Where in the
World are the Galapagos Islands?
Getting
to the Galapagos Islands is an adventure all by itself. There
are no direct flights. You need to fly to the mainland of
Ecuador and spend the night in either Guayaquil or Quito. Since
everyone I spoke to, everyone, said that Guayaquil was too dangerous,
I opted for Quito. I didn't see much of anything in Quito.
I arrived at 10:30 at night, a cab took me directly to the hotel, and
I had my flight to the Galapagos Islands at 10:30 the next morning.
The islands were claimed by Ecuador as a national park in 1959. When you fly there, most people arrive on Baltra Island. From there, you either go directly to your island cruise, or grab a bus headed for Santa Cruz. Of course, it's easier if there is no rain. But, I arrived in a downpour and sloshed my way along through public transportation on my way to Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Center.
The islands were claimed by Ecuador as a national park in 1959. When you fly there, most people arrive on Baltra Island. From there, you either go directly to your island cruise, or grab a bus headed for Santa Cruz. Of course, it's easier if there is no rain. But, I arrived in a downpour and sloshed my way along through public transportation on my way to Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Center.