May 4-9 2009
Ecuador’s Amazonia & Galápagos Islands

May 4-9 2009
:: Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands ::
Images Courtesy of: Francisco Dousdebes, Charles Darwin Foundation, Ramiro
Jacome, Metropolitan Touring, NOAA.

The Galapagos
Archipelago...
Straddling the
Equator, 1,000 km
(600 mi) west of
the Ecuadorian
coastline

Galápagos is not
as small as it looks

Galapagos was born of fire
Charles Darwin Foundation
3 to 5 million years ago

GEOLOGICAL ORIGIN
Plate Tectonics
Latest Eruption:
Ongoing at
Fernandina Island
Started April 12, 2009
Hot Spot Theory

Still in formation – Fernandina Island
Charles Darwin Foundation

OCEANOGRAPHIC SET UP
 Galapagos are islands called a
“tropical desert”
 Weather oddities are set by a
complex system of currents:
●
South Equatorial Current
●
Cromwell Current
●
Peruvian (Humboldt) Current
●
El Niño Current
 Prevailing winds are the South-
east trade winds
 Galapagos lies at a “storm-free
belt” in the tropics

July February
March August

TROPICAL
WEATHER
ODDITIES
September
March
Location: Isabela Island

Galápagos can be visited all year round.
It is not a seasonal destination.

But, why is
Galápagos so
special to the
World?

Darwin’s Route to the Galapagos

Charles Darwin Foundation
Penguins & Coral Reefs

Charles Darwin Foundation
Hammerhead Sharks & Fur Sea Lions

Flightless Cormorant
Charles Darwin Foundation

Waved Darwin Foundation
Charles Albatross

Darwin’s Finches
Charles Darwin Foundation

Giant Tortoises

Greater
Flamingo

The Boobies

Charles Darwin Foundation
Eagle Rays

Yellow-Tail
Surgeon Fish

Hieroglyphic Hawk Fish

Galápagos Sea Lions

Think Big in Ecuador for 2009 and beyond…
• Charles Darwin’s Bicentennial
(1809-2009)
• 150th Anniversary of Origin of
Species (1859-2009)
• 50th Anniversary of Galápagos
declaration as a National Park
(1959-2009)
• Ecuador’s Independence
Bicentennial (1809-2009)

1809 - 2009

Tourism in the
Galápagos Islands

Visitors Arrive at Baltra & San Cristóbal Airport in the
Galapagos on Daily Flights From Quito and Guayaquil

:: 1927 ::

:: 1960 ::

:: 1970 ::

:: 1980 ::

:: 2006 ::

NOW WHAT DO I SELL?
LARGE BOAT, SMALL BOAT, or HOTEL?
In Galápagos, nothing is bad unless the wrong option is sold

:: BEYOND VISITING ::
Exploring the Galápagos Islands

May 4-9 2009
:: Muchas Gracias :: Thank You :: Images
Courtesy of: Francisco Dousdebes, Charles Darwin Foundation, Ramiro Jacome,
Metropolitan Touring, NOAA.