The Traveller's Magazine
Want to get a closer look at the Galapagos Islands but don’t have the cash or time to travel there? Don’t worry, Google StreetView has your back. While it’s not entirely the same thing, you can now explore the island bays, beaches and mountains without leaving your desk.
Google goes Darwin in the Galapagos
Few have had the pleasure of visiting these remote and gorgeous volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador. Not to fear however if you haven’t had the chance to cross it off your travel bucket list yet. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to explore the Galapagos archipelago with a few clicks of the mouse from your PC. A Google camera team has just visited the remote and gorgeous Galapagos Islands to add them to Google StreetView.
Hikers carried the StreetView cameras, 19-kilo systems with built-in computers and a ball-like camera atop a tower, all over the islands and even into the sea to record walking paths, the incredible volcanic landscapes and of course a few of the island’s creatures along the way.
Each system has 15 cameras to capture a 360° panoramic view of some of the most inaccessible places on the islands, some even off-limits to tourists. You definitely wouldn’t be seeing the Google car around these parts! Over the course of ten days, the team hiked across miles of trails, into active volcanic craters and even under the sea so that users can “swim” with the sea lions, hammerhead sharks and tropical fish too.
These images now have to be stitched together to create a seamless image which will hopefully be available to explore on Google Maps and StreetView later this year.
Flights to GalapagosHave you been to the Galapagos? Is it on your list of places to go?
