Ecuador & Galapagos IslandsOne of the gems of South America, Ecuador has many highlights as diverse as the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous cultures to the ever-changing ecological paradise of the Galapagos Islands.
The two Andean cordilleras that run parallel and cross Ecuador from north to south, offer a varied topography: volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, green valleys with impressive colonial cities, quaint Indian villages, farmlands, haciendas, lakes and rivers of crystal blue waters.
The country retains its wonderful culture and charm that many expect in South America, from the gloriously colourful markets to the traditional clothing and way of life.
The Galapagos Islands have been named after the giant galapagos tortoises. In 1835, the English naturalist Charles Darwin visited the islands and discovered this “living laboratory” which inspired his writings on the Theory of Evolution. Many of the animals on the Galapagos Islands have developed into different species from their continental relatives, and because they have never experienced man as a predator, they show no fear of humans.
The Galapagos is a wildlife paradise, and these are just a small sampling of the odd and wonderful creatures to be seen.
Our Top Five Favourites
Blue-footed Boobies: Their strange coloured-feet and hypnotic, if not, clumsy and amusing, mating dance are something to behold! How can you not help but wonder how such a weird looking bird was created?
Marine Iguanas: Prehistoric in appearance, these guys can cling to the most slippery rocks, and come in all sorts of colours. One of the most curious things of the Galapagos is that the animals differ between Islands. Some of the most colourful (orange/copper) Marine Iguanas are found on Espanola Island.
Giant Tortoises: Lonesome George has long been thought to be the last of his species, but other species exist on the Islands. These massive creatures are awe-inspiring, and can be visited at numerous places. The Charles Darwin Research Station has a captive breeding program and you can also observe them in the wild, in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
Sea Lions: How can you not fall in love with the cute and curious Sea Lions that lie on the beaches in the Galapagos? They'll swim with you, or just let you lie beside them to do some sun tanning, unforgettable animals indeed.
Galapagos Penguins: The most northerly of all penguins, the Galapagos penguins, are one of many fascinating creatures that you might see whizzing by you at full speed as you snorkel around the Islands looking at the equally-stunning wildlife under the water.
When to go:
You can visit Ecuador year-round, but certain areas are better at certain times of the year. Ecuador has two seasons: wet and dry. The coast is hot and wet from Jan-May, overcast and humid from Jun-Sep and drier and cooler the rest of the year. The dry season in the Highlands is late May to Sept which coincides with the wettest months in the Oriente. High Seasons are mid-Dec-Jan & Jun-Aug.
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