Certain destinations are much talked about simply because of their uniqueness. The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador feature among the destinations that make up the bucket list of avid travellers and adventure-seekers.
Located in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador the archipelago of Galapagos is a group of 19 islands and dozens of islets and rocks that cover an area of over 44,000 sq km.
The volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean are famous for their large number of endemic species, especially the finches that were studied by Charles Darwin during his visit in 1835 culminating in the inception of his theory of evolution by means of natural selection.
Tourism Hotspot
The archipelago is now renowned as an iconic tourist destination for many reasons. Not only does it feature some of the world’s most unique and endemic wildlife species as well as wonderful beaches that rank among the world’s best; but this living laboratory cum museum also offers its visitors a spectacle to be admired and remembered for a lifetime.
If anyone is interested in who first set foot on the islands, be it Incas, refugees, pirates or the seafarers, they can take a guided tour upon reaching one of the main islands and the guides will happily do all the storytelling.
Like any other destination in the Americas, it takes long-haul flights to reach Baltra or San Cristobal, the two islands with functional airports. The archipelago is blessed with pleasant weather all year round. The main local language is Spanish, although due to continuous tourist traffic from all over the world, locals are trying to pick up English as well.
Indians get a visa-on-arrival for 90 days for tourism purposes. From India, Lucknow, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai have flight connections with two transfers and about 36 hours’ of flying time.
All the islands are not inhabited by the locals, as UNESCO not only declared Galapagos a World Heritage Site but also a Biosphere Reserve. Tour companies park their boats, ships and yachts for the tourists to take cruise tours of the islands. Many of them are equipped with facilities to serve overnight guests as well. Baltra Island requires permits by the military government for overnight stays on the beach. Other inhabited islands also allow camping on the beaches designated as ‘recreational’ use to the locals. All of these camping permits are limited to a number of people and nights, with most nights not to exceed three.
One has to plan and pick between land-based accommodation or live-aboard boats. If you choose a land-based vacation, expect to spend a lot of time getting from your hotel, onto a boat, out to the day’s destination, then back to your property. On the other hand, live-aboard boats do most of their navigating during the night when travellers are asleep in cabins onboard, but they are costlier.
Despite many travel restrictions, about 275,000 people visit the Galápagos every year. Tourist numbers from India, however, are still insignificant mainly due to the price.
Natural Wonders
The Galapagos is filled with such exotic flora and fauna as giant cacti, finches, flightless cormorants and the famed giant tortoise, whose average lifespan of 100 years makes it the longest living vertebrate on earth. Rumour has it that there may even be a ‘great-grandpa’ tortoise that hatched around the time Darwin arrived at the islands!
A fascinating underwater world here has made Galapagos a unique destination on the planet. The marine animals in the area include more than 2,900 species, 25 per cent of which are endemic and hence they are found nowhere else on earth. Among the most notable species are the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, whales, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.
The islands offer everyone the possibility to enjoy a great variety of activities for all ages, interests, and fitness, ranging from the contemplative to the adventurous, offering the best of the wildlife and nature.
By far the most popular activity in the archipelago, trekking in the Galapagos brings the best opportunity to take some amazing pictures of the wildlife and landscapes. A small party of tourists is led by a naturalist guide appointed by the Galapagos National Park through numerous trails brimming with a wonderful life and awe-inspiring views.
Most tours include snorkelling, the easiest and the most practical way to experience the amazing underwater world of Galapagos. Even from the boat, you can see some curious sea lions and penguins watching you approach them.
Paddling a kayak boat alongside the island’s shore and observing many birds nesting in the tree branches, schools of baby rays and sharks, as well as other marine life enjoying the tranquil turquoise waters requires relatively little effort. Experiencing the hidden beauty of lagoons surrounded by the mangrove forest while kayaking is yet another cool leisure activity!
For those who enjoy water species from up and close, scuba diving in the Galapagos is, without doubt, the most rewarding underwater experience available.
Photo Credit: Frantisek Hojdysz
Even though it is one of the most eco-sensitive places in the world, responsible tourism in Galapagos is yet to take off and as a result, it is under threat from a host of tourism-related activities. The growth of both the tourism industry and local populations fuelled by high birth rates and illegal immigration is threatening the balance of the wildlife of the archipelago. The grounding of oil tanker Jessica in 2001 and the subsequent oil spill brought this threat to global attention.
Other than visiting the islands for its natural wonder, the Galapagos is also famous for MICE events and weddings. Regular film shootings also add to the revenue of the islands. Very recently Bollywood producers have started exploring the idea of introducing Galapagos to the Indian audience. Indian wedding planners also showed keen interest in exploring the place despite the distance.
