Galapagos Wildlife, 2nd: A Visitor's Guide (Bradt Travel Guide) [Paperback]

David Horwell (Author), Pete Oxford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | Series: Bradt Travel Guide

Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing and often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora and fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go and what to take and photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, and will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. It is ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip they also make a handsome souvenir. The Galapagos islands are famed for their unique and diverse wildlife, as illustrated here with full colour photographs on every page. In spite of their isolated location, their allure is such that they are a Mecca for wildlife enthusiasts on what has often been called the 'trip of a lifetime'. "Galapagos Wildlife" is written by experienced tour guides, who share essential tips on how to discover the best the islands can offer and fascinating background on key species. Whether planning a voyage of discovery in the footsteps of Darwin or simply as a great souvenir of a trip, this guide will be invaluable for visitors to this magical kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A great guide."
--Global

"Extremely useful, with a good section detailing all of the main visitor sites."
--The Daily Telegraph

From the Back Cover

The enchanting Galapagos Islands lie off the west coast of Ecuador. With no links to the mainland, the flora and fauna evolved in isolation, remaining undocumented until Charles Darwin's first visit on HMS Beagle in 1835.
Galapagos Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide explores this World Heritage site to bring you a detailed guide to the islands' unique fauna and its varied habitats, both terrestrial and marine. Biologists, wildlife enthusiasts and adventurous travelers alike will find this an engaging and invaluable companion.

o Over 120 color photographs
o Written by licensed Galapagos naturalist guides
o Conservation and ecology
o Visitor sites with full-color trail plans

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 2nd edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841621005
• ISBN-13: 978-1841621005
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Travel size Galapagos, January 17, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Ithaca, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galapagos Wildlife: A Visitor's GUide (Paperback)

This relatively small book on the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands is packed with information and pictures. The author has gone to a great deal of trouble to condense a vast amount of data into a handbook for the traveller, without sacrificing essential information, clarity or accuracy. Not only does it cover the wildlife that the visitor is most likely to encounter, it also gives a succinct history of the islands. Working in the Galapagos Travel Industry, and having considered many similar books for pre-trip briefing and ready reference while in the islands, this is the book I would recommend.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good to superficial guide, depending on your interests, December 4, 2002

By 

JDiver "You haven't lived until you've dived." (Roseville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Galapagos Wildlife: A Visitor's GUide (Paperback)

Having visited the Galápagos and planning my return, I can say this introductory booklet (140 pages) is a reliable for people who want an overall idea of the ecology and want to identify some of the most prominent wildlife they are likely to encounter - it is easy to understand, has good information, decent photos of the main players and illustations of the commonest landing sites. For you, this booklet rates three stars for clarity, comprehension level and lightness in your backpack, but it fails next to Andy Swash and Rob Still's more comprehensive and better illustrated "Birds, Mammals and Reptiles of the Galápagos Island".

For those who want a more in depth knowledge of the Galápagos and their wildlife, or are traveling to some of the more remote sites or the northernmost islands: you will feel short-changed and wish you had purchased more comprehensive guide(s), so you can identify all the critters you will possibly observe and learn much more about their habitats and behaviors, climate and cvlimate zones, etc. For those travelers (birders, nature buffs, divers, etc.), this booklet rates a generous three stars for its relatively topical treatments.

Choose your guidebooks according to your interests and skills. And go there, walk softly and leave nothing. Visiting should have as little impact as possible, and in my opinion when done properly does help protect these wonderful islands of biological diversity from rampant pirate fishing, oil spills and short-sighted political stewardship. Our "tangibilitized" interest is the only one the Ecuadorian government- at least up until now- has responded to.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Galapagos Wildlife, December 5, 2001

By 

Chloe (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galapagos Wildlife: A Visitor's GUide (Paperback)

I just came back from the Galapagos and found David Horwell's book indispensable. It is a very readable and concise introduction to the flora and fauna of the Galapagos islands. Beautiful photographs. Very informative. Easy to carry around and refer to. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the Galapagos islands.