ECUADOR - one state with four genuinely distinguishing geographic regions
The three main geographic regions on the mainland are:
- The coast also called “La Costa” on the Pacific Ocean
- The highlands also named “La Sierra” which means the mountain range of the Andes running from North to South through the whole country
- and the Amazon rainforest also named “El Oriente”.
The Galapagos Islands (in german: Ecuador Galapagos Inseln) - the fourth region - is an insular region in the Pacific Ocean.
It is a breath taking moment, standing there on an island where nobody lives - only some endemic species you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Swimming with sea lions, sea turtles and sharks is nearly as overwhelming as walking over one of the islands, watching fascinating species like the blue-footed boobies, lava lizards, albatrosses, marine and land iguanas, mockingbirds and uncountable different kinds of finches. This is what this province of Ecuador is known for: the vast number of endemic species.
So if you are interested in fascinating animals and plants this is the place for you! Even if you have not been interested in plants and animals before, there is a great chance you will be after visiting this archipelago of volcanic islands that is also located around the equator.
Usually you land at “Baltra” where you find the airport. From there you can go to one of the bigger islands called Galapagos “Santa Cruz” with the biggest city on the islands - “Puerto Ayora”.
At Santa Cruz you can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station with a tortoise breeding center as well as the highlands where you find a beautiful mangrove forest and interesting volcanic formations like the two big holes “Los Gemélos”.
Another interesting but very small island is “Santa Fe”. On Santa Fe you find a lot of land iguanas and sea lions as well as a forest of Opuntia cactus.
“Española”, the oldest island of the archipelago, hosts a large number of endemic fauna furthermore albatrosses and marine iguanas that change their colour during the breading season. This island offers the most beautiful beach for swimming and snorkelling: Gardner Bay.
The island “Floreana” - named after the first president of Ecuador (Juan José Flores) - shelters species like pink flamingos and green sea turtles that nest on the island between December and May.
A wooden barrel is kept at Post Office Bay where post could be picked up by ships passing by and was delivered to its destination.
Impressive underwater volcanic coral formations can be found snorkelling or diving in Glapagos at the “Devil’s Crown”.
Ecuador is a country like a dream - only by going there you can find out yourself!