Audley in the GalapagosWith the wealth of options available, planning a trip to the Galapagos can seemlike a minefield. We hope this is where wecan help as our specialists have travelledextensively to the islands with Audley. We have also arranged trips for over 2,500clients in the last ten years so have all of their experiences and feedback to draw on.We therefore feel extremely well qualified to offer first-hand advice. Whether you likethe idea of a cruise on a traditional sail boat or a modern motor vessel, or prefer to stay on dry land and take day excursionsfrom a hotel or even do some island hopping and hiking, we have the experienceto design a trip to match your requirements.Our team have also extensively travelled and researched Central and South America,so can recommend countries and regionswhich you may wish to combine with yourGalapagos trip.Find out more For suggested itineraries and practicalinformation about travel in the Galapagos,please see pages 28-30.www.audleytravel.comInteractive maps and features, further suggested itineraries,accommodation, climate informationand articles written by our specialists.Discuss your plans with our Galapagosspecialists 01993 838 635?Introduction5IntroductionThe Galapagos are no ordinary islands. Straddlingthe Equator they are formed purely by volcanicactivity and are shaped by the unforgiving PacificOcean. At less than five million years old they areconsidered geologically young and are extremelyactive, with over 50 volcanic eruptions in the last200 years. The islands' privileged location meanthat a journey here will reveal how, through timeand lack of predators, endemic wildlife and plantspecies have evolved in the most unique way.Although there is speculation that the Incas mayhave visited the Galapagos in the 15th century,the first recorded landing on the islands was bythe Bishop of Panama in 1535. He described the Galapagos as a hellish place and soinconsequential that he did not report the islands with the 'foolishly tame' wildlife to the King of Spain. Through time the archipelagobecame the haunt of pirates and whalers, but asmore people visited the islands they began to be seen in a whole new light. Ecuador claimedsovereignty over the archipelago in 1832 and, in 1835, Charles Darwin's experience on theseislands formed the basis of his theory of evolutionby natural selection, which changed the course of scientific thinking regarding all of life on Earth.It was only in the 20th century that a permanenthuman colonisation of the islands took place.Today over 20,000 people inhabit the Galapagos,some are descendents of the original settlers butmany are drawn from the Ecuadorian mainland by the prospect of working in tourism and fishing.These two industries make the islands the richestprovince of Ecuador, which leads to social,economic and political pressures. The overridingchallenge for the Galapagos National Parkauthorities and the Ecuadorian government is topreserve the delicate and unique ecosystem ofthe country's jewel in the crown.Travelling responsiblyThe fragility of the delicate Galapagos ecosystemis well documented and it is only right to consideryour impact before travelling to the islands. TheGalapagos National Park now enforces strict,regulated itineraries for all boats and excursionsfrom the hotels that we use. We ensure that the boats and hotels are 'Smart Voyager' certifiedor actively working towards this, or a similarlyrecognised, status. This particular programme,backed by the Rainforest Alliance, awards its'green seal' of approval to operators in theGalapagos who meet the strictest conservationstandards. In addition, a number of the operatorsthat we work with continue to make theiroperations greener. Carbon neutral cruises, solarpanels, wind turbines, onboard waste treatmentplants and biodegradable shower products are allintegral features on many of the boats featured in this brochure.Pinnacle RockBlue-footed booby and chick

6214BartoloméA small island off Santiago's east coast,Bartolomé is home to the iconic PinnacleRock. A beautiful sandy beach at its baseis frequented by sea lions, and snorkellingaround the rock's base will enable you tosee a wealth of underwater marine life aswell as giving you the chance to spotGalapagos penguins.4Isabela The largest of all the Galapagos islands is located in the west of the archipelago.The main visitor sites line the westernshores where vast lava fields meet thePacific Ocean. Here, mangrove lagoonsand coves are home to rays, sharks,turtles, penguins and flightlesscormorants. Isabela was formed by fivevolcanoes and her highlands, home togiant tortoises, provide some excellentwalking opportunities. In the south ofthe island there are a couple of lodges inthe sleepy town of Puerto Villamil, whichcan be used as part of an island hoppingtour or for some relaxation and furtherexploration before or after a cruise.2FernandinaFernandina is the westernmost, youngestand most volatile of all the Galapagosislands. The single volcano, La Cumbre,erupts at regular intervals, most recentlyduring April 2009. In terms of wildlife,marine iguanas are at their most prolificat Punta Espinosa while other speciesinclude flightless cormorants, penguins,Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions. TheBolivar Channel between Fernandina andIsabela is the best place in the Galapagosto spot dolphins and whales, particularlybetween June and September.1Marine iguanasFlightless cormorantPinnacle RockIslands of the GalapagosMap not to scaleFloreanaOne of Floreana's best-loved attractions,Post Office Bay, was used in the past by whalers and sailors as a means ofstaying in touch with their loved ones.Letters left in the bay's wooden barrelwere collected by other sailors whotook them home and distributed them.Visitors are invited to test out this old-fashioned delivery method to this day.Floreana is a good place to spotflamingos, who nest in the brackishlagoons behind Punta Cormorant, aswell as finches, sea lions and turtlenesting sites.3Post Office Bay