Page 24 - PGA Community News - December '23

Page 24, PGA C.A.N.! December 2023 December 2023
Travel: Very Few People Visit Here...

And For Very Good Reasons!

By Jessica Flores. Jessica The Galápagos Islands: bird sighting, every shark, angelfish or stingray sighting.
has worked in the travel and Five Things To Know Before You Go Your camera will go nonstop on every amazing photograph
tourism industry for well The Galapagos Islands are far out in the ocean. While of bizarre-looking plants, trees, natural formations and
over a decade. She holds the Galápagos Islands belong to the tiny Andean country of volcanos.
both Bachelors and Master’s Ecuador, they are in fact very far from the rest of the country This is also one of the world’s top scuba and snorkeling
Degrees in Hospitality & – 560 miles (901 kilometers), to be exact. The islands are destinations, so spending time on or in the water is a must,
Tourism Management. far out in the Pacific Ocean, and it takes just two hours to whether that means you’re ready to jump in with your
To: Luxury Travelers fly there from Quito, Ecuador’s capital. Since the Galapagos snorkel for a sea lion swim or are happy to enjoy the views
From: The Galapagos Islands belong to Ecuador, the national language is Spanish. from the deck of your cruise balcony.
Islands Lots of islands to visit. There are 127 islands that make Bird-watchers are especially fond of Genovesa Island,
Pack Your Bags: The up this tropical archipelago, but only about 20 are frequently where frigatebirds and red-footed boobies are frequently
Galápagos Islands, located visited by tourists, and only four have major populations. spotted. For Galápagos penguins and flightless cormorants,
roughly 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is a special Several of the smaller islets are not inhabited by humans the sparsely vegetated Fernandina Island is another popular
destination! Very few get the opportunity to visit this oasis at all, only by wildlife. The islands sit right on the equator spot to visit.
of an amazing cast of plants and animals. And because of and are home to over 25,000 people. About half of them live The quality of Galapagos Island cruises varies greatly.
its remote location, efforts are made to promote sustainable in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, which makes it by For most travelers, this is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
tourism. This includes setting limits on the number of visitors, far the biggest settlement of the archipelago. Most people My recommendations for our clients are to be prepared to
implementing eco-friendly practices, and ensuring that who visit the Galapagos Islands only get to set foot on one spend more than on an average cruise in the Caribbean. The
tourism activities have minimal impact on the environment. or two of the islands, and cruise around some of the others luxury expedition ships are truly worth the money. They
The entire Galápagos archipelago is designated as without actually docking there. provide you with everything imaginable. Covered in your
a UNESCO World Heritage site, which places it under Unique species you will see nowhere else in the world. cost are private transfer (even from your home) to and from
international protection. This status brings global attention One thing the Galápagos Islands are famous for is the variety airports, international flights, pre- and post-hotel stays, land
to the islands and their conservation needs. of wildlife. This includes a number of species endemic to the excursions, gourmet food/premium beverages, large suites,
As for what to pack in your luggage, it’s best to take the islands, such as the Galápagos fur seal, the Galápagos land butler services, exploration guides/lecturers, snorkel gear, all
essentials with you because you won’t find any malls here. iguana, the Galápagos sea lion, the Galápagos land tortoise gratuities and, of course, free Wi-Fi.
That includes sturdy closed-toe walking shoes with durable and the marine iguana (the only lizard that can swim). The Wheels Down: If you get the opportunity to set your
soles, diving booties, lightweight hiking clothes, good sun Galápagos Islands are also the only place in the entire world wheels down in the Galapagos Islands, I highly recommend
hat, insect repellent, sunscreen and an underwater camera. where penguins live along the equator. you do so. It is one of those majestic places that will
Also, leave the heels at home, especially if you’ve booked In addition to the species that are unique to the Galápagos continue to reward you for many years to come in incredible
a boat-based itinerary. Even the most luxurious boats have Islands, there are dozens of other species, none of which photos and fond memories.
narrow, steep stairways that are nearly impossible to navigate seem to care about the presence of visitors. Sightings of As for me, while I may not be heading out to the remote
safely (or gracefully) in heels. blue-footed boobies, great frigate birds, marine iguanas, islands of the Galapagos, I wanted to let my readers know
Island History: Back in the early 1800s, swashbuckling giant tortoises, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and that I will be going “off the grid” for a while. It has been a
pirates and intrepid explorers started arriving in the Galápagos flamingos are pretty much guaranteed. pleasure introducing you to these beautiful places around the
Islands. The most famous early visitor was Charles Darwin, Activities and adventures like no other. It will be a world, some perhaps more familiar and others just waiting
a young naturalist who spent 19 days studying the islands’ long day of hiking, kayaking and snorkeling, every single to be explored. In the meantime, I hope you get the chance
flora and fauna. In 1859, Darwin published On the Origin of day, typically twice per day. And I’ll tell you this: You to explore some of these incredible locations. Should you
Species, which introduced his theory of evolution—and the won’t want to miss out on a single activity! That’s how need anything, I am only a click AWAY.
Galápagos Islands—to the world. breathtaking these islands are when seen firsthand. That’s As always, wishing you safe travels,
Since then, word of these islands and their magnificent how much awe is created upon every sea lion sighting, every Jessica
beauty has steadily grown. In 1959, the Galápagos became
Ecuador’s first national park, and in 1978 it was named a
UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, more than 275,000
people visit the Galápagos every year to see those incredible
animals and landscapes for themselves.
As amazing as you anticipate the Galápagos Islands will
be, they routinely exceed visitors’ expectations. It’s a place
where lizards swim, birds walk, and humans—for once—
don’t take center stage.
Biodiversity brings more than 100,000 visitors each year
to these remote islands that were totally unknown to the world
until 1535. Without the influence of a human presence, the
islands’ flora and fauna and surrounding marine life thrived
for thousands of years by evolving into unique species you
won’t find anywhere else in the world, such as the charismatic
giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies.

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