Galapagos should be one of the seven wonders of the world, and is definitely a "must-see" for every traveler at some point. This naturalist paradise is not only a major attraction for the inveterate nature-lover, but also for the general traveler, the photographer and the diver who seek something unique. For Galapagos, despite the steady but controlled flow of tourists over the years, is unique: nowhere else can the forces of nature be observed so starkly, and the wildlife seen in its pristine state without the fear of man.
The thirteen major islands, 1,000 kms off the coast of Ecuador and straddling the equator, emerge in harsh volcanic form from the boundless Pacific ocean. Each is slightly different in panorama and wildlife.
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Despite their active volcanoes and inhospitable terrain, all host a wildlife which has been forced to adapt to the local terrain and climate. This adaptation is what inspired Charles Darwin, who stayed 5 weeks with the Beagle in 1835, to consider the Galapagos as an evolutionary laboratory and write his famous treatise “The Origin of the Species". And the wildlife can easily be seen at astonishingly close quarters, sprawled on the beaches and rocks, unlike everywhere else in the world where fear of predators is normal.
A further attraction to a Galapagos visit is the way it is visited. Everybody flies from the mainland to the Galapagos. Once there, some choose to stay in a small hotel and take day trips to nearby islands. But the most common way to experience the Galapagos is by cruising from island to island, disembarking for shore visits with an experienced guide, and then sailing on to the next different destination. Live-aboard yachts range from small intimate 4-cabin sailing yachts to 100 passenger cruise ships, quality varies from budget to luxury, and so the traveler can choose according to preference and pocket. So this kind of vacation combines the delights of island cruising with shore visits to this spectacular nature reserve.
Once you've made the decision to see the Galapagos, be tempted to extend the trip to include one or more visits to Ecuador's mainland and perhaps to Peru. Ecuador is a very small country - the Amazon jungle and the highlands of the Andes are readily accessible without endless travelling. Extensions to see the colonial city of Quito, colorful indigenous markets such as Otavalo, the snow-capped Andes, and possibly to spend a few days in the Ecuadorian Amazon, are very popular. Also increasingly common is a longer extension to Peru, to visit the stunning Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and Cuzco. In this way a truly remarkable trip can be fashioned, combining Galapagos with some of the main sights of the region, and permitting a fascinating glimpse of South America's present and past. |
