My husband and are planning to take our two boys ages 2 & 4 to the Galapagos Islands for a week to 10 days (from Quito). Does anyone have any tips or advice on the best way to see the islands. Boat vs hotel with day trips? Are the boat tours safe for little guys? Any tour guide recommendations?
Thank you in advance!
2007-03-07 08:56:00 · 3 answers · asked by mrmacken 1 in Travel ➔ Latin America ➔ Ecuador
that sounds like a terrible experience for all involved. the kids are entirely too young for such a trip and they would ruin it for you. What another 15 years.
2007-03-07 09:27:02 · answer #1 · answered by Fel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The galapagos is no place for small kids unless you want to feed the animals. Wait until they are older and will appreciate it.
2007-03-07 09:04:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your kids are too small too visit galapagos because you have to walk a lot, to see all things at that paradaise, bot vs hotel, are nice, you visit the islands during the day and they are chepear than the others, if you dont wan to spend a lot i recomended www.islasdefuego.com they have guides, and hotel, but the hotel is 2 stars, but is really nice, clean, have a pool i have been there, but think abouth your kids becasuse you have to walk a lot,
rigin and Evolution
The Galapagos Islands lie almost a thousand kilometers off the coast of Ecuador’s mainland. Biologically diverseg, they are one of the planet’s natural paradises and one of the most visited national parks in the world. The flora and fauna you’ll find here are truly unique. Here, you’ll see unending beaches of marble white sand such as those of Tortuga Bay, tunnels of lava, spectacular diving areas, and a marine reserve, not to mention the prehistoric animals and colorful birds you’ll get a chance to observe. There are thirteen main islands that make up the archipelago. The climate here is sub-tropical. The Galapagos Islands have two airports with flights to Quito and Guayaquil.
rotected Areas
The Galapagos Islands are home to many islands on which tourists can appreciate and explore the pristine state of the complex, constantly evolving ecosystem that has made the Galapagos so famous. On the island of Floreana, for example, you can visit Post Office Bay, The Black Beach, Flamingos Lagoon, Cormorant Point, or The Pirates’Caves. There are also areas to scuba dive, such as La Corona del Diablo. On Genovesa, the frigate birds, furry seals, marine iguanas, tropical birds, red-footed boobies, and masked boobies all stand out. On Fernandina, there are sea lions, iguanas, pelicans, penguins, and cormorants. On Española, you can appreciate the dance of the Blue-footed Booby or the courting of the Albatross.
Other points of interest in the Galapagos Islands are El Géiser, El Soplador, and Cucubes, all of which are home to a variety of exotic and rare birdlife. Santiago is well known for having some of the best and most accessible scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands and also because it offers the chance to walk between lava flow formations all the way to the volcanic conic peak of Bartolomé, where furry seals and sea lions dwell. On North Seymour, there are colonies of frigate birds, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies. The Plazas Islands are an important habitat of sea lions, iguanas, cactus, and seagulls. Santa Fe is a bay surrounded by forests of giant cactus, sea lions, sparrow hawks, and iguanas. Isabela is home to a nursery of turtles and constant volcanic activity. In 1998, after twenty years of activity, Volcano Cerro Azul suddenly erupted.
The Galapagos Islands are home to a Marine Reserve which has been declared a Natural Heritage Site. There are 62 destinations to visit in the islands.
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Sports and Adventure Tourism
In certain areas of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, it is possible to partake in both deep or shallow diving and to have close-up contact with the impressive aquatic species of the sea: coral reefs, whales, whale sharks, hammer head sharks, sting rays, manta rays, sword fish, turtles, and many others. In the depths of the sea, there are strong ocean currents and the impressive extrusions of lava that shouldn’t be missed by divers while they are enjoying the exotic marine wildlife. Other marine habitats are formed of rocky bottoms, vertical walls, and mangroves. The area is sometimes affected by natural phenomena, such as cold water currents and the effects of El Niño.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve encompasses an area of over 133,000 square km.. Diving in the Archipelago is one of the greatest adventures possible. The area is considered one of the seven most important regions in the world for divers. Islands such as Santiago, Bartolomé, and Floreana (La Corona del Diablo) all offer excellent diving. One of the most interesting tours passes through the lava formations of the island of Santiago. And on Santa Cruz, there are trails that wind through the island’s vegetation of cactus, scrub, and mangroves. On these islands, studied by Charles Darwin, there are 54 land sites where tourists can go on walks with specialized guides.
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Sun and Beach/Virgin Beaches
Tortuga Bay, located in Puerto Ayora (Isla Santa Cruz), is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Galapagos Islands. It includes two beaches, separated by a headland of mangroves, each of which is covered with marble colored sands. On Floreana, on the other hand, there is Playa Negra, the black lava beach. On the island of Santiago, there are also beaches ideal for swimming. Other beaches include: Playa Ochoa (San Cristóbal), Playa Espumilla (Marchena), and Playa Bahía Darwin (Genovesa).
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2007-03-08 01:43:35 · answer #3 · answered by tere 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋