Travel Guide to the Galapagos Islands

...Step back in time and experience Charles Darwin's Galapagos Islands...

The Galapagos islands are an archipelago of 19 islands and smaller islets 620 miles off the coast of Ecuador.  They have seemed to remain untouched by time for a few reasons: their remoteness, the lack of natural predators, and because they are a double World Unesco Heritage site that protects both land and sea.  Because there are no predators visitors can get up close and personal with playful sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises.  Also, no island is identical to the others, they all have their own unique landscape ranging from barren rock, volcanic rock to miles of white sand beaches.  

A general rule to know while there is that you cannot tour and explore the islands on your own.  You have book tours that are led by park guides - that is just one way they have preserved the natural environment. 

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Where are they and how do I get there ?!??

The Galapagos are located off the mainland of Ecuador so first you must fly into either Quito or Guayaquil (I suggest Guayaquil because the islands are closer).  Most major airlines like American, Continental, Copa and Delta all fly to Ecuador from the United States and if you will probably have to schedule over night accommodations on the mainland because most flights to the islands are in the morning or evening.  Then, from Guayaquil fly into Baltra Island where you will have to take a bus and ferry ride to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island (the most popular island).  Or you could fly into the capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island.  In order to travel between islands you will either need to book a boat or domestic airfare with TAME, LAN, or Aerogal.

  

Essentially:

United States > Guayaquil

Guayaquil > Baltra Island

or

Guayaquil > Puerto Ayora

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When Should I Go?

The islands offer a plethora of activities that range from season to season so depending on what you want to do will determine the best time for you visit.  High tourist season in general for the islands is June, July and August as well as mid-December to mid-January.  

There is a rainy and dry season: 

*Rainy/Hot - December-May

This is when the ocean is the calmest and daily rains cool off the land leaving you with temps in the 80s.

*Cooler/Dryer - June-November

Cooler air temps being in the 70's and water temps cooler because the Humboldt Current comes in and also brings rougher water.  This time is great for experienced divers because it brings in much more sea life like schools of hammerheads and whale sharks.

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Tours

As I mentioned earlier in the post, visits to most islands are not permitted unless you are with a licensed guide of the Galapagos National Park.  The best way to see the more remote islands is by taking a cruise on a small yacht but you can also book day trips from Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz.  Also, you can choose to cruise with a large group of about a 100 or a more private trip consisting of 15-30 - all depends on how intimate you want to get with the islands.  Regardless of the season you will want to book your tour at least a few months in advance but if you find yourself making a sporadic trip there no worries, you maybe can find discounted tours at travel agencies in Puerto Ayora or Quito.  

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Where To Stay

When booking your accommodations keep in mind that most tours begin and end in Santa Cruz so you may want to spend an extra night in either Finch Bay Eco Hotel or Angermeyer Waterfront Inn. These are the top rated hotels on Tripadvisor.  

Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

Finch Bay Eco Lodge

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What To Do and Must See Animals

Wildlife watching is a MUST!!! 

You can observe:

 Blue-footed boobies

 Penguins

Giant Tortoise

Whale Sharks

Marine Iguanas

 Albatross

 *just to name a few of the locals*

And obviously diving and snorkeling are one of the main attractions to the islands, the underwater life is one to be reckoned with!  Then my favorite activities would be hiking, kayaking, taking photos and surfing.  You can also spend your time volunteering - check out the Galapagos Conservancy website for a list of organizations to put your skills to work with.  

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And just a small suggestion of mine on the most valuable personal items to bring are:

Reusable water bottle 

 A camera that preferably can photograph underwater.  

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To book your trip to Galapagos call United Military Travel for your pre-approval!

866-582-9579

www.unitedmilitarytravel.com 

The Great Chesapeake Bay

The largest estuary in the United States

I recently made a move from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to south eastern Virginia - which was a HUGE transition for me.  Going from a majestic sand bar to a bustling city....well lets just say we are still adjusting.  But one thing that we have going for us is the Chesapeake Bay - it is literally right in my back yard!

The following posts are here to benefit you and me - we all need to realize what is in our backyard.  Where to go, what to see, how to see it, how to get there etc. 

 I majored in Marine Technology and my deep passion is coastal environments so I hope you enjoy our exploration through the Bay as much as I am going to!

So follow me this coming week on an exploratory trip through the Chesapeake Bay!

The Bay is huge and it stretches from southern Virginia to northern Maryland making it necessary to split it into two parts, lower and upper. 

But first....

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Some fun facts!!!

Geography

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary: a body of water where fresh and salt water mix.

The Bay is about 200 miles long

The Bay's width ranges from 4 miles near Aberdeen, Maryland to 30 miles near Cape Charles, Virginia

The Bay is actually very shallow, the average depth is about 21 feet.  According to The Chesapeake Bay Program a person that is 6 feet tall could wade through more than 700,000 acres of the Bay and never get his/her hair wet.

Along with the shallowness there are deep troughs that are as much as 174 feet deep.  They are believed to be the remnants of the ancient Susquehanna River.

The bay and tidal tributaries have 11,684 miles of shoreline - that is more than the entire west coast.

The surface area of the Bay and its tidal tributaries is approximately 4,480 square miles.

Two thirds of the United States five major North Atlantic ports - Baltimore and Hampton Roads - are on the Bay.

I live in the Hampton Roads area!

Water and Watershed

The Bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water.

It receives about half of its water volume from the Atlantic ocean and the rest drains into the Bay from a 64,000 square mile watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans 6 states - Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and the entire District of Colombia.

Over 150 streams, creeks, and river drain into the Bay contributing to the 18 trillion gallons of water that it holds.

Approximately 51 billion gallons of water flow into the Bay each DAY from freshwater sources.

More than 80 % of the Bay's fresh water comes from the three largest rivers that flow into it - the Susquehanna, Potomac, and the James River.

The largest of those rivers is the Susquehanna providing over 50% of the fresh water and an average of over 19 million gallons of water per minute.

More than 17 million people call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home and about 150,000 new people move to the Bay each year.

There are nearly 1,800 local governments in the Bay watershed, including towns, cities, counties, and townships.

The watershed contains three distinct geological regions: the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont plateau and the Appalachian province.  

About 8 million acres of land in the Bay are permanently protected from development.

There are more than 700 public access points on the Bay and its tributaries.

The Chesapeake Bay was the first estuary ever in the nation to be targeted for restoration as an integrated watershed and ecosystem.  

Flora and Fauna

The Bay supports more than 2,700 species of plants and animals, including 348 species of finfish and 173 species of shellfish.

The Bay produces about 500 million pounds of seafood per year!

The Chesapeake region is home to at least 29 species of waterfowl.  Nearly one million waterfowl winter on the Bay which is approximately one-third of the Atlantic coast's migratory population.  The birds stop to feel and rest of the Bay during their annual migration along the Atlantic Flyway.

Nearly 80,000 acres of bay grasses grow in the shallows of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Young and molting blue crabs rely on the Bay's grass beds for protection from predators.

About 284,000 acres of tidal wetlands grow in the Bay region which provide crucial habitats for fish, birds, crabs and other species.

Forests cover 58 percent of the watershed but sadly the region loses about 100 acres of forest each day to development.  

Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

Treehouse Hotels and Lodges - Relive your childhood this vacation!!!!

“TREE HOUSE

A tree house, a free house, a secret you and me house, a high up in the leafy branches cozy as can be house. a street house, a neat house, be sure to wipe your feet house. Is not my kind of house at all- Let's go live in a tree house.” Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

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I honestly do not think that I have ever met a single soul who is not fascinated by a tree house.  Personally, I would love more than anything to have my main residence be a treehouse.  

In today's world, the business of treehouse hotels grows each year making accessibility to your favorite childhood memories easier to obtain.  And also to share with your kids.

Please keep reading to learn more about which treehouse resorts are kid friendly, a romantic getaway for two, adventure packed, a holistic dream vacation or just a plain old vacation that differs from the ordinary.

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* Family Friendly *

Out and About Treehouse Resort - Cave Junction, Oregon

Out and About is a four star treehouse that caters to the timid and adventurous, travelers and locals and is set among 36 acres in southern Oregon.  Right next to the property is Siskiyou National Forest and old growth wilderness forest, so this place is really for an explorer at heart.  You and the kids can enjoy horse back riding, zip lining, their tarzan swing, river rafting, arts and crafts, or music when you feel like hanging around the property!

For rates and more information visit their website :)

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* A Holistic Getaway*

Sanya Nanshan Treehouse Resort and Beach Club - Hainan Island, China  

This treehouse is located in the South China Sea on Hainan Island so this is a destination to really "getaway" from it all and back to yourself.  Adjacent from the property is a 5,000 acre Buddhist park filled with pagodas, temples and beautiful gardens that will help you connect mind and soul.  The owners will tell you upfront that this place is not for the "fussy" but for the environmentalist that wants a fresh air experience.  Learn more here! 

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*Opposite of ordinary*

Treehouse Lodge - Limon, Costa Rica

This is where you will find me :) 

I will be nestled safely in the Costa Rican Canopy between a wildlife refuge and the Caribbean Sea.  If that doesn't send tingles to your toes, I do not know what will. 

And because I cannot find a better way to describe this lodge myself, here is what Conde Nast Traveler has to say, "Tree House Lodge is a sight to behold: a split level hideaway propped up on stilts and accessible via wooden suspension bridge.  The space has air-conditioning, a jacuzzi, fridge, ipod dock, mosquito netting, screened-in windows, and a barbeque grill, not to mention its a short walk to Punta Uva beach. After a swim, guests can rinse off in a shower built right into the folds of a 100 -year-old Sangrillo Tree."  

Who is ready to go?!?!!

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*Romantic treehouse lodges - aka honeymoon retreats* 

So there are a ton of lodges to choose from so here is a list of one The Knot has deemed great from honeymoons.  Everyone's taste is different so check out all of them before making your decision!  

The one I would choose would be:

  

The Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa, Australia

This lodge is located in the oldest rainforest in the entire world, 135 million years old to be exact and boast some of the purest air found anywhere!  Activities include fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and rainforest safaris.  The lodge is only 35 minutes away from the Great Barrier Reef so get out there to snorkel or scuba dive.  Also, do not forget to pamper yourself at their spa even celebrities rave about.  Plan accordingly though, with only 15 tree houses on the property, book early!

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*Adventure Packed*

Ariau Amazon Towers - Manaus, Brazil

This treehouse hotel is the largest in the entire world and is nestled atop the canopy of trees above the Amazon River and is considered the "jewel" of the Amazon.  If you have ever wanted had a desire to swim with pink dolphins, do a night time hike through a jungle, fish for Pirañas, or witness the converging of two of the most powerful rivers of the Amazon: the Ri0 Negro and Rio Solimoes.  That is just a brief list of activities you can partake it, visit their website for a VERY detailed list of what they offer.  

This is place is what dreams are made of for people who love the outdoors!   

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As always, get out there and L I V E!!!

What are you waiting on????