| Its time to go to the Galapagos Islands! Your tour | | | | In 1985, Isabel Island suffered severe damage from |
| operator has got your flights booked from Quito or | | | | negligence with smoking and fire lighting. Amazingly, the |
| Guayaquil and the yachts and cruise ships are waiting | | | | same thing happened again almost a decade later in |
| ready to take you between the Islands for the trip of a | | | | 1994. Resisting the urge to light up or enjoy a camp fire |
| lifetime. You'll be seeing some of the most incredible | | | | will make a big difference. |
| flora and fauna in a setting that has been hidden | | | | 5) Making friends with the locals |
| beyond the knowledge of humanity for thousands of | | | | The majority of animals on the Galapagos have no |
| years. | | | | reason to fear humans, and consequently will allow |
| However, many understand that the Galapagos are | | | | visitors to get very close without bolting. However, you |
| under threat from the presence of humans in the last | | | | should go no closer with two meters of animals, as in |
| few hundred years. Despite best intentions, people | | | | some cases they will follow you, leaving their nests |
| sometimes don't respect the importance of | | | | uncovered and exposing eggs or chicks to the sun. |
| conservation as much as they could and there are | | | | The trustworthy behaviour of the animals shouldn't be |
| few places on Earth as important as the Galapagos | | | | given reason to change, and visitors should not touch |
| Islands in this respect. The best conservation can | | | | any animals or interfere with their natural behaviour, let |
| come from the eyes and ears of visitors, so here are | | | | alone harass, chase or surround them. It is obvious |
| some useful things to watch out for as you travel | | | | advice, but no animals should be fed or baited on |
| around "Nature's Laboratory". | | | | water or land. |
| 1) Keep everything shipshape | | | | 6) New things |
| Yachts are the only way to travel between islands, | | | | Darwin highlighted the power of the evolutionary |
| and marine traffic can have a strong impact on the | | | | process over time, but things can be wiped out in the |
| environment. Make sure that your boat has no gas or | | | | blink of an eye if pests and diseases are brought into |
| oil leakages and that no chemicals or bilge water is | | | | the mix. Introducing any exotic organisms to Galapagos |
| dumped into the sea. No garbage or refuse should be | | | | could have a devastating effect on the ecosystems |
| thrown overboard either. If you've got professional | | | | that exist in a state of delicate balance. Any food, |
| experience with boat operations, your perspective can | | | | animal and vegetable products and plants or fresh |
| be very useful; you'll be in a position to recognise and | | | | flowers should be declared before leaving the airport |
| report anything that seems improper in terms of | | | | at Quito or Guayaquil so that a trained inspector can |
| maintenance or operation. To put it in context, you'd be | | | | deem if they are safe or not. Live animals in any form |
| surprised how many airplane faults have been spotted | | | | are also not permitted. The same principles apply for |
| by qualified passengers! | | | | inter-island trips; each island is its own unique |
| 2) Guided by good practise | | | | ecosystem, so introductions between islands can be |
| Visitors to the Galapagos Islands should be guided at | | | | just as destructive to the natural process of things as |
| all times by a qualified individual. They should help keep | | | | items from the mainland. |
| you in the marked sites and pathways and assist in | | | | With these important guidelines, you can ensure that |
| communicating and enforcing conservation rules. There | | | | you are visiting the Islands as an informed |
| shouldn't be any more that 16 people in your group, to | | | | conservationist, and assist others in following the same |
| allow for proper control and guidance of tourists. They | | | | behavior. Despite best efforts, sometimes |
| should also provide information about general water | | | | over-excitement, negligence or opportunism creates |
| safety and monitor all swimming and snorkeling. | | | | problems; if you see any violation of conservation |
| 3) Taking a piece of the island | | | | principles, contact the tour company who you made |
| Galapagos themed objects made of wood and | | | | the booking through. They will be in a position to speak |
| ceramics are available on the inhabited islands, but any | | | | with local operators and apply pressure to make sure |
| souvenirs made of black coral, marine tortoise shells, | | | | that such incidents don't happen again. With visitors |
| sea lions fangs and other such objects go against the | | | | keeping an ever watchful eye on the state of the |
| principles of conservation. Don't be tempted to buy any | | | | Galapagos Islands, we can be assured of many more |
| of these objects, and dissuade others from doing so | | | | years enjoying the variety and splendour of this unique |
| as well. | | | | place on Earth. |
| 4) Fire-starters | | | | |