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It
is the largest island of the archipielago,
and is formed by five volcanoes. Because
of tist size and enviromental conditions,
it harbors a great diversity of flora
and fauna, unmatched by the other islands.
It´s surrounding sea is also one
of the richest areas. Centuries ago
whaling ships anchored in it´s
Tagus Cove. You may sea-tour it´s
coast and admire penguins, marine iguanas,
pelicans and others.
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it
has a beautiful calm bay where ships
anchor. It´s vegetation is arid
and it has a forest of rare Opuntia
cactus trees. You will walk among land
iguanas, so tame that you will think
they are not real. |
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This
is a barren and arid island that consists
of beautiful formations of Sessuvium
that display a bright red coloring during
the dry season. The most important colonies
of sea lions live here, and you can
walk as close to them as you may wish,
while they sunbathe on the rocks. You
can also watch swallowtailed gulls,
pelicans, puffins and the acrobatics
of birds trying to land on their nests.
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This
is a flat and rocky island. It has a
large variety of fauna that includes
sea lion, swallow-tailed gulls, marine
iguanas, blue-footed boobies that nest
during the dry season, and an important
colony of the two species of frigate
birds. If you are lucky, you may see
the red-chested male performing the
matting dance.
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It
is the most densely populated of the
archipielago and home of the Charles
Darwin Station, the guardian entity
that watches over the flora and fauna
of the islands. Puerto Ayora is the
provincial capital and has several hotels
and souvenirs stores where you may purchase
black coral and other souvenirs. One
of the attractions is walking inside
the lava tunnerl that takes you to Torturga
Bay, on the north of the island, where
you´ll see turtles, mantas and
sharks. If walking is not a problem,
you should climb up and see the Twin
Craters.
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It
is a large island with many interesting
places to visit. On your way to the
top of the island, you will see El Junco
lagoon, the only source of fresh water
on the island. Punta Pitt is an interesting
place from where you may admire the
volcanic landscape and its birds, and
take photographs.
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Was
constantly visited by whaling ships
and turtle hunters in the XIX Century
because of it´s permanent fresh
water springs and easy anchoring sites.
Post Office Bay is an important place
to visit; the post office consisted
of a wooden barret where letters where
kept until the consignee arrived, quite
often, several years later. Exotic Punta
Cormorant has an easy trekking trail,
which surrounds a beautiful salt-water
lagoon full of flamingos and other aquatic
birds. The trail ends at a beautiful
sandy beach, an important nesting site
for marine turtles.
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This
is the only island that is not part
of the National Park. It is considered
the entrance door tho the Galapagos,
as it has the only airport fo the archipielago.
During World War II, there was a military
base there for the US Troops that controlled
the Panama Canal. It is now an Ecuadorian
Air Force that controls the airport
and the island.
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This
is an arid island with a dense vegetation
of thorny bushes; however, the trail
to Punta Suarez offers the largest variety
of animal species. It has important
colonies of marine birds, iguanas, mocking
birds, Galapagos hawks, lizard and many
other species. It is delight to biologists.
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The
last island to be opened to tourist,
is a paradise for bird lovers and photographers.
It offers an incredible variety of birds
and colonies of petrels. It is often
posible to watch short-eared owls here.
If bird watching is your hobby, don´t
forget to bring zoom lenses.
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With
Punta Espinosa as it´s main visiting
site, it is one of the most interesting
places of the Galapagos Islands, as
it has the biggest concentration of
marine iguanas. Galapagos hawks are
often seen here, and the rare flightless
cormorant, unique to Isabela and Fernandina,
nests near the water.
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This
is a small and extremely arid island;
however, visitors love it as it offers
a beautiful beach and a magnificent
bay with clear and calm waters. A small
penguin colony exists there, and you
can often see sharks in south beach. |
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Puerto
Egas is the most important place to
visit on this island, specially al low
tide when you may see invertebrates
in tidal pools. At the end of hte trekking
trail, you may see the grottos or pools
where Fur Sea Lions live. Galapagos
hawks, iguanas and different species
of seabirds are abundant on this island.
An important visit for bird watchers.
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It
is home for a large colony of sea lions.
This is a small island with red volcanic
rocks surrounding a beautiful and unique
red beach. There is a salt-water lagoon
with pink flamingos, a strange site
that you can only enjoy here.
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