I thought the islands were restricted also but I just checked. They get around 8k tourists a month, year round. You don't need special permission or anything like that.
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About 90% of the island territory is now protected and, thankfully, carefully managed. As a result, the park service only allows visits to about 50 sites, in addition to the islands' few towns. Rest assured that although most of the park is off limits, the sites available to visitors are among the most interesting:
cut/paste
About 90% of the island territory is now protected and, thankfully, carefully managed. As a result, the park service only allows visits to about 50 sites, in addition to the islands' few towns. Rest assured that although most of the park is off limits, the sites available to visitors are among the most interesting:
Puerto Villamil
From Wikitravel
South America : Ecuador : Galapagos Islands : Isabela : Puerto Villamil
Jump to: navigation, search
<!-- start content -->Puerto Villamil is a town on Isabela, one of the Galapagos islands. Most of the inhabitants live in agriculture and fishing, but also tourism is growing. It's a nice place to hang out on the beach for a few days or do some snorkeling.
<TABLE class=toc id=toc summary=Contents><TBODY><TR><TD>Contents
[hide]
Get in
There is a daily boat leaving to Puerto Ayora at 6:00am and leaving from Puerto Ayora back to Puerto Villamil at 2:00pm. It's a rough and noisy thwo hour boatride and cost $30 one-way. Emetebe has irregular flights to Baltra airport or San Cristobal if there enough passengers.
[edit]
Get around
Most streets lack adequate streetsigns. The town is small enough to explore in an hour.
[edit]
See
For things to see around Puerto Villamil see Isabela.
[edit]
Do
Money
There are no banks or ATMs in Puerto Villamil. Take enough cash, preferably small bills.
[edit]
Buy
Shops in Puerto Villamil sell food, supplies, and souvenirs.
[edit]
Eat
There are several restaurants and bakeries in Puerto Villamil. Most restaurants serve rice, beans and a peace of meat for around 2 dollars.
[edit]
Drink
The nightlive is pretty sedate in Puerto Villamil.
Sleep
There are a dozen places to stay, most charge $10 a night.
From Wikitravel
South America : Ecuador : Galapagos Islands : Isabela : Puerto Villamil
Jump to: navigation, search
<!-- start content -->Puerto Villamil is a town on Isabela, one of the Galapagos islands. Most of the inhabitants live in agriculture and fishing, but also tourism is growing. It's a nice place to hang out on the beach for a few days or do some snorkeling.
<TABLE class=toc id=toc summary=Contents><TBODY><TR><TD>Contents
[hide]
- <LI class=toclevel-1>1 Get in <LI class=toclevel-1>2 Get around <LI class=toclevel-1>3 See <LI class=toclevel-1>4 Do <LI class=toclevel-1>5 Money <LI class=toclevel-1>6 Buy <LI class=toclevel-1>7 Eat <LI class=toclevel-1>8 Drink <LI class=toclevel-1>9 Sleep
- 10 Get out
Get in
There is a daily boat leaving to Puerto Ayora at 6:00am and leaving from Puerto Ayora back to Puerto Villamil at 2:00pm. It's a rough and noisy thwo hour boatride and cost $30 one-way. Emetebe has irregular flights to Baltra airport or San Cristobal if there enough passengers.
[edit]
Get around
Most streets lack adequate streetsigns. The town is small enough to explore in an hour.
[edit]
See
For things to see around Puerto Villamil see Isabela.
[edit]
Do
- Snorkeling -- Snorkeling around Las tintoreras or Concha de Perla is excellent.
Money
There are no banks or ATMs in Puerto Villamil. Take enough cash, preferably small bills.
[edit]
Buy
Shops in Puerto Villamil sell food, supplies, and souvenirs.
[edit]
Eat
There are several restaurants and bakeries in Puerto Villamil. Most restaurants serve rice, beans and a peace of meat for around 2 dollars.
[edit]
Drink
The nightlive is pretty sedate in Puerto Villamil.
- Bar de Beto is a beachfront bar popular with locals and travelers, good to grab a beer and chill out.
Sleep
There are a dozen places to stay, most charge $10 a night.
- Hostal Flamencos is probably the best deal in town. The clean spacious rooms have airco, television, fridge, private bathroom with hot shower and a view on poza salinas, where sometimes flamingos can be seen. It's run by a friendly family who also serve meals. The price is only $10 per person per night.
- Hotel San Vincente is popular by travelers. It has a communal kitchen en they also serve meals and organize tours. The price is around $10 per person per night.
- La Casa de Marita is the only upmarket place in town.
Fishhead said:
Its very expensive to get there and you will spend a lot on boats to get around and see the things that bring visitors there. Tours can cost hundreds a day.
The weather is actually quite comfortable because a cold current is usually running through the area. The warm current shows up for awhile each year and then it gets muggy, but majority of the year it is perfect weather.
Back in 1980 or so,(when I was relatively young), I took a scuba diving course in Bonaire, Netherland Antilles, right between Aruba and Curacao(it was great!). They tried to talk me into going on their trip to the Galapagos Islands saying it was the chance of a lifetime...I was so close to going!
