bay (home to local iguanas, giant tortoises and even penguins),
   • mangroves,
   • the highest volcano in the region, bearing the formidable name Wolfe.
2. Santa Cruz. Second large island groups.
   Here, as already mentioned, the town of Puerto Ayora is located, which boasts a good developed infrastructure. Scientists working at the Darwin Research Station live nearby.
3. Fernandina. To get here, you need to sail to the western sector of the archipelago.
   Of the attractions - the world's largest colony of iguanas Punta Espinosa and the volcano La Cumbre.
4. San Cristobal. The island is not the largest, but the capital.
   This place is remarkable for its landscape versatility - each of the Galapagos natural areas is represented here to a small extent.
   A unique freshwater source is also localized here - a lake that filled the El Junco crater.
   The uniqueness of the object is that the water never dries up here.
5. Hispaniola. This medium-sized island is located in the southern part of the archipelago. It is notable for the fact that wavy albatrosses live here - they do not nest in other parts of the world.
6. Santa Maria. Another southern island.
   Tourists flock here to admire the Devil's Crown - the most beautiful crater of the once erupting volcano. The object got its name because of the prongs sticking out above sea level.
   Shark Bay, which washes the coast of Punto Cormoran, is also very popular.

So, we found out that the Galapagos are located near Ecuador. But how to get there from Moscow?

People get to these islands in three ways:

1. On a cruise ship;
2. On a private yacht;
3. By plane.

Not all representatives of the middle class will pull the first two methods, so we will take a closer look at the third.

In the Galapagos, you can easily get burned in a matter of hours, as there is a very high level of solar radiation.
In order not to spoil your holiday, you should use sunscreens and wear hats.
This is especially true between December and April.

First you need to purchase a ticket for a flight to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Fallback option is to fly via Guayaquil. From these two cities, you can easily get to the Galapagos in the same way - by air.

Domestic flights are operated by two local companies - Ikar and Tame.

Airports were built on two islands - Baltra and San Cristobal. The flight time from Guayaquil will be one and a half hours, from Quito - all three.

If you still decide to travel through Baltra, be aware that this island is not inhabited. You will have to take a ferry ticket and move to Santa Cruz. There is a regular bus service to the pier.

Galapagos on the world map

On the world map, the archipelago seems like a tiny scattering of specks. You can’t immediately distinguish a single island - what can we say about rocks and reefs, of which there are more than a hundred in the local water area.

Islands in the photo

Panoramas of individual corners of the archipelago are invariably picturesque and attract the attention of a European.

In the photo, the Galapagos are represented by the cleanest blue lagoons, ledges of rocks and snow-white sand.

island landscape
Leisure
Holidays on Galapagos Beach
island fauna

Beautiful Galapagos
Undersea world
Galapagos tortoises
Holidays in San Cristobal

Holidays in the archipelago

The entire tourist cycle is concentrated around Isabela and Santa Cruz.

Most travelers prefer to stay in Puerto Ayora, as the infrastructure here is the most suitable for tourist needs.

The best places to live are concentrated on the coast, and they cost accordingly. If you are planning budget holiday— book a room in city hotels.

Let's mention the hotels of the Galapagos Islands, available to the traveler of the "middle hand":

• Hotel Fiesta. Three star hotel in Puerto Ayora.
  Available:
  • solarium,
  • restaurant,
  • banqueting hall,
  • conference room,
  • playroom for children,
  • pool,
  • laundry.
• Hotel La Laguna Galapagos. Based in Puerto Villamil. Three Stars. Transfer to the hotel is paid. Eat:
  • restaurant,
  • hydromassage,
  • laundry.
• Bay Suites Hotel . A cozy place that can shine with four stars. At your service:
  • laundry,
  • restaurant,
  • outdoor pool.
• bay house. No stars. But it's cheap and cheerful. A bonus is the hot tub.
• Hotel Albemarle. The "chips" of the hotel include:
  • restaurant,
  • room service (lunches),
  • outdoor pool,
  • cycling,
  • laundry,
  • the presence of a fax.
• Hostal Sula Sula. Nice little hostel in Puerto Villamil. Equipped with laundry. You can stay with friends.

Diving

Among divers, the most popular areas are the islands of Wolfe and Darwin. Mostly experienced people who have become proficient in the field of diving flock here.

Wolfe boasts observation centers where you can photograph hammerhead sharks at close range.

Rocos Gordon on Santa Cruz is one of the most respected Ecuadorian dive centers. In the Galapagos Islands, this organization controls diving in the central regions.

The heart of the Galapagos is a true diver's paradise for a number of reasons:

• depth;
• ocean currents;
• whirlpools;
• large Marine life.

Kanzz is another iconic dive site. We are talking about a reef, which can be reached if you sail a little north of Santiago.

When visiting the archipelago, do not forget to buy souvenir coins as a souvenir - they are very beautiful here and are highly valued by collectors.

Weather

The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator, so the weather here undergoes minor changes.

The average annual air temperature is kept at around +23°C.

There are only two seasons here - the dry season and the summer season.

Galapagos summer falls on December-May. At this time it is quite hot here (+31°C). Warm water: +25°С. Near the islands of Darwin and Wolfe, the ocean temperature reaches + 28 ° С.

December is a rainy and foggy month. The fogs form in highlands and slowly cover the lowlands.

The water temperature ranges from +16°С to +23°С.

Do not neglect a hat and "anti-sun" cream - in the Galapagos you can quickly get burned.

Almost the entire territory of the archipelago is under protection, so tourists should strictly follow the rules for visiting national parks:

1. Walk only on permitted trails and accompanied by a guide from the park service;
2. Take actions that can harm wildlife:
   • make fires,
   • make loud sounds.

Tour prices

It's time to find out about the cost of travel.

We will try to cover not only vouchers and tours, but also some of the costs that an independent tourist will face.

So, what is the price of a vacation in the Galapagos Islands?

• Sea cruise- 2700-6000 dollars.
• Tours to the Galapagos- 2500-6000 dollars.
• Voucher (with a guide who knows Russian)- 3800-5800 dollars.

Tours from Moscow are in the same price range.

In addition to the prices listed here, you will have to pay:

• mandatory fee for entering the reserve ($100);
• medical insurance (it may be included in the cost of the tour).

On the day, the insurance will pull one and a half dollars out of your pocket.

Boats regularly run between the islands, a ticket for which will cost you 25-30 "green".

Prices for group tours range from 80-150 bucks.

Prices for local cruises vary greatly depending on:

Allow yourself to be happy these days.
If you want to see the ruins of the ancient Inca civilization, the price of tours to Machu Picchu will pleasantly surprise you.

A few words about local prices:

• expensive hotels - $100-200 (night);
• cheap housing - up to $50;
• lunch in a cheap cafe - $ 4-5;
• bread — $0.8-1.1;
• apples - $1;
• potatoes - $2-2.5;
• milk - $0.75-0.9;
• mineral water - $ 0.9-1.2;
• wine (middle class) - $ 8-14 per bottle;
• beer — $0.7-1;
• oranges — $0.8;
• cheese - $4.5-5/5.

Galapagos on video

Many people, tired of the hustle and bustle of cities, dream, for a while, to “get lost” on an island in the ocean. This video will show you how to turn your dream into reality.

What connects the great Charles Darwin with a group of lost islands in the Pacific Ocean? Why are the Galapagos Islands so famous, what is special about them? The point is the unique flora and fauna, which are endemics - a local, isolated ecosystem, where different types evolved without mixing with others. Darwin's stay on these islands was the impetus for his development of the evolutionary theory of the origin of species - natural selection, which became a great discovery. Let's see where the Galapagos Islands are located on the world map.

Location and climate of the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands on the map are located in the Pacific Ocean, in the northwest of South America, and territorially belong to the Republic of Ecuador. They are separated from the mainland by 972 km. The volcanic archipelago consists of 19 islands, it is the main attraction of Ecuador and the largest and most important world reserve. The first of them were formed about 10 million years ago as a result of the movement of tectonic plates. Proximity to the equator and the local cold Humbald Current provided the archipelago with a comfortable two-season period with a stable air temperature of +23°C: from December to May - a warm and humid season, from June to November - a cool and dry one.

Summer in the Galapagos marks the air and water temperature of + 20 ° C, while quite strong winds blow. The cold current also cools the air temperature, but saturates coastal waters with nutrient organisms that attract penguins, birds and schools of fish. The coast becomes densely populated, which attracts tourists, and albatrosses flock to the island of Hispaniola.

Warm tropical downpours are frequent during the winter months. Moisture, evaporating from the ground, creates a curtain of fog, but at an air and water temperature of + 25 ° C, humidity does not cause discomfort. Autumn is the time for divers, as the underwater world becomes more diverse and beautiful. In winter, beautiful blue-footed boobies come here to nest. Spring in the Galapagos is wonderful - numerous endemics bloom (plants that can only be found here), and the sacrament of laying eggs by Galapagos tortoises takes place on the beaches.

Discovery and history of the Galapagos

The archipelago consists of 13 main, inhabited islands, 6 small ones and a scattering of small rocks and ledges above the surface of the water. The Galapagos Islands were discovered in the spring of 1535 by the Spaniard Thomas de Berlanga, who became the first European to set foot on the volcanic land of one of the islands. His ship accidentally veered off course, following from Panama to Peru, and stumbled upon an unfamiliar archipelago. Before the astonished eyes of the travelers stood in all its glory the primitive world inhabited by giant tortoises. By the way, this is where the name came from - galapagos (Spanish), that is, “elephant turtle”.

Historical milestones

Spanish conquistadors settled on the islands, but used them as a haven for pirates who attacked passing ships, until in 1832 "power changed." The archipelago passed into the possession of Ecuador. After 3 years, the expedition of Charles Darwin landed on it with an associate, naturalist Robert Fitzroy. Thus began the era of exploration of a unique ecosystem.

The archipelago was declared a national reserve, but during the Second World War, an American air force base, which defended the Panama Canal and monitored enemy submarines in the region. Of the famous explorers, Thor Heyerdahl also visited the Galapagos, who was looking for traces of the Inca civilization there and found the same.

History of the archipelago in dates:

• In 1959, the International Fund for them was created in Brussels. Darwin, who in every possible way contributes to the study and preservation of a unique ecosystem;
• in 1964 - a research station was built on the island of Santa Cruz, which has carried out and is currently doing a great job of removing "non-native" flora and fauna in order to preserve the purity of endemic species;
• in 1973 - the government of Ecuador founded a province on the islands;
• in 1978 - UNESCO added the archipelago to the World Heritage List;
• in 1985 it became a biosphere reserve;
• in 1986 - coastal waters acquired the status of a protected area. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bocean coastal waters is 70 thousand km², it is the second largest after.

Description of the islands and attractions

The first navigation chart of the archipelago was drawn up in 1684 by the pirate Ambrose Cowley. He gave the names of the islands by the names of his acquaintances filibusters and the English nobles who patronized them. You can visit 13 islands out of 19, but only three of them have infrastructure and are built up with hotels and bungalows - Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal. The majority (90%!), On the contrary, have retained their original integrity and have been given over to animals, reptiles and birds.

The archipelago is located almost on the equator, and the area is very restless: the junction of three tectonic plates regularly generates eruptions of numerous volcanoes. But the rarest representatives of the animal and plant world have found a home here. White, black and red virgin beaches are beautiful, birds of paradise sing in the relic forests, dolphins, fur seals, turtles and even penguins frolic in the clear turquoise water of the lagoons. It's always summer in the Galapagos.

Isabela is the largest island

An area of ​​4640 m², named after Queen Isabella, who sponsored the expeditions of Christopher Columbus. The island is shaped like a seahorse and is riddled with six volcanoes that make up its surface. The highest is Wolf (1707 m), the last eruption was recorded in 1982. In its crater there is a rather large lake with islands. Isabela's other volcano, Sierra Negra, is also remarkable; its crater is the second largest in the world (10 km). The third in the ranking, Chico, erupted powerfully in 2005, and today its surroundings resemble a lunar landscape - tunnels, rivers and lava growths. The island has a salt lake Balthazar, it was chosen by flocks of red flamingos, and there is a settlement - Puerto Villamil.

Isabela Island is interesting for its history, and its main attraction is the Wailing Wall. In the post-war years, a correctional colony functioned on it. For educational purposes, prisoners were obliged to cut blocks from volcanic rock and carry them far from the place of extraction to where they erected a high wall. Hard labor under the scorching sun literally mowed down the ranks of the poor fellows, few survived in such conditions. In memory of them, a rather ridiculous wall 100 meters long and 8 meters high remained. In subsequent years, the prison building was razed to the ground, and the wall remained as a reminder of the atrocities of the overseers.

At the western tip of Isabela there is a bay and a beach, interesting with black sand. Coastal waters are literally teeming with inhabitants; turtles and sea lions are happy to keep divers company. Galapagos penguins, cormorants, iguanas, pelicans, gannets also live on the island. The slopes of volcanoes are inhabited by finches that can use tools - cactus needles, buzzards, land tortoises, flamingos and the Galapagos pigeon. But the most remarkable thing here is a scattering of small charming lagoons, where birds of paradise sing, and coastal waters are furrowed by hammerhead fish, ray fish, as well as sharks and killer whales.

Santa Cruz is the most populated

Another name is Indefatigable. This is the most big Island in the form of an almost even circle (square 985 km²), the center of the Galapagos civilization with the port city of Puerto Ayora, in which 12 thousand people live. There are many entertainments prepared for tourists on Santa Cruz:

• beautiful beach Torguga Bay;
• diving and acquaintance with marine life;
• boat trips between the islands and on a glass bottom boat;
• flying on an airplane or paragliding;
• watching giant tortoises.

On Santa Cruz is, as mentioned above, the research center. Charles Darwin, awarded the International Space Prize in 2002. The best naturalists, scientists, biologists, as well as students and volunteers work here. And in the bay called "Black Turtle", in the thickets of the mangrove forest, the ancient giants are engaged in procreation. Finches live among the thorns of the prickly pear cactus - the main attraction of the local flora.

Fernandina - the dormant volcano

This westernmost island is essentially a periodically waking up volcano called La Cumbre (642 km²). The last two eruptions were in 2005 and 2009, the second turned out to be unusually powerful: red-hot lava and ash shot into the sky to a 7-kilometer height. The name of the island came from King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who was also the patron of Columbus. In the center of the island there is a caldera (hollow) with a diameter of 6.5 km, formed as a result of the collapse of the crater. At its bottom, a lake periodically appears, and then disappears without a trace. Tourists are not allowed in the vicinity of the caldera because of the danger of collapses.

Actually, there is almost nothing to see on it, except for the mangroves on the coast, protruding into the ocean, and the largest population of marine iguanas in the town of Punta Espinosa. The rest of the landscape is a gray, hardened lava mass. Urbina Bay has a coral reef with rich underwater life, while Elizabeth Bay is home to penguins. They share it with pelicans who hide their fish in caves.

Baltra - iguana island

During the Second World War, there was an air force base of the US Army, and now there is international Airport linking the archipelago to the mainland. Flights are operated daily by TAME. The island is home to iguanas. For the sake of the experiment, in the 1930s, biologists moved 70 individuals to the nearby island of Simor Norte, but the iguanas that remained on Baltra died unexpectedly during the war. In the postwar years at the Center. Darwin restored the population and new generations repopulated Baltra.

Bartolome - Pirate's Hideout

A tiny but charming island (only 1.2 km²) is shaped like a horseshoe. From the highest point to the west stretched a section of lava that holds a source of fresh water, which is almost non-existent in the entire archipelago. Filibusters lived in the Pirates' Cave and robbed passing ships. There is a stunning Pinnacle Rock, from the top of which offers wonderful views of the coffee-colored beach. Penguins, sea lions and turtles live at its base. killer whales swim on underwater tunnel connecting the sea and two bays.

Interesting sights of other islands can be seen in the table:

Threat to Galapagos Species

However, no matter how isolated the archipelago is for alien representatives of flora and fauna, the Galapagos have one enemy - man. It was he who violated the purity of endemics and endangered many of the rarest species, and some of them completely disappeared from the face of the earth. Newly arriving "conquerors" in previous centuries released domestic animals to the islands, which rampaged on protected lands. Cats ruined egg layings, pigs dug the soil, damaging the root system of plants, and goats finished them off from above, eating leaves. Defenseless animals and plants turned out to be defenseless against barbarism. But in the last century, scientists sounded the alarm and carried out a massive cleansing of nature from strangers.

Animal world Galapagos

The seclusion of the Galapagos Islands has influenced the diversity and purity of species that have been preserved here, including the work of scientists. Many inhabitants are found only in the archipelago: about 60 species of birds, many fish and marine life.

"The land of fearless animals" - so it is appropriate to call the Galapagos. On any island, everywhere you can stumble upon a colored iguana sleeping on a stone, or flirting frigatebirds, or swimming penguins, as well as sluggish turtles. Animals are friendly and trusting, because they have no enemies, because there are no predators. The world of the archipelago is amazing, where those who, it would seem, do not belong here at all - penguins and seals live.

Humbaldt penguins

In order for the Galapagos penguins to survive in an unusual climate - too warm and dry, they evolved: local ones are very small in size, only 50 cm tall. The plumage is less dense than that of the Arctic counterparts, and there is less subcutaneous fat. To reduce body temperature, the Galapagos penguin can breathe frequently with its mouth open, just like a dog.

They lead a nocturnal lifestyle, and during the day, in the very heat, sit out in the water. Basically, penguins have chosen the western islands, because of the cold currents, the temperature in the sea is lower there, and they breed on Isabela and Fernandina.

Swimming among the penguins in the Galapagos:

Land elephant turtles

Galapagos tortoises are so ancient that they are jokingly called the same age as the universe. These are the largest turtles on the planet, the weight of other individuals reaches six centners, and the length is up to two meters. Giants are long-lived, most trample the earth for more than a century, but there have been cases when caught turtles lived for at least 170 years.

These vertebrate giants inhabit 7 islands of the archipelago, and on islands with different climates they appearance differs. So, in those places where there is higher humidity on the hills, the shell of turtles is dome-shaped, the neck is short, and the animal itself is large. On flat islands with a dry climate, the shell has taken the form of a saddle, the neck is long, and the size of the turtle is smaller. This example makes clear Darwin's theory of the evolution of species.

According to Darwin, the evolution of all living things is based on three basic facts: more offspring are born than can survive; representatives of different species have different traits to adapt to the conditions offered; these traits are heritable. Thus, competition within species is formed and only the strongest can survive, passing on strong genes to offspring. This is how the principle of natural selection works.

Elephant tortoises almost died out in the 20th century because they were massively exterminated for their meat and shell. Of the 250 thousand of these reptiles, only 3,000 remained in the 70s. But scientists were closely engaged in the resurrection of the population and developed a program for growing relic armored ones on special farms. The bred individuals are then released to freedom. In the XXI century, the number of Galapagos tortoises is 19 thousand, and this species is designated as vulnerable.

marine iguana

A unique animal that lives only on these islands. The only marine lizard on the planet that, due to a lack of terrestrial food, has evolved and now feeds on algae. Iguanas crawl into the water in those places where it has warmed up enough, and plunge mainly in shallow water. It is amazing that they can hold their breath for an hour, at which time the oxygen stored before diving enters only the vital organs. Coming out of the water, the lizard hurries to warm up in the sun as soon as possible, clinging to hot stones, otherwise it may die from hypothermia. Its powerful claws form a strong grip even with smooth stone.

land iguana

A beautiful creature shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. It feeds on juicy prickly pear fruits and fruits. An iguana can sit under a cactus for hours and wait for the fruit to fall off. Eats it along with thorns. The reptile pulls out needles stuck in its mouth with its paw or by rotating its tongue, and with its paw it can also remove thorns from its body. Not all iguanas are iguanas, and many gray land iguanas can be found on the islands. These are hybrids - the offspring of marine and terrestrial iguanas. Aquatic representatives of the species often attack land females and mate with them. Well, it has been established whether hybrids are capable of procreation.

This is an amazing bird. During the mating season, males inflate a huge bright red bag hanging from the larynx to attract females. The name is derived from the tendency to accompany ships - frigates - in the hope of a treat. Birds cannot land on water, because once wet they cannot fly, so they always hover over the sea. Before starting to attract a female, the male builds a cozy nest.

blue-footed boobies

A beautiful and unusual bird of rather large size - females reach a height of 80 cm. Its appearance justifies the name, since the paws with blue swimming membranes. The brightness of the color is crucial when a female chooses a male for mating. Gannet laying is done every 8 months, 2-3 eggs each. Parents take turns sitting on the nest for 40 days, and the hatched chicks remain in it for more than three months.

Gannets feed on sea fish, they are excellent divers - the bird dives into the water from a height and goes vertically down to a depth of up to 25 m. It is interesting that the process of capturing fish occurs only on the way back to the surface, when surfacing. Gannets are prone to courage, the bird is not afraid of anyone, even a person, and fiercely protects the nest. The gannet is not endemic to the Galapagos, the islands are just the preferences of these birds, and you can see them in Mexico, in the Gulf of California, and on the islands.

Gabby courting a girlfriend:

Darwin's finches

At first glance, an ordinary little bird. But its importance in evolution is invaluable. On the example of finches, the great scientist derived his theory of natural selection. In short: the subspecies Darwin's finch is endemic to the Galapagos, millions of years ago, its ancestors were brought to the archipelago by a fair wind. Initially, one species of finches lived on all the islands, but under the influence of the external environment, it was forced to evolve. Different islands have their own climate and vegetation, so birds everywhere differ in the shape of their beak. In some it is thick and wide, in others it is narrow and sharp, that is, the beaks have changed in the conditions of different food production.

In 1858, Darwin's monumental work On the Origin of Species was published, which the church anathematized. From the point of view of religion, the Creator created the world, respectively, he also created 13 different finches for 13 Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Islands are home to many other representatives of the animal world:

• the green sea turtle is a beautiful reptile famous for always returning to its birthplace thousands of miles away to lay its eggs;
• sea ​​lions and seals - both species belong to the genus of eared seals;
• Galapagos cormorant is a land bird that has lost the ability to fly. It feeds on fish no further than 100 m from the shore, and enters the water, rotating with its whole body, as if drilling into it;
• buzzard - a falcon about 55 cm long, is the only predator of the archipelago. It feeds on lizards and small iguanas;
• white (mask) booby - has a clear rim around the beak and black edging of the wings. It always lays two eggs, but only one chick survives, the strongest, and the weaker ones are pushed out of the nest by the parents (natural selection in action!).

The Galapagos is a unique place, and scientists are putting a lot of effort into keeping the populations in a "pure" form. The archipelago is difficult, expensive and time consuming to get to, but it's worth the effort to be able to see the incredible animals and birds up close. They lived long before humans appeared on the planet as a species.

Basic moments

The total area of ​​the islands is 8010 km², the population of the Colon archipelago (this is the second name of the Galapagos) is a little more than 25 thousand people. The fame of the region was brought, first of all, by the richness of the local biosphere landscape. Nature itself took care to turn the territory of the Galapagos Islands, located far from civilization, into a real oasis comparable to paradise on Earth. Despite the proximity of the equator, there is no sweltering heat here, and all thanks to the surrounding cold current. Average annual temperature in the Galapagos it varies between 23-24 degrees, although it can be hotter. One can only dream of such conditions in which it is easy and comfortable to relax!

And the possibilities for recreation in the Galapagos Islands are very diverse. In the morning and in the afternoon, tourists prefer to sunbathe under the gentle rays of the local sun. With the onset of the evening, there is an influx of them in cafes, restaurants and other places of entertainment. The rest of the time, guests of the Galapagos get acquainted with natural attractions, of which there are a lot: these are bays, beautiful bays, majestic rocks, capes, formidable volcanoes and, of course, rich flora and fauna. The latter is especially impressive: for a few days or even a couple of weeks, depending on the length of the vacation, each tourist unwittingly becomes a botanist, a zoologist, and an ornithologist. Travelers study the local nature and animals with interest, observe their growth and development in their natural environment.

An excursion into the history of the archipelago

If not for the tectonic activity on the Pacific floor, which took place about 8 million years ago, then no islands, most likely, would not have arisen here. Nevertheless, they were formed, and after some time they were inhabited by ancient people. However, direct evidence of this has not been preserved, scientists judge this only by indirect data.

The first European to set foot on their blessed land was a priest of Spanish origin, Thomas de Berlanga. This happened in March 1535, and quite by accident. He went by sea from Panama to Peru, but accidentally deviated from the course and "wandered" to this seemingly godforsaken archipelago. The involuntary discoverer and his companions saw giant tortoises here, the name of which in Spanish in the plural sounded like “galapagos” (translated as “elephant turtles”). So the discovered islands got a name, and they were listed on the then map of the world.

The Spaniards successfully colonized the Galapagos Islands, but for a long time they did not consider them suitable for full-fledged living. For almost the entire period of foreign domination, pirates took refuge here, making attacks on ships sailing nearby. On February 12, 1832, the archipelago changed sovereign: it was annexed by Ecuador. Three years later, an expedition landed here, which included the future author of the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin. Together with Robert Fitzroy and other young naturalists, he explored the islands in depth.

In 1936, the government declared the Galapagos a national park and took them under its protection. During the Second World War, Baltra Island hosted an American air force base that patrolled the ocean to detect enemy submarines and carried out defense panama canal. After 1945, the United States transferred the property to the Ecuadorian government, which set up its own military base there.

In 1953, the famous archaeologist and writer Thor Heyerdahl arrived in the Galapagos Islands, searching for the legacy of the Incas, and a decade later, traces of the activities of this Indian people were nevertheless discovered. On February 18, 1973, the leadership of the republic announced the creation of a province of the same name in the Galapagos Islands with its capital in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, while Puerto Ayora is the most populous city in the region. In 1978, UNESCO added the Colon Archipelago to the World Heritage List, and in 1985 it was declared a World Biosphere Reserve. In 1986, the water area surrounding the islands was given the status of a marine protected area. Its area is 70 thousand square meters. km, and in this indicator it is second only to the Australian Great Barrier Reef.

The Ecuadorian state pays great attention to the preservation of the natural attractions of the Galapagos Islands. The area of ​​the created national park covers 97.5% of the territory. Founded in 1959 in Brussels (Belgium), the International Darwin Foundation, for its part, also guarantees the preservation of the unique Galapagos system and strongly supports the scientific research conducted here. For this purpose, in 1964, a special research station was established on one of the islands - Santa Cruz. First of all, the researchers began to fight for the "purity" of the local flora and fauna. They did a great job of removing the so-called "non-native" (imported) animals and plants from here, while at the same time strengthening the protection of indigenous species.

Fauna of the Galapagos Islands

Getting acquainted with the fauna of the Galapagos Islands, one involuntarily wonders how so many species of animals, and the most diverse ones, could gather in one place. Of course, it is impossible to present everyone in one article, so we will talk about the most famous, which have become real favorites of tourists.

If you make a kind of rating of the most popular of them, the first lines in it will be occupied by the already mentioned giant elephant tortoise, which gave the archipelago its name, the Galapagos penguin, the blue-footed booby, the magnificent frigate, the Galapagos flightless cormorant, earthen or Darwin finches, fur seal, Galapagos sea lion . The named animals belonging to endemic species are found on the islands at almost every turn. Without exaggeration, they are unique, because nowhere else on Earth can you see them.

The Galapagos penguins, in which the genes of their Antarctic counterparts clearly speak, behave interestingly, as they are constantly looking for cooler places. These are the islands in the western part of the Galapagos, where the water temperature is somewhat lower due to the predominance of cold ocean currents. However, penguins have adapted well and can be found here in different places, but for some reason they breed only on the islands of Fernandina and Isabella and on no others. The named territories, moreover, are the only ones where flightless cormorants nest. They are called so for a reason: due to the weak development of the wings, these birds are not able to fly, but, without losing their balance, they jump well from rock to rock.

Galapagos albatrosses have also chosen a nesting place for themselves, namely the island of Hispaniola: this rarest species can only be observed here and nowhere else in the world. If your vacation falls between April and December, and you visit this part of the archipelago, you can watch exotic birds live. Ground finches, on the contrary, are very common, but they are rightfully called the most legendary. Charles Darwin, when working in the Galapagos Islands, carefully examined representatives of all types of these small birds, suggesting that they have a common ancestor. To such a discovery, very important at that time, the father of evolutionary theory was prompted by the different shape of their beak. The scientist came to the conclusion that such differences were formed as a result of the struggle for survival.

The elephant turtles living here are so ancient that they are often called the same age as the universe. The sizes of these reptiles are huge, reaching a length of one and a half meters. A good-natured toothless grin and a funny head with wrinkled skin hiding in a shell every now and then give the impression of a very old age - as if these animals had moved here from the prehistoric era. Evidence has been preserved that a very long time ago another 15 subspecies were found on the Galapagos Islands, which differed in many respects from each other: both in size, and in the shape of the shell, and in the distribution area. Accident or not, four of them died out almost simultaneously with the arrival of the first people on the archipelago. If earlier the total number of giant tortoises was 250 thousand individuals, today there are about 15 thousand of them left. These animals are long-lived, living on average up to a hundred years. It can be assumed that many of them "met" Darwin himself. Want to see them up close? Then you need to Isabella Island (Albemarle), where they basically settled. Or, as an option, you can visit the surroundings of the Alcedo volcano and the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

Another symbol of the Colon archipelago is marine iguanas. To see them, you do not need to go to any specific islands. These lizards are found almost everywhere in the local water area. It is estimated that there are about 300 thousand individuals. They spend the lion's share of the time in the water, then go ashore and bask in the sun with pleasure. Their favorite pastime is... blowing their nose. Not like people, of course, but they have no other way than through the nostrils to remove excess sea salt from the body, so do not be surprised at the white foam on their faces.

Diving enthusiasts in the Galapagos Islands are guaranteed their unforgettable encounters and experiences. Diving with or without scuba gear is a great way to get to know fur seals, which are also found almost everywhere in the local waters. There are places in the Galapagos where you can't avoid getting to know them. In this regard, the seal grotto on the island of Santiago is especially noteworthy, where you can get quite close to these amazing creatures.

In addition to iguanas, green turtles and unique colorful fish can also compete with you in scuba diving (more than 300 species live in the local waters of the latter). Encounters with reef, darktip reef and gray Galapagos sharks, and even, if you are very lucky, the mysterious whale sharks, are especially amazing.

It is no less interesting to observe the daily behavior of the inhabitants. local fauna. Wanna see how green sea ​​turtles lay eggs? Come in January. Do you want to swim with penguins? Welcome to Bartolome Island, but not earlier than May and not later than September. Dreaming of seeing adorable newborn sea lion cubs? Don't miss August. Well, in December you can look at the cubs of the giant Galapagos tortoises: they hatch from eggs just during this period.

Video: The underwater world of the Galapagos Islands

Environmental Safety

The Government of Ecuador and international environmental organizations traditionally urge tourists to take care of the unique biological resources of the Galapagos Islands. Under special protection are such animals as the elephant tortoise, green turtle, holothurians, sea lion, Galapagos conolophos, as well as birds: Galapagos cormorant, tree finch, Galapagos buzzard. However, environmental threats do exist, and they are mostly associated with historical circumstances.

So, animals and plants are unsafe, accidentally or deliberately brought to the archipelago at different times. This is especially true for cattle. Reproducing rapidly, it oppresses the local fauna, literally devastating its habitat. There are very few “own” predators on the Galapagos Islands, so local animals are often defenseless against “aliens” and often become their victims. For example, cats love to hunt finches. Of the plants, avocados, guava, blackberries, cinchona, fragrant dope, pyramidal ocher, castor beans, elephant grass and various types of citrus fruits pose a threat. Having spread widely, these plants literally “pushed out” representatives of the local flora, in particular, on the islands of Isabella, San Cristobal, Floreana and Santa Cruz.

“Emigrants” among local animals appeared, for example, with the light hand of pirates: Thor Heyerdahl found evidence of this. In one of the old documents published by him, it is said that the viceroy of Peru, having learned that sea robbers eat goats here, ordered to set the last evil dogs on them. One of the fathers of Ecuador's independence and the founder of his fleet, José de Villamil, personally gave the order to raise goats, donkeys and other domestic animals in the Galapagos, so that the future colonizers of the islands would have something to eat. The appearance of poultry here and its rapid reproduction has created a new headache for scientists, who rightly believe that their diseases can be transmitted to wild relatives with the risk of entire epidemics.

The Galapagos archipelago is also inhabited by pigs and horses, cats and dogs, mice and rats, donkeys, cockroaches, ants. Domestic predators often devastate the nests of wild birds and attack them themselves, catch iguanas and turtles. The nests of the latter are often destroyed by pigs, which, moreover, constantly dig the ground in search of roots and insects, causing enormous damage to the unique vegetation. It is the pigs that are believed to have ousted the iguanas from the island of Santiago, and in fact, relatively recently, in the time of Darwin, they still lived there. Black rats have also become a real scourge of the Galapagos Islands. They attack small turtles as soon as they leave their nests, and as a result, for example, on the island of Pinzon, these reptiles have ceased to breed. Rodents also exterminated their local counterparts - endemic rats.

The priceless riches of the waters of the Colon archipelago are threatened by illegal fishing. Of particular concern to Ecuadorian and international organizations is the fishing of local sharks and unauthorized harvesting of sea cucumbers. A significant increase in local population coupled with the development of the tourism industry. The eyes of the world community on the problems of the Galapagos Islands were also attracted by the accident of the Jessica tanker, which caused a wide resonance, as a result of which a significant amount of oil spilled into the territorial waters.

Islands and attractions

The most populated of the thirteen main islands of the archipelago is Santa Cruz. He is the second largest after Isabella. Here it is main port The Galapagos is the city of Puerto Ayora. Leads to him the main road, on both sides of which there are two craters, called "Gemini" (Los Gemelos). According to one version, they appeared as a result of several volcanic eruptions, according to another, these huge voids formed by solidified lava. And next to the village is the beautiful beach of Tortuga Bay. After soaking up the sun here, you can go to get acquainted with the lava caves and the unique center for breeding elephant turtles.

Santa Cruz Island is a real find for lovers of water sports. Diving, snorkelling, yachting - extreme tourists will definitely find something to their liking here. By renting a yacht, you can go to other islands of the Galapagos archipelago. Others even rent a small plane, flying to remote places and staying for a day or two, or even a week. Let's say, to the northwest, where Dragon Hill is located, which got its name from the iguanas, which were then transported to another place to save them from the dominance of dogs. Fifteen years ago, several individuals were returned here, and over the past years, the population of these animals has fully recovered, and this place itself has been made accessible to tourists.

The main attraction of Santa Cruz is considered to be the Charles Darwin Research Center, awarded in 2002 with the International Space Prize. It has an international status, and was founded with the aim of maintaining the biosphere of the archipelago, which is called the "laboratory of evolution", and its protection. Not only scientists work here, but also university professors, students and volunteers from all over the world. The center, which has branches on the islands of San Cristobal and Isabella, has developed a special program for feeding elephant tortoises and maintaining their natural habitat. These giants are kept directly on the territory of the scientific station, where their reproduction is carefully controlled. As soon as they become adults, they are released into the wild.

On the island of Santiago, in its northwestern part, there is the famous black beach of Puerto Egas, which received this color of sand due to volcanic activity, namely the subsidence of tuff. In this place, sea lions, chameleons, lizards and other animals feel at ease. Connoisseurs of antiquity will surely like the ruins of the shops of salt mining companies that existed in the past. Here you can go snorkeling or walk along the rock formations and tunnels surrounding the beach.

The Galapagos Islands also have their own Wailing Wall. It is located on Isabella Island. Briefly, the story is as follows: in 1946-1959 there was a penal colony here. Prisoners were forced to cut cheap blocks of volcanic rock, carry them a considerable distance and build a wall out of them. The work was truly hard labor, and even under the scorching sun. It is not surprising that not all those who served time here endured such torment and died. The entire scale of the work can be imagined looking at this wall: it stretches for more than 100 meters in length, and 8 meters in height. After some time, the prison was closed and razed to the ground, and they decided to leave the gigantic and sad building as evidence of the inhuman treatment of prisoners.

On Isabella you can observe the most high volcano Galapagos Islands - Wolf, whose height is 1707 meters above sea level. The crater of another volcano, Sierra Negra, is the second largest in the world in diameter (10 km). Another local volcano, Chico, showed its formidable temper in 2005. After its eruption, lava rivers and tunnels remained. Walking through them, it is difficult to get rid of the impression that you are somewhere on the moon: it is so unlike the landscape we are used to. From the top of Chico, there are wonderful views of the northern tip of Albemarle.

In the western part of the island, not far from the Alcedo volcano, there is Urbina Bay, which was formed in 1954 by strong tides. The beach is interesting for its black sand, as well as literally colorful vegetation. coastline covered with shellfish, dried corals. Diving enthusiasts are waiting for "competition" with sea lions and turtles. Fans of passive recreation will not be bored either: they will be able to view the inhabitants of the deep sea directly from the shore. It is no less exciting to watch the red Galapagos flamingos, who have chosen the salt lake Balthazar. The main thing is not to scare them, because they do not like strangers and can simply leave.

The best place on the island of Hispaniola is considered to be Cape Suarez. Here you can watch the colored iguanas, imposingly, not at all afraid of people basking in the sun. And also for birds, for example, wavy albatrosses, the colony of which is considered the largest in the world. In the northeastern part is Gardner Bay, whose delightful white beaches leave no one indifferent. Sea turtles, sea lions crawl out onto the long coast and here they create entire colonies, curious mockingbirds run back and forth. In this place you can go scuba diving or snorkeling, and even race with sea lions.

The most active volcano of the Galapagos is located on the island of Fernandina - La Combre, whose height is 1476 meters. It wakes up very often, once every few years, and such a frequency of eruptions leads to the collapse of the crater. One of the most powerful took place in the summer of 2005, when steam and ash "shot" over 7 kilometers high. The eruption of 2009 brought the greatest damage: the natural landscape in this part of the Galapagos Islands was on the verge of extinction, but, fortunately, the ecosystem quickly recovered.

Main attractions small island Rabida, located south of the island San Salvador - beaches with dark red sand, which tourists love very much. Such an extraordinary color of the beaches is given by volcanic soil in combination with iron oxide contained in it. It is on Rabid that unique bakuta trees grow. There are red flamingos and pelicans on the island, west coast there is a large colony of sea lions. Rabida Island is also considered the geological center of the entire Galapagos archipelago.

If you are fond of diving, then you should definitely visit the rocks "Devil's Crown", which are located near the island of Floreana. More precisely, these are not even rocks, but a stone semicircle formed by a submerged volcano, protruding to the surface of the water. Here, as if by order, the most unusual marine inhabitants have gathered, and everyone can feel like a real Captain Nemo. Divers also dive outside the crater, swimming alongside sharks, rays and other marine predators. However, first of all, you need to be afraid not of them, but of strong undercurrents, which are not uncommon here.

National cuisine

The most popular treat in the Galapagos Islands is ceviche. First of all, seafood lovers will like it. It is prepared as follows: fish and other seafood are marinated in lime juice, after which they are seasoned with hot chili peppers. Vegetables are served as a side dish to the popular fish dish.

Fans of first courses will surely like rich meat soups. What gives them piquancy is that the broths are cooked from a variety of parts of the carcasses. For one of these soups, it is called caldo de pata, they use ... veal hooves, which are pre-fried.

Do you have anything against guinea pigs? No, they will not keep you company during the meal, but ... they will act as the main ingredient for one of their most delicious dishes. It is prepared very simply: the guinea pig is also fried. This food is so delicious that only convinced vegetarians can refuse it. For them, the very nature of the Galapagos Islands has prepared huge selection exotic vegetables and fruits, the taste of which cannot be expressed in words - you should definitely try them. Tourists especially like the striped cucumber called pepinos. It has a very pronounced and spicy taste.

An excellent addition to the local culinary delights is a glass of excellent beer, which has been produced here for a long time and of very high quality. The foamy drink in the Galapagos has many delicious snacks that you can try in local bars and restaurants. In general, the cuisine of the Galapagos Islands is based on classic Latin American recipes. Usually, when cooking, hot spices are mixed in various proportions, not to mention the use of components that, at first glance, seem incompatible, but the dishes of them are obtained - you will lick your fingers!

Note to tourists

To visit Ecuador and, accordingly, the Galapagos Islands, a visa for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan will not be required if the period of stay does not exceed 90 days.

The best conditions for tourists are created in the city of Puerto Ayora. The island of Santa Cruz as a whole can boast of many hotels. Single rooms with modest furnishings will cost $ 15, for suites you will have to pay from $ 100 to $ 130 per night. Connoisseurs of luxury holidays allow themselves to rent a whole private mansion, which has a swimming pool and even a marina. Such a pleasure per day will cost from $ 350 and more.

The only tourist street in Puerto Ayora stretches along the coast and bears the name of ... guess who. Well, of course, Charles Darwin. It is here that hotels, entertainment venues and souvenir shops are concentrated. Travelers are pleasantly surprised by the presence of many shops selling gold and other jewelry, and art salons. The product here is excellent, however, at exorbitant prices. Of the souvenirs, the most popular ones are T-shirts with images of representatives of the local fauna and cute caps with the inscription “Galapagos”.

When visiting the Galapagos Islands - by the way, it is paid ($ 100 in cash is paid immediately upon arrival) - you should not forget that the territory is a protected national park, and the only one in the whole country. And this means that every tourist should adhere to certain rules of conduct. Independent movement around the islands is undesirable, tourists must be accompanied by a guide. There are paved trails for moving around the area. Specially equipped platforms are used as observation points. Talking loudly, making noise or kindling fires is strictly prohibited.

The voltage in the local power supply is only 110 volts, so take care of adapters and adapters for household electrical appliances in advance. In some hotels they can be provided upon request, but it is impossible to guess which ones in advance, so it is better to take them with you in advance. Also stock up on your own medicines, if, according to the available indications, they need to be taken regularly: most likely, it will not work to replenish your personal first-aid kit during your stay here.

Drinking tap water or cooking with it is not recommended. For these purposes, bottled water is used, which can be bought at any grocery store. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before eating, so as not to get any intestinal infection.

Going on vacation to the Galapagos Islands, it would be useful to focus on the seasons local climate. The hottest months are from December to May. It is also considered quite humid, given the occasional tropical downpours. The hottest and wettest months are March and April. The driest and coolest season with its inherent strong winds established from June to November.

How to get there

The Galapagos is an island territory, therefore, except by plane, it is cheaper to get here by no other means. Direct flights to the archipelago from mainland Ecuador are carried out only from the city of Guayaquil. Three airlines send their aircraft to the islands: AeroGal, LAN and Tame.

You will spend 1 hour 50 minutes on the plane. The cost of tickets depends on when they were purchased and whether the tourist got on a promotional special offer. On average, a round-trip flight will cost 350-450 dollars.

There are two airports operating on the Galapagos Islands: on the island of San Cristobal - San Kristobal, on Baltra - Seymour Airport.

Direct flights from Russian Federation to the Republic of Ecuador are not carried out. You will have to get either through one of European capitals(for example, through Madrid), or through the United States if you have an American visa in your passport.