Make My Trip Advisor

Travel Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

The capital of Ecuador is Quito, which is a declared World Heritage Site and it can be reached directly from Atlanta by air in about 5 hours. Since they lie quite close longitudinally, there is no jet lag and you can easily carry on your travel plans without acclimatizing. Ecuador as already pointed out is famous for its biodiversity which is made possible by its equally diverse geography. But the true jewel in the crown comes in the form of the Galapagos Islands. Lying 600 miles east of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a historical marvel from a biological perspective, home to a large number of endemic species which includes the famous Galapagos Tortoise. In spite of being declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, the islands belonging to Ecuador, contrary to popular belief is still possible to reach the with the necessary permits.

The Galapagos Islands being of volcanic origin are full of large volcanic rock formations which have overtime developed into a thriving region for a variety of endemic animal species like Iguanas, blue footed boobies and sea lions. The Galapagos Islands form an area of 3000 square miles out of which 97% forms the Galapagos National park where one can personally see the unrelenting efforts to preserve the heritage of the area. In order to visit the Galapagos Islands park it is necessary to plan in advance as the total number of visitors allowed to enter the island and national park is limited owing to its distinction as a UNESCO site.

The Galapagos Islands can be reached by air from Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil. The officials make sure that visitors do not adversely affect the conditions at the national park or leave behind any adverse impacts.This particular visit is part of the itinerary of the Condor Outfitters with other attractions on the itinerary being the capital city of Quito and the boat journey on the Napo river to reach the Yasuni National Park.

The Yasuni National Park is another enormous UNESCO site of Ecuador along with the Galapagos Islands covering over 5 million acres of land including the river basins of Tiputini, Cononaco and Nashino apart from the Yasuni river basin.

The park consists of dense virgin forests and hillsides and lowlands perpetually flooded by the rivers and the only way to reach the park is by boat. Jaguars, a wide variety of snakes, caimans and birds, monkeys and harpy eagles are some of the wildlife found in this park. For an added feeling of belonging to the untouched nature around you, there are lodges that are eco friendly, available to the visitors.

For all the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts out there, this is arguably the best park you can visit to quench your desires of witnessing nature in its unparalleled beauty. Come and experience incredible Ecuador, it is sure to leave you marvelling at the wonders of nature.

This post was written by: Franklin Manuel

Franklin Manuel is a professional blogger, web designer and front end web developer. Follow him on Twitter