The human population in the Galapagos was negligible when the Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959. Tourism was largely non-existent; fishing was only at subsistence levels; the farming population was small; and young scientists and local people were constructing the research station, board by board.
Fifty years later, the world has changed drastically and the Galapagos Conservancy has changed, too, to continue our efforts to protect the archipelago.
The Galapagos Islands are governed by a special law supporting the protection and maintenance of their natural ecosystem. The general control of the archipelago is the responsibility of the Galapagos Governing Council, which seeks to maintain a balance between inhabited areas and protected areas. The transportation of tourists and people to and from the Islands demands careful monitoring for this purpose.
Choosing a Time of Year
Galapagos is a beautiful destination to explore at every moment of the year. The air and water levels remain relatively constant over the year because of the islands’ position on the equator. It is especially necessary to make your travel plans well in advance during the peak seasons (mid-June through early September, and mid-December through mid-January).
The water temperature (avg. 76 ° F/25 ° C) and air temperature (avg. low / high 72-86 ° F/22-30 ° C) are slightly colder from December through May. The waters appear to be calmer than that. For a brief amount of time, rainfall is normal every day, but the majority of the day appears to be very sunny, resulting in high humidity. Flowers are blooming and there’s more vibrant foliage. This is a good time for breeding on the beaches to watch birds mating or sea turtles.
Places and Guides for Tourists
Ninety-five percent of the Galapagos land area is classified as endangered by the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park (GNPD), and visitors are only allowed to access unique visitor sites with Park-certified naturalist guides (refer to the rules of the Park). The GNPD schedules community visits to these 60 + places and tracks ecological conditions carefully. For their particular landscape, plants, and wildlife, numerous locations are recognized. Many animals, though, are frequently seen in most places, such as sea lions, marine iguanas, volcano lizards, and a number of coastal birds such as herons, tattlers, plovers, turnstones, and whimbrels.
There is a designated path for each tourist site, much of which is less than a mile long, sometimes passing over loose lava or uneven boulders. Some areas have “wet landings” (visitors wade from rafts or dinghies to shore) and others have “dry landings” (passengers walk straight to dry land). Regulated guides are used by both live-aboard cruises and trustworthy day-tour outfitters who may accompany visitors to these locations.
Galapagos Swimming
The proliferation of sharks, sea lions, fur seals, marine turtles, rays, mantas, marine iguanas, and coral fish makes the Galapagos a world-class destination for scuba diving. A small number of tour providers were given approval by the GNPD. Check with your contractor and make sure the organization is allowed to provide this operation if you intend to dive on your ride.
Diving in Galapagos
Galapagos is a world-class destination for scuba divers because of the abundance of sharks, sea lions, fur seals, marine turtles, rays, mantas, marine iguanas, and reef fishes. The GNPD has granted permission to a select number of tour providers. If you plan to dive on your trip, check with your provider to make sure the company is authorized to offer this activity.
It is best to consider at least 6 months in advance while booking a private yacht charter in the Galapagos to get a choice of yacht. The time scale can be shorter for cabin bookings, recommended 3 months in advance. We occasionally get cancellations and it is possible to make last minute bookings. Call us for more information, well worth investigating, about the kinds of yachts available in this extraordinary part of the world.
Experience Ecuador and learn that it is really a journey of a lifetime on a private Galapagos charter. To make your charter a memorable one, the Galapagos Islands deliver exhilarating views and multiple destinations. Moncada Yacht is here to help you bring together the ideal itinerary packed with activities if you’re after entertainment, adventure and much more.
Check out our suggested itinerary https://www.moncadayb.com/project/galapagos/
Email us at charter@moncadayb.com
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