Rediscovering the Natural Wonders of Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands

Having suffered a severe earthquake last Saturday, tourism in New Zealand, is still very much open for business, though the effects have certainly been considerable nonetheless. The tourism industry has been particularly stressed in the Christchurch region, home to the largest city in New Zealand’s southern island. On Saturday morning, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.1 hit the city of Christchurch, causing widespread damage but minimal fatalities. Earthquakes are not particularly rare in New Zealand, and people are moderately well prepared for them. By comparison, the Earthquake that struck Haiti early in the year, which claimed 200,000 lives, was actually of a lesser magnitude. The recent earthquake in New Zealand caused considerable damage to property, nonetheless, combined with widespread power outages and a land shift of up to eleven feet.



Various governments around the world have, this week, strongly advised against all but the most essential travel to Christchurch. A state of emergency was also declared in the area, though the rest of the country has been relatively unaffected and remains open to the tourism business as usual. Nonetheless, in the city of Christchurch, a curfew was imposed over the weekend for fear of falling buildings and unstable roads. The area remains somewhat unstable, with numerous aftershocks having been experienced throughout the week, some with a magnitude of up to 5.1. Over five-hundred buildings in Christchurch have been severely damaged and while there have been no reports of any deaths, there have been a few casualties. The weather conditions throughout the past week have also caused additional concern, with gale-force winds threatening structures already destabilized by the earthquake. Heavy rains have also been a problem in the area, with fears of flooding as well.

The state of emergency is set to remain until next Wednesday in Christchurch, as emergency clearing of debris and basic repairs get underway. Due to this, tourists are advised to stay away from the expected areas though the vast majority of the country remains largely unaffected. There does still remain the chance of a severe aftershock, but chance will be decreasing over the coming week. Parts of the city are still completely cordoned off to locals and tourists alike and one town nearby has also been partly evacuated.

The government of New Zealand has stressed that tourists coming to New Zealand in the coming days or weeks should not worry too much about changing their plans. However, they are advised to take note of any signs and barriers and place minimal pressure on the situation. Tourists can easily find out more on the latest updates with regards to the earthquake elsewhere on the web. Tourists should also be sure to check with their travel agents and their accommodation providers as well before heading off on their trips.

When you mention the name of a country, the first thing that usually comes to mind is its most popular city or tourist destination. Ecuador, for example, is a country best known for being home of the Galapagos Islands.

This small archipelago of islands is located on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean, which has a world-renowned wildlife. Galapagos Islands is where you can find giant tortoises, seals, marine iguanas, penguins, flora, fauna and different bird species. Previously listed as a World Heritage Site, it’s where you can view everything marvellous that nature has to offer.

What abut Touring Ecuador – Sans Galapagos?



But what if, for one reason or another, you are a traveller who’d rather skip this “must-visit” tourist destination – and explore other spots of Ecuador instead? Would your travel experiences still capture the essence of Ecuador as a country without stopping by the Galapagos Islands?

The answer is a resounding yes. As a South American country, Ecuador is a place which is home to the world’s highest active volcano, where there are other UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as plenty of places to discover and things to do for both first-time and return visitors.

In addition to the Galapagos Islands, you can explore the Amazonian rainforests, the Andean highlands and the coastal lowlands when going to Ecuador. Quito has a well-preserved colonial center while Cuenca is a city which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site. Another colonial city is Loja, the oldest place of its kind in Ecuador.

Meanwhile, Baños is dubbed as the country’s adventure capital and there are plenty of National Parks, jungle towns, gorgeous beaches and little towns which are such a delight to breeze through.

Exploring Guayaquil, Ecuador’s Largest City



After having a preview of the places other than the Galapagos Islands that you can explore in Ecuador, let’s delve a bit deeper into the recesses of its largest city: Guayaquil. Situated in the Coastal Lowlands, Guayaquil boasts of a dynamic downtown area where you can explore places like the long park of the Malecon Simon Bolivar.

The Santa Ana & El Carmen hills offer a great view point where you can see almost the entire city. For cheap souvenirs, check out the Mercado Artesanal while Salinas is a beach/nightlife destination.

From Guayaquil, you can go on day trips to nearby attractions which are a few hours away from the city. About four hours away is the colonial city of Cuenca which is filled with cobblestone streets. Las Peñas is the oldest neighbourhood in Guayaquil where there are several neighbourhood housing art galleries and a flurry of stunningly-restored colonial homes.

For the romantics-at-heart, you can venture out to Teleferiqo where you can take a gondola ride going towards the flanks of the Pichinka volcano. The oil town of Coca is just as ecologically-rich as the Galapagos Islands, and it overlooks the Amazon River tributary.

All in all, it is possible to explore Ecuador sans Galapagos Islands – but it is a trip that is definitely worth saving for another time.