| Check out our free interactive Galapagos Islands holiday guide and discover Galapagos Islands's biggest attractions, best restaurants and much more. If you've visited Galapagos Islands before tell us your holiday tips and help other travellers enjoy great holidays in Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. |
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| GALAPAGOS ISLANDS LOCAL HISTORY |
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It is believed that in the 15th century, a northern culture from Peru, ruled by the Incas, the Chimu, lived on the islands. The Bishop of Panama, discovered the islands, when his ship was blown off-course, in 1535 and during the 16th and 17th Centuries, the islands were favourite pirate hideouts.
The islands were exploited in the 18th and 19th Centuries for whales, tortoises and seals and these species were almost extinct. Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835 and studied the fauna and flora and wrote his book' The Origin of Species, based on his findings. In 1959, the Galapagos Islands became Ecuador's first National park and the Charles Darwin Foundation was established to assist in the preservation of the islands. In 1978, the islands were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. |
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Santiago Island - It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago and has a long, lava shoreline where eroded rock formations house a wide variety of wildlife, such as the iguanas, while the rockpools contain many Sally Lightfoot crabs, which also attract other species. Puerto Egas is a good spot, not only for taking pictures, but many varieties of fish can be seen and is an excellent place for snorkelling.
Santa Cruz - This is the second largest island and also offers an opportunity of seeing some of the interior, due to the road that runs from north to south. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago and is a great base to explore the rest of the islands by boat. The Charles Darwin research station is based here and it carries out investigations and advises the Ecuadorian government on minimizing the impact of tourism on the islands.
Cruises and Tours of the Islands - Enjoy a boat cruise that takes you around to the various islands and enjoy their differences or base yourself at one of the bigger ones, like San Cristobel, which has the second biggest population and is the provincial capital and enjoy the watersports of diving, snorkelling and kayaking or take in a short cruise around the island. |
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Red Mangrove Inn - Santa Cruz. Enjoy breakfast on the waterfront terrace in the company of iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and soaring Frigate birds. Watch the boats come in and out of the harbour and enjoy lunch and dinner of Ecuadorian inspiration, along with international cuisine.
Hotel Silberstein - Santa Cruz. Located in the centre of Puerto Ayora, it is also an information centre. Owned by Germans, the restaurant offers moderately-priced international cuisine as well as some Ecuadorian cuisine, amongst a beautiful garden setting. |
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Gardner Bay, Espanola - Situated on the island that is the most southerly of the archipelago, the beach is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkelling, with sea lions and many different bird species, watching you or joining in with you.
Punta Cormorant, Floreana - The beach is greenish, due to the accumulation of olivine crystal mineral, but the snorkelling is good and there is a white sand beach further along the trail, which is a resting place for green turtles, stingrays and white-tipped reef sharks that swim where the waves crash. |
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| Useful Holiday links - Galapagos Islands |
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