Category: Galapagos Information

Galapagos Fruit: Islands Fruits The Galapagos Islands are renowned for an amazing flora and fauna. Here’s a zoom in on Galapagos Islands fruits and how the environment has made them unique. While most people are aware of the awsome landscape and wildlife, most are pleasantly surprised when they experience the same variety in food, especially fruits. Plants of this region are truly exotic amd most are native to the archipelago and found nowhere else on earth. You catch a sight of flowering and fruit bearing trees and plants living in complete harmony with cacti, which are also flowering and fruit bearing in some instances. Therefore, if you are a lover of fruits and want to taste the exotic, which you will not get elsewhere, Galapagos Islands is the best place to visit. His archipelago boasts of special varieties of tomatoes, peppers, guavas and other fruits. In addition to the edible ones that are mentioned, there are other fruits, which are not meant for human consumption but are usually devoured by the animals and wildlife present in the area. Here, we will talk about those rare species of fruits that are edible for humans, apart from giving you some useful insight into the treats that are in store for you when you decide to visit these islands: Tomatoes: One of the most interesting varieties of fruits that are available in the Galapagos Islands is the tomatoes. This is an endemic wild bush that is present only in this archipelago and is truly special because it crossbreeds and produces different kinds of hybrids that are unique to the region. Present in small bushes that are usually 3 feet in height, these plants are usually found dotted with plenty of flowers and ruffled leaves. The fruit of these bushes are akin to cherry

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me… –Walt Whitman 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

For everyone following the news on the eruption of Volcan Wolf here on Isabela Island, this is what a Pink Iguana looks like. They are on the endangered species list. News revealed today that the lava is not on a path of distruction towards these amazing animals.The overflight conducted yesterday afternoon in the naval plane with the participation of representatives of the Galapagos National Park (GNP), the Ministry of Environment, National Secretary for Risk Management, Governing Council Special Regime Galapagos and Regional Management Guard Aquatic and Insular Areas; allowed the environmental authority to determine that there are no lava flows near the sea, so it is concluded that the activity has been significantly reduced.The evaluation confirmed that the erruption occured on the south-eastern flank of volcano Wolf, more than 6 kilometers from the habitat of pink iguanas (Conolophus marthae), yellow Galapagos land iguana and the giant tortoise population of the species Chelonoidis becky, so that technicians assume that there will be greater involvement of the Galapagos fauna.Reports from the guides that are near the area have also reported a significant reduction in volcanic activity, compared to the first day.However, the Galapagos National Park does not rule out the possibility of other lava flows into the boiler, or through underground tunnels. A large amount of ash and steam is seen around the volcano to the west, so that monitoring is maintained.Wolf volcano, is the highest of the archipelago, with 1707 meters above sea level more. It is one of the five active volcanoes on Isabela Island, next to Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Alcedo and Darwin. Isabela and Fernandina Island, are considered the younger emerged from the seabed between 60 and 300 thousand years ago; San Cristobal and Espanola, are much older, possibly between 2.8 and 5.6 million years. By Caroline Marmion

 Galapagos Tortoises – (Geochelone nigrita)Yep, it’s true, the world’s largest tortoise title belongs to the Galapagos Tortoise. They can weigh more that 200kg, and male Galapagos Tortoise are actually larger than females. Their shell is adorned with blackish shields and they can measure up to 1.3 meters long and live past 150 years. The tail is short and thick and the feet resemble to elephants’, with long nails and short fingers. They possess a distinctive long neck, the eyes are located on each side of the head and, did you know they have no ears?The male´s shell is designed with a depression in the belly, allowing it to engage with the female during copulation.Galapagos Tortoise live in arid and dry areas way up in the highlands of the Galapagos Islands (1.700 masl.) and have the ability to survive without water or food during months. It is for this reason that in the past the crew from whale and pirate ships hunted and took them aboard to serve as food during their journeys.Galapagos Tortoises take advantage of the early morning sunlight to increase corporal heat. Their movements are quite slow and they move mostly  in orderto search for herbs, they are herbivores. Their long neck plays and important part here, it allows them to reach for leafs and fruits found in higher branches. During nights, they rest among vegetation or in mud pools to keep body heat. Even though they are earth habitants, they are often found in in water pools hydrating and refreshing.Their main source of nourishment is tuna plant, which contains plenty of water, supplemented by herbs and grass.During mating season, they move towards the lower lands of the islands to nest. Females will dig a hole in the sand where about 4 – 19 eggs are deposited. These are carefully covered form predators