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Galapagos Info

Emerging from the Pacific Ocean three to five million years ago, the Galapagos Archipelago is the amazing result of powerful underwater volcanic eruptions.
These spectacular Islands are located 622 miles off Ecuador's coast and hold perhaps the most fascinating zoological, geological and botanical wonders in the world. Giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, cormorants, penguins, hawks, boobies and a wealth of truly rare flora are part of this unique landscape: the Natural Heritage of Mankind.

What will we observe on the Galapagos Islands?

The Bachas Beaches
These two small beaches are found to the west of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where occasionally is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra island as a strategically point to protect the Panama Channel. (The metal is rusty and sharp, so it is not a good place for swimming).

Plazas Islands
These are two small islets that were uplifted a short distance from the east coast of Santa Cruz. The unusual vegetation and location of the island created an interesting landscape in which the fauna and flora of Galápagos are enhanced. Moreover despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the archipelago occur here. It is possible to guarantee the observation of land iguanas that often are in the shade of a cactus. Nesting on the rugged southern cliffs, are usually swallow -tailed gulls, which seen along with various other sea birds.
The protected rocky seashore is a prime habitat for a large colony of noisy sea lions. The principal attraction of Plazas are the land iguanas, the sea lions and the swallow - tailed gulls. Also we can see yellow- tailed mullets, Audubon's shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds and brown pelicans gliding past the cliff.

Santa Fe Island (Barrington)
The small bay on Barrington's northeast coast is an extremely picturesque anchorage. There are two different trails at this site. One leads to a scenic viewpoint on top of a cliff where it is possible to find land iguanas, endemic to the island. The other trail is near the beach and is a short circular trail where it is possible to see land iguanas, but early in the morning or in the afternoon when the sun is low. A particular attraction is the unusually tall forest of prickly cactus.

Española Island (Hood)

Punta Suarez This rocky point of land sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galápagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blowhole, where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf. Being and ¨outpost¨ island, Hood has high percentage of endemic fauna, species that have evolved in the archipelago their own characteristics that makes unique in the world.
Gardner Bay Located on the northeastern coast
of Hood, Gardner Bay provides excellent beach for relaxing, swimming and an opportunity to observe sea lions.

Floreana Island

Post Office Bay Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by sailors and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists.

Devil's Crown This islet consists of an eroded volcanic crater, which owes its present form to the strong wave action. The interior is excellent for snorkelling and the exterior is considered one of the prime areas for scuba diving, especially when the current is strong. It is very important to note that only competent divers should dive in these conditions.

Santa Cruz Island

Charles Darwin Interpretation Center
Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands is carried out. One of the principal attractions are: National Park information center, Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (tortoise from Pinta Island), adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

Highlands
The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone, near to the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. A 30 - 40 minutes hike will take us to the shores of "El Chato lagoon" where we can observe giant Galapagos turtles in natural state.

Bartolome Island
A small barren island, located in Sullivan Bay off James Island. Bartolome has two visitors' sites. At one of them it is possible to climb to the summit of the island, from where visitors can observe a variety of volcanic formations, spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. The moon like landscape provides the most scenic panorama in the archipelago. At the other site, the visitor may swim and snorkel from a beautiful beach or walk across the isthmus to another beach that faces south, where swimming is prohibited . Multi -coloured fish and occasionally penguins may be seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock which, dominates Bartolome's landscape.

Sullivan Bay
This visitor site provides a unique opportunity to observe a recent lava flow of approximately 100 years old. The east side of James Island is known to have barren volcanic landscapes, dominated by black pahoehoe (ropy) lava flows of very young age. On the surface of the lava is possible to observe some tree molds that were carried down by the flow of the fresh lava. It is also interesting to see how some mollugo plants are starting to colonize the small lava fissures.

Egas Port
Is located at the west of James Island. This place was seriously affected by the activities of the salt mining in the 1960's and by the large quantities of introduced animals, especially the goats, which have caused big damage to the vegetation. Nevertheless, visitor sites are all of great beauty and scientific interest.

Rábida
This island has a striking dark red colour due to the high content of iron in the lava and its oxidation. Behind the beach there is a picturesque salt water lagoon, where white -cheeked pintail ducks and flamingos are usually seen. The circular inland trail provides a beautiful view from its southeastern cliffs. The "palo santo" trees dominate the vegetation

North Seymour
This island is located to the North of Baltra. It is a flat and low-lying island, formed as a result of the uplift of a submarine lava formation. The vegetation is mainly low and bushy, and contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate-birds in the Galápagos. There is also a large population of blue footed boobies nesting from May to November and by the coastline resides a colony of playful sea lions.

Baltra Island
Here we find the main airport on the Galapagos islands. This is also the military basis of the Ecuadorian Government.