Galapagos Tours - 5 Mistakes To Avoid
Galapagos Tours - 5 Mistakes To Avoid
If you're thinking about visiting the Galapagos Islands, you're in for a treat. Made famous by Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle in the 19th century, the Islands lie 972 km west of mainland Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Undiscovered by mankind until relatively recently, you'll see a fantastic range of flora and fauna in ecosystems that exist nowhere else on the planet. However there are a couple of pitfalls to travelling to the Galapagos Islands and also while you are on your stay. Here are five things you are best avoiding.1) Missing your plane from Ecuador
The vast majority of tourists arrive at Galapagos by plane. It is only possible to reach the islands by a flight from mainland Ecuador starting in either Quito or Guayaquil. International flights do not go directly to the Islands. If you are flying, make sure your seat doesn't get given away to someone else by: -Checking in more than an hour before take-off-Planning your international arrival to Ecuador at least a day before your departure flights to the Galapagos to give yourself time between connections (If you miss the start of your cruise there is no way to catch up!) 2) Taking a tour with an unqualified guide Conservation on the islands is of critical importance, and the best people to maintain standards are the tour guides. They should help keep you on the marked pathways and assist in communicating and enforcing conservation rules. Visitors to the Galapagos Islands should be guided at all times by a qualified individual. In your group shouldn't be more that 16 people, to allow good control and guidance of tourists. They should also give you information about general water safety and supervise all swimming and snorkeling.3) Touching animals It's tempting, but visitors should not interact with animals on the Galapagos Islands. The majority of animals on the Galapagos have no reason to fear humans, and consequently will allow visitors to get very close without bolting. However, you should go no closer than within two meters of animals, as in some cases they will follow you, leaving their nests uncovered, exposing eggs or chicks to the sun. Additionally, no animals should be fed or baited on water or land. 4) Introducing new species to the islands Introducing any exotic organisms to Galapagos could have a devastating effect on the ecosystems that exist in a state of delicate balance. Any food, animal and vegetable products as well as seeds, plants or fresh flowers should be declared before leaving the airport at Quito or Guayaquil so that a trained inspector can deem if they are safe or not. Any form of live animals are also not allowed. The same rules apply for inter-island visits; each island is its own unique ecosystem, so introductions between islands can be just as devastating to the natural process of things as items from the mainland.5) Lighting fires In 1985, Isabel Island suffered severe damage from negligence with smoking and fire lighting. Surprisingly, in 1994, almost a decade later, the same thing happened again. Even though a beach fire seems like the perfect end to a day on an exotic island adventure, visitors should resist the urge to build a camp fire.Are there any other things that visitors to the Galapagos Islands should avoid? What are your Galapagos vacation experiences?http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/galapagos-tours-5-mistakes-to-avoid-4391893.html Florence guided tours and Chianti tours Costa Rica Traveling Safety Tips My Divorce and Separation - and why Ireland is different AAMCO Transmissions Franchise Review Learn The Truth Regarding Arbonne International A Review Of Your Travel Biz Safe Swimming on Your Trip The Temporate Climate of Alicante The Real Meaning of Timeshare Property - Relief From Timeshare Contracts - Caribbean Beach Resort and Florida Beach Resort Wie Particularly Warm Clothing for the HSBC Tournament Successful Bargaining Tips For Travelers Elements Of The Travel Insurance Comparison Matrix Koh Tao: Thailand's Premier Diving Destination