Ecuador & Galapagos Blog – The perfect travel guide

Galapagos Marine Sanctuary: 6 facts about Wolf & Darwin Islands in Galapagos and the astounding wildlife and flora that inhabits the area. An unbelievable array of colors; trumpetfish, trevally barracuda, parrotfish, angelfish, surgeonfish and the delightful racoon butterflyfish inhabit the area. Not to mention the vast schools of hammerheads or close encounters with individuals plus eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and turtles. It is truly a high point in any hard-core diver’s career. Well, the good news is that on 2016, the Ecuadorian state announced the creation of the Galapagos marine sanctuary, together with 21 smaller conservation areas scattered through the volcanic archipelago, protecting over 18,000 square miles (47,000 square kilometers), or about one third of the water around the Galápagos Islands. The new sanctuary alone encompasses 15,000 square miles (40,000 square kilometers) and extends around the northern Galapagos Islands of Darwin and Wolf. Just in case, National Marine Sanctuaries are protected waters that include habitats such as rocky reefs, kelp forests, deep-sea canyons, and underwater archaeological sites. Both, Darwin and Wolf are some of the highlights in any Galapagos Live-aboard Cruise trip. Here are some quick and interesting 6 facts about Wolf & Darwin Galapagos Marine Sanctuary you might like to know;   1. The whole area around Darwin and Wolf, now a protected marine reserve, is about the ssame size of Belgium  -  15,000 square miles (38,000 sq km)     2. It holds the greatest concentration of marine sharks in the world.     3. The Galapagos Marine reserve includes more than 34 different species of shark, including the largest shark species, the filter-feeding whale shark, the migratory hammerhead shark and the Galapagos shark.     4. Shark populations around the world come here to rest and breed the new reserve will guarantee complete sanctuary for them.   5. It

What makes Galapagos Islands so special? You might have enjoyed the mesmerizing beauty of the Alps or the Himalayas, or visited the vast deserts, across the world but if you are craving for a vacation that combines both, beautiful landcapes and close encounters with wildlife, exploring the Galapagos Islands is the best thing that you can do. If you are wondering how the islands and the beaches of Galapagos are different from other beaches of the world, and why they are so special, the answer lies in the amazing wild life of this region.   Ideal Location The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador are an archipelago of volcanic islands, which are located on either side of the Equator, in the Pacific Ocean. The islands and the surrounding waters form a national park, a biological marine reserve and an Ecuadorian province. The Galapagos Islands are famous for playing host to countless endemic species and this is why Galapagos happens to be one of the most popular travel destinations for people who are interested in enjoying a variety of wildlife. If you have been waiting for long to go on a vacation and explore some amazing wildlife, Galapagos is the place to head straight to. Before you plan your itinerary, you must know the details of the parks and the wildlife that you might get to witness there.   The Galapagos National Park, of course! This is the first national park of Ecuador and also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is located across the 97% of the total land area of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. While enlisting the park as one of the World Heritage Sites in Danger, UNESCO pointed out how the park as well as the Galapagos Islands is exposed to risks, posed by the human civilization.

Galapagos Famous Animals Located at the convergence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos Islands are home to numerous marine species. The archipelago also experiences constant volcanic and seismic activities, and therefore, happens to be one of the most visited travel destinations amongst the adventurous travelers. The islands of Galapagos and their surroundings form a national park, a biological marine reserve and an Ecuadorian province. Renowned for being home to a number of Galapagos famous animals and endemic species, the enchanted islands are ideal for nature lovers. However, the constantly growing population and tourism industry poses a serious threat to the animals of the Galapagos Islands , as has been warned by many wildlife and marine experts. There are a number of famous and exceptional species in the Galapagos Islands. Here is the description of five such species that you shouldn’t miss to catch a sight of while visiting: The Galapagos Tortoises: The Galapagos Tortoises are perhaps the Galapagos famous animal per se, considering they gave the name “Galapagos” to the archipelago and are one of the two giant tortoise species found in the world today. The word “galápago” meant saddle or tortoise in Spanish. Thus, the existence of these large tortoises gave this special name to the islands. These huge tortoises were found to weight about 400kg and were measured to be about 1.8 meters in length. Many Galapagos Tortoises were found to live for more than a 100 years. The favorable climate that supported the life and growth of these tortoises has helped them exist on seven islands of the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos tortoises are found to differ in the shape and size of their shell. The ones that are found in humid highlands are larger with domed shells and short necks. While the ones found on dry

Solo Female Travel in Ecuador   Solo Female Travel in Ecuador: There are various reasons other than not finding anyone suitable for traveling with why women are traveling solo more than ever these days. Perhaps, the biggest allure is the freedom, the empowerment and the ease of meeting new people while you are on your own.  Ecuador is a great place to start with for a solo female travel in South America, people are friendly, the landscapes are awesome and the tourism infrastructure has absolutely improved in the past 5 years. In ideal circumstances, we could travel carelessly and freely; just grab our backpacks and favorite shoes and roam without a plan. A reality check soon reveals that being a solo traveler (girl or boy) certainly requires some precautions and planning ahead.  Out of all considerations, here’s a short list for what might be the essentials if you are planning to come to Ecuador as a solo female traveler.   Travel by day – Safety first Ecuador is tourist friendly location, and security measures for tourism have increased immensely in the last 10 years. You will find metropolitan security guards at various times of the day, especially at nights in tourist spots. However, in big cities or highly concurred spots (such as Quito, Guayaquil, Atacamaes or Montañita), some common sense precautions should be taken. Avoide wandering alone after dark in big cities Hook up with a couple of companions or sign-up to a guided hike Let hotel staff know where you are going and when you expect to be back Be aware of your surroundings and always listen to your girly intuitions. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, leave. Try to get in legal taxis ONLY (this depends on the city, but they must all have a municipally logo).