Local traditions and culture in Galápagos Islands

1 more image

With all the good sized crabs running around Puerto Ayora, we thought it odd that no restaurants offered them to eat. We asked one of our guides and he said that while it's not offically allowed that locals did eat them. Of course, this was all off the record. They certainly didn't seem endangered but I guess if people eat them when they aren't allowed that it could become a problem is it was!

At any rate, it's fun watching the scurry around the lava rocks with the greatest of ease.

One great thing about Puerto Ayora is just walking around town. It's not only a scenic little touristy seaside town, it is teaming with wildlife. You'll see crabs and marine iguanas scurrying all over the rocks down by the water and if you head down by the fishing boats, you can see the local bird lining up for a free meal too.

Whatever you do, come prepared to tip, tip, tip anyone who is providing any level of service. This is generally no big deal as people survive on tips, however, if you have booked an expensive boat trip - be warned that some Naturalists will expect some big tipping. DON'T feel trapped by this. You have paid a large amount already and they get a good wage from the tour companies. Tip if you feel the service is good and tip appropriately - by this I mean be mindful of all the people on the boat who have provided you with a good service and share the booty around. If you tip what the Naturalist expects you to provide, then you are setting up a difficult situation for future travellers. Tipping can be a difficult subject to talk about for everyone - so tip those who deserve it.

Well, the manners of some of the inhabitants may be a bit shocking to some .... not only do they not use any handkerchiefs ... but if you stand exactly in front of them you can get showered by some sticky stuff because the sea lions sneeze often. So do a favour to yourself and be a bit careful, especially if your reflexes aren't too good :-)

If you are in Puerto Ayora over the weekend you should visit a church. There are several! Each Sunday of course the largest church in town-Catholic, there is also a Mormon church which usually has a couple of U.S. missionaries there, as well as a pentacostal church. I met many people from these churches and they would love to have guests! Specifically, I would recomend the Seventh-day Adventist Church just up the main road from the bank, where I spent my year. They are very friendly people, and have a nice, small homey church. Main services are on Saturday mornings, and evenings, but they also have Sunday and Wednesday night studies. It is a good way to practice spanish too!

Don't worry about taking any kind of cash to the Galapagos other than US dollars. That's the official currency. Bring enough to pay your park fee, offer tips to your guide and the boat crew, buy souvenirs, snacks to take aboard the boat, etc.

You can use credit cards in a few places in the Galapagos, but don't count on it. It's best just to have cash. If you do find youself making a large enough purchase that you exhaust your stock of greenbacks and need to pay with plastic, keep in mind that American Express just won't cut it here.

There is an ATM machine in Puerto Ayora that works--or should I say is *supposed* to work--with the Cirrus system. (One boatmate of mine tried to get some cash, but she was unsuccessful; I doubt she was the only one.)

(And no, that's not all my money.... this is a stock photo from somewhere, LOL.)

As soon as you arrive in the Galapagos, you will wait in a long, long line to have your passport stamped (yes, even if it was stamped in Quito or wherever you entered the country). You will also need to pay the park fee.

IMPORTANT: You MUST pay your park fee in cash, and in US dollars. The fee is $100.

Here's a sketch of passengers waiting in line at Galapagos arrivals.

You can see flamingos on Isla Rabida and Isla Sante Fe. The characteristic pink colouration of the Galapagos Flamingo is maintained by their diet of bright pink shrimp larvae and other pink marine insects.