The Cities in Galapagos: 

In order to understand what we are dealing with in the Galapagos, not having been there yet, information regarding the cities will help to get an idea of what the villages look like and function like.  Much of this information is provided by tourist websites.  Though this isn't a scientifically reliable source, the general information about facilities on the island is helpful to us to know.  This will tell about power consumption, tourism amounts, and whether the living conditions are inadequate for people.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno:

Attractions:  Cathedral, Natural History Museum, Interpretation Center 

Transportation Required: To see Cerro Tijeretas (35 minutes away overlooking neighboring town), Playa de Oro – small town with a few hotels north of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (swimming is popular), Playa Punta Carola (surfing),  20 minute walk South leads past the airport and to La Loberia, a coast with trails

Restaurants:  8 dining establishments in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, 2 snack places (pastries and snacks) in PBM, 2 Restaurants in El Progresso 

Bars and Discos:  4 Bars/Discos in PBM

Hotels: 6 

Specialty Shops: a few crafts shops, 2 mentioned specifically

Transportation: Irregular Boat schedules offered from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz and Isabela to Santa Cruz, also Island hopping flights available

            Flights into Galapagos always go through Guayaguil or Quito.

            Bi-monthly cargo carriers will take passengers for a small fee, but not frequently done.

Daily Buses travel between El Progresso and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Services: 1 bank, 1 post office, 1 hospital, and 1 pharmacy

            Internet and communication services available – expensive!

 

Santa Cruz – Puerto Ayora:

Attractions: Around Santa Rosa and Puerto Ayora some tourist attractions including Butterfly Ranch, Lava Tubes, El Chato, mangrove swamps, Conway Bay and Las Bachas, Cerro Dragon, Guided tours and small streams and inlets for “bathers”,

Hotels: 24 of varying cost 

Ministry of Tourism, British Consul

Restaurants:  More than 10 large restaurants and probably 3 bakeries, 3 main ranches and eating establishments outside of Puerto Ayora 

Bars and Disco: 1 Bar and Grill, and 4 Bar/Disco

Shops: 1 supermarket, a large souvenir shop, and supplies shop 

Recreation activities – many many offered!

Services: 1 hospital, 1 bank, internet available,

 

Isabela:

Accommodations: 5 hotels, no banks, no hospital,

Restaurants: 7 restaurants at Puerto Vilamil (1 in Merceditas Highlands)

 

Floereana:

About 80 inhabitants

1 school and 1 telephone

Accommodations: 1 hotel and family bungalows

No regular boat services

 

Info above from http://www.thebestofecuador.com and http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com

 

Knowing what a place looks like can help a lot in finding what to research next.  Therefore, pictures of many things on the Galapagos helped steer us in the direction of finding solutions to our problems.  These images have direct links below.  This is not information for specific research purposes, just for our general information and amusement.

<>Pictures of Hotels
http://www.galapaguide.com/islas_santa_cruz_accommodation.htm 

City location Maps

http://www.go2galapagos.com/maps_photos.html

<>http://www.ecuador.washcoll.edu/Santa%20Cruz/puertoayoramap.html

City Puerto Ayora

http://www.arden.org/images/2002Galapagos/040016.jpg

http://www.arden.org/images/2002Galapagos/040020.jpg

http://www.arden.org/images/2002Galapagos/040017.jpg

<>http://www.arden.org/photos/2002Galapagos/full/index.html

Hotel Galapagos Photo of bay <>

http://www.hotelgalapagos.com/images/tn_airview10.jpg

Dock

http://www.20riverside.freeserve.co.uk/gallery/pelican.jpg

http://www.20riverside.freeserve.co.uk/images/puertoayora.jpg

Photos

http://www.wrwagnerfamily.net/galapagosimages/0813PM%20Bartholome%203651-0019.JPG

http://www.wrwagnerfamily.net/galapagosindex7.htm