Great class distinction, racial prejudice, language problems and religious barriers made communication between Norwegians and local residents difficult in San Cristóbal. Upon their arrival in Galápagos, the Norwegian colonists were quite unprepared for these problems.
Having attempted to establish a Norwegian colony, The colonists were socially ill-prepared for life on the island. "Many of the colonists regarded non-whites as inferior, especially the mestizos (anyone of mixed native American blood) who were in the majority... such an attitude built greater barriers than all the barbed wire stretched across Campo Noruego. Spanish language, primitive schools, an inferior public health care service, Catholic religion—not even a church they considered worthy enough for baptizing a child ." (Hoff 1985)