With the 2015 El Niño in full force, the Galapagos Penguin fights to survive a major disruption in its food source. Natural selection rears its devistating impact on one of the Galapagos' most popular species.
Packing advice and tips before your trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Even though planning your vacation to Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands might seem like preparing for a trip to Paradise, there's still a lot to think about.
On the fragile Galapagos ecosystems El Niño occurrence is devastating. For example, the most recent strong events of 1982-83 and 1997-98 were followed by decimation of 77% and 65% of the penguin population, respectively.
Puerto Ayora is on the island of Santa Cruz, the most central island in the Galapagos both geographically and culturally. Puerto Ayora is the biggest town in the Galapagos Islands and has everything you could hope for – a wide variety of stores for any last-minute purchases, excellent restaurants, bars, clubs, and even karaoke.
As of March 21, 2016, a new marine sanctuary has been established in the Galapagos Islands. In response to high levels of legal and illegal fishing operations and other resource exploitation, Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa signed an executive order to designate the area surrounding Wolf and Darwin Islands as a protected area.
Welcome to the oldest and second most populated island of the Galapagos, San Cristobal. This island is the furthest island from the volcanic hotspot that has produced the Galapagos Islands, indicating its relatively old geological age. It is also home to an extremely unique natural environment, unlike any other in the Galapagos Islands.
In January, the warm season is now in its full splendor. Mornings tend to have sunny blue skies, and after the temperatures rise, it's common to have afternoon showers. The guarua fog that was prevelant the past several months is almost nowhere to be seen.
Any time is a great time to visit the Galapagos Islands but if you're looking for a break from the winter blues in the northern hemisphere, sunny Galapagos in February is hard to beat.
March is a great time to visit the Galapagos if you like sunny days and warmer waters. One of the most exciting events is the first group of Waved Albatrosses arriving to mate and nest on Española Island.
This month and May are typically regarded as the best months to visit the Galapagos. Volume of travelers to the Islands is relatively low, so this is good time to look for a last-minute deal.
