(Keywords: Hiking, Birding, Diving - Ecuador )
Galapagos Islands
Aside
from all the talk about strange, friendly critters, visitors to the
Galapagos Islands commonly remark on how developed the islands are.
Yes, well, relatively speaking that is. Most folks have an image of
the islands as being completely devoid of civilization. It's true
that the Galapagos are a desolate land that time forgot, but there are harbors,
marinas, villages, shops, roads, jeep trails, campgrounds. There is
definitely more to do than just getting off the boat to stand around and
gawk at the animals. Download this GPS Map to help you plan your trip
to volcano bagging, lava
tubing, snorkeling with penguins,
or just hanging out on a green beach.
Click on the binoculars to see a demonstration of GPS Trackmaker displaying Isabela and surrounding islands. galapagos_gpstm.jpg (Approx. 45 KB) opens in a new window.
GPS MAP
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Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer)
GPS Map File Details
File: galapagos.gpx
Revised: September 11, 2002
Class B2 Data
Waypoints: About 30, some of which are detailed below
Lava Tubing
Santa Cruz Island has the largest population of all the islands. The Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station have their offices on the east side of the main town, Puerto Ayora. In Puerto Ayora [Waypoint 030] , there are restaurants, markets, a hardware store, souvenir shops, and even a cyber cafe. Near one restaurant there is a lava tube that is big enough to walk through.
Volcano Bagging
Isabella is your island destination for bagging volcanoes. Puerto Villamel [Waypoint 020] provides anchorage in a natural harbor, shadowed by the Sierra Negro volcano. You can hike the rim of the volcano from the trailhead located in the village of Santo Tomas. You can also hike the Alcedo Volcano from Shipton Cove [Waypoint 140]. The trail to the Alcedo summit is long and rugged, but there is a camp (permit required) near the rim. There's not an official trail to Darwin Volcano, but you can hike to Darwin (salt) Lake at its base, up from the cliffs of Tagus Cove [Waypoint 060]. On nearby Fernandina Island, La Cumbre is the most active volcano in the archipelago. A visitor center located at Punta Espinosa [Waypoint 170].
Hanging-out on the Beach
Santiago Island (a.k.a. San Salvidor or James Island) has some great beaches on the northwest side of the island. From Espumilla Beach [Waypoint 170], hike the trial back to the lagoons for some excellent birding locations. The coast walk at Puerto Egas [Waypoint 180] features the ruins of an old salt mine. Buccaneer Cove [Waypoint 200] gets its name from a time when ships were brought ashore here to have their hulls cleaned.
Your tan may look a little drab when you layout on the green beach Floreana Island's green beach. Adjacent Punta Cormorant [Waypoint 260], the sand is comprised of olivine crystals, volcanic silicates of magnesium and iron, giving it a green color.
Swiming with the Penguins
The north beach on Bartolome [Waypoint 210] has some of the best coral reef snorkeling of all the islands. Penguins and sea lions often make an appearance, contributing to unique experience. Adjacent the beach is the landmark Pinnacle Rock, probably the most photographed geological formation in the archipelago. This cone and other volcanic remnants gives the island a moonscape appearance. Hike up the summit of the old volcano for a most rewarding panoramic vista.
Coral formations are also found off Santiago, Fernandina, Isablea, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Espanola, and San Christobal Islands.
Adventure Travel Tip
Notice: The islands are protected and tourist activities are regulated, so you'll need to check with authorities when making plans. See the official web site: Galapagos National Park (www.galapagospark.org).
References
Points of interest for this GPS map were chosen from descriptions found at several sites on the Internet, most notably:
Disclaimer
From the maps and descriptions, I did the best I could to locate the points of interest. There will be significant positional error. Please contact me if you can provide more accurate information about any of the waypoints or trails.
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