GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS ARE AN ARCHIPELAGO OF VOLCANIC ISLANDS


1535 25


FIRST DISCOVERED


The first recorded visit to the islands happened by chance in 1535, when Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panamá, was surprised with this undiscovered land during a voyage to Peru. The first formal exploration of the islands took place in the XVIII century by the Spaniard Malaspina.


THOUSAND POPULATION The first human settlement dates from 1832.


25° 1,432 SANTIAGO 226 FERNANDINA 248 ISABELA sq miles


Pristine ecosystem never invaded by foreign species; The famous flightless cormorants inhabit this island, as do penguins, pelicans, sea lions and fur seals. The active volcano "La cumbre" forms the island and different types of lava flows can be compared.


Bolivar canal


Has the highest marine biodiversity of the archipelago. Whales and orcas can be seen here from May to December.


1,790 SILVER GALAPAGOS Tortuga sq miles


The largest Island of the Archipelago. Five active volcanoes; cloud forests harbours giant tortoise subspecies; mangrove lagoons offer views of stringrays. One of the three endemic species of land iguanas is only found inside the caldera of Wolf volcano, the Conolophus marthae, with its distinctive and unique pink coloration and some black stripes along their upper back.


FLOREANA 67


Guest capacity: 100 Crew capacity: 75


Last refurbishment: Sep 2017 sq miles Santa Fe ESPAÑOLA 23


Total Expedition team members: 8 Number of Zodiacs: 7 Kayak program: Yes


sq miles


Española is around 3.5 million years old, and the southernmost in the group. Española has a large number of endemic species. Waved albatrosses, blue-footed boobies, Española mockingbird, Española lava lizard, and marine iguana.


sq miles


Marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, dolphins and sharks are found here. Darwin Finches and Galápagos Hawks are usually seen as well as a colony of Fur Seals. Inland you'll find the tortoises.


Marchena Pinta


SUMMER TEMPERATURES


Celsius (77° Fahrenheit)


Weather changes as altitude increases in the large islands. Temperature decreases gradually with altitude, while precipitation increases due to the condensation of moisture in clouds on the slopes.


PLANT species


Due to the particular micro climates and geological make-up of the archipelago, the islands are more like a desert than like a rainforest. Seven genera of Galápagos plants are unique to these islands, and there are 600 endemic species of vascular plants.


LONDON QUITO AVERAGE FLIGHT TIME. TOTAL DISTANCE 5738 MILES 19 MAIN +215 ISLANDS 1978 SANTA CRUZ 381 Genovesa SAN CRISTOBAL


Seymour Norte


Pinzon Baltra


This is the first island in the Galápagos Archipelago Charles Darwin visited during his voyage on the Beagle. This island hosts frigate birds, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, tropicbirds, marine iguanas, dolphins and swallow-tailed gulls.


sq miles


The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service are located here. This is the native ground of the Galápagos' Giant tortoises and home of the Tortoise Reserve.


14h 25mins ROCKS


& ISLETS


The archipelago is located on the Nazca Plate (a tectonic plate), which is moving at a rate of about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) per year. The first islands to form here were the South Plazas 5 million years ago.


WORLD HERITAGE


UNESCO recognized the islands as a World Heritage Site. and in 1985, as a biosphere reserve. This was later extended in December 2001 to include the marine reserve.


215


sq miles


First human settlement took place in Floreana Post Office Bay and is home of a barrel used as recipient of letters and news exchanged between whalers and other boats passing by during XVIII to XIX centuries. Flamingos and green seaturtles nest (December to May) on this island.


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