Islas Galápagos aka: Galapagos Islands, Archipiélago de Galápagos

To see the amazing wildlife

This is a simply beautiful archipelago.

We did not do a cruise. Just 9 days in total, split between Santa Cruz and Isabela, with two day trips to Bartolomé and to Floreana. The latter was my personal favourite, because we saw so much varied marine wildlife at the Corona del Diablo. I also preferred Santa Cruz to ISabela because of the better tourism opportunities (including free stuff to do, like Tortuga Bay, Playa Alemanes, Las Grietas, Tortoise Centre, Lake Las Ninfas). We found the people of Isabela a bit more money-oriented and were especially annoyed with the surprise $5 tax when you leave. I hope not to upset anyone but this is my view.

I personally recommend Hostal Los Amigos in Puerto Ayora. For $10 per person you have a well decorated clean room with ventilator, shared bathroom and kind hosts.

In this place I saw and played with animals I never knew to be so friendly and interesting. The fauna is just amazing and the underwater life is what marked me most.

I went to Galapagos through the Lindblad Expeditions cruises and had an amazing and educational experience. I did tons of deep sea snorkeling, wild life watching and eating, of course! Definitely check it out!

We’ll be in the gala-gala like I like to call them for 8 days up until 1st April! Can’t wait.

The best time for snorkeling is Feb-Mar when the turtles come out :-)

A link of what to do + where to go

The only airlines that go there are TAME (US$ 371 = €250 rtn tax inc. – flies only to San Cristobal) and AEROGAL (US$ 407 rtn to San Cristobal; US$ 351 rtn to Baltra Island) and they only fly from Quito and Guayaquil.

For Lima-Ecuador, there are two options: LIM-QUI-LIM (LAN US$567 TACA US$540 rtn TTC) orLIM-QUIGUA-LIM (LAN US$568 TACA US$ 540 rtn TTC).

I’ve always been fascinated by the wildlife in the Galapagos—this is one place I won’t miss.

I’ve been wanting to go since my science teacher my freshman year in high school showed us pictures of his adventures! Looks wonderful! :-)

Every moment of our trip was outstanding. Words can not describe the abundance of wild life on the land and in the sea. Every moment was something new. In order to really enjoy the island you should take a cruise (not something I would normally do). Go…enjoy and be enlightened to what the world was like before development.

Here are a few websites to read through in researching a visit to the Galapogos Islands.

• Ecuador Explorer
• from Holbrook Travel
• South American Experience
• Galapogos.com
• Galapogos Conservatory from Charles Darwin Foundation