Winslow Homer's "The Fog Warning" 1885

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“Never vomit into the wind”

Motion sickness or kinetosis – also known as ‘Travel Sickness’ – is apparently experienced by about 33% of people – even in mild circumstances such as being on a boat in calm water.

Common symptoms …

• Dizziness, fatigue, and nausea [nausea, from the Greek term naus - meaning ship]
• A paleness of the skin may be followed by yawning, restlessness, and a cold sweat.  As the symptoms progress, malaise and drowsiness set in, sometimes accompanied by an upset stomach.

Common situations that lead to sea sickness …

• Motion sickness is more likely to occur with complex types of movement, especially movement that is slow or involves two different directions (for example, vertical and horizontal) at the same time;
• Poor ventilation caused by gas fumes and smoke, and emotional factors such as fear and anxiety often act together to bring on an attack of motion sickness;

When it comes to a cruise, for example, in the Galapagos Islands …

• You should strongly consider a more stable vessel – these being the large capacity cruise ships, and heavy motor catamarans;
• The wider and heavier the vessel, the more stable it is; conversely, the narrower and lighter the vessel the more unstable it is;
• Ideally you want to locate yourself as low down and and central (from front to back, and from side to side) of the boat as possible – this is the spot that you will feel less movement.

Other data …

• Women are more sensitive to motion sickness than men, and pregnant women are especially at risk for motion sickness.
• Children are commonly affected. The peak incidence for the development of motion sickness is 12 years; infants and children under two are generally not affected.
• Persons who suffer from migraine headaches are at increased risk for motion sickness.

Supposed causes have been chalked up to an INNER EAR DISTURBANCE – basically what one feels and what one sees do not match.  Some claim that when feeling motion but not seeing it (for example, in a ship with no windows), the inner ear transmits to the brain that it senses motion, but the eyes tell the brain that everything is still. As a result of the disconcordance, the brain will come to the conclusion that one of them is hallucinating and further conclude that the hallucination is due to poison ingestion. The brain responds by inducing vomiting, to clear the supposed toxin.

Visual input seems to be of lesser importance, since blind people can develop motion sickness.

In an interesting article in Science Daily (link), professor of human movement science at the University of Minnesota, Tom Stoffregen, Ph.D., claims that “Those who move a lot, although barely visible, are the ones that get sick. He says it’s like they’re subconsciously moving to compensate for the motion, but they’re only making it worse.”

Dr. Stoffregen says, “People who are going to get sick first become wobbly, and it’s fair to say that by becoming wobbly they make themselves sick.” For now, researchers can’t predict who’s going to get sick, but experts say the best way to prevent motion sickness is to lie down and close your eyes.

Treatment and/or prevention of Motion Sickness ..

Medications and other treatments are available. Nonprescription antihistamine treatments are believed to block signals from the inner ear to the vomiting center.

Antihistamines have been used to treat motions sickness. Notably, the nonsedating antihistamines do not seem to be effective for motion sickness treatment.

Examples of antihistamine medications to treat motion sickness include:

• chlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor),
• cyclizine (Marezine),
• cyclizine HCI (Bonine for Kids)
• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Dramamine Chewable, Driminate),
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl or MAREOL [Colombia & Ecuador],
• meclizine (Antivert, Bonine, D-Vert, Dramamine II).

Side effects may include significant sedation, drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, and confusion and urinary retention in the elderly.

• These are most effective if taken 30 minutes to an hour before traveling and as directed.  If the drugs are taken only when the traveler begins to feel sick, it is usually too late to stop the process. These drugs should not be taken by children under 12 or by persons with other health problems without a doctor’s consent.  A number of prescription anti-nausea and anti-vomiting drugs are available. Ask your doctor for advice.  One innovative treatment is a through-the-skin delivery system, Transderm Scop, developed for scopolamine a highly effective drug for motion sickness. One patch is normally applied behind the ear 4 hours prior to travel, and replaced every 3 days. This method is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or those with liver, kidney, or bladder disease.

Some studies have shown that ginger, an old home remedy for gastrointestinal disturbances, may be effective in prevention of motion sickness.    Taking 1-2 grams of ginger orally has been used as an alternative medicine to prevent motion sickness. Studies both in experimental motion sickness and in naval cadets at sea have found that ginger, taken in advance, has reduced the symptoms of motion sickness. It is believed, however, that this benefit is due to the effects of ginger on stomach motility rather than suppression of sensory input.

Fixing one’s gaze upon landmarks or the horizon may help to prevent or lessen the symptoms of motion sickness.

Once the symptoms of motion sickness have set in, there is little to offer the suffering traveler other than sympathy and perhaps some fresh air.

Happy cruising.

This photo released by Galapagos National Park shows the grounded Alta yacht in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Thursday, March 18, 2010. Sixteen Canadian tourists and eight Ecuadorian crew members were rescued from the yacht that ran aground on Wednesday. No injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Galapagos National Park) (AP)

March 18, 2010

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorean officials say 16 Canadian tourists and eight Ecuadorean crew members have been rescued from a yacht that ran aground in the Galapagos Islands.

The country’s national park service says all of those aboard the 140-foot (46 meter) Alta are safe. But it says it will hold the operator responsible for any damage to the region’s environment.

It says the vessel ran aground on Wednesday evening on the ISLOTE CAMANO and that rough seas prevented the yacht’s recovery or removal of the fuel aboard.

The ship is operated by Florida-based Quasar Expeditions. A phone call to the company was not immediately returned on Thursday. Officials have not released the identities of the passengers.
——————————————–
Incident involving the M/S Alta

Quasar Expeditions’ Official Second Release
March 22, 2010
11h00 GMT

Passenger & Safety

All 16 passengers who were onboard the Alta during Wednesday’s incident have safely returned to Canada.

Environmental Concerns

On Saturday, March 20th, all of the fuel on Alta’s tanks was emptied. The yacht’s fuel tanks, which are located on the bow of the yacht, did not suffer any damage. The grounding of the Alta compromised the mid hull section, thus, there was never a fuel spill during the grounding up until the tanks were emptied.

Alta’s Current Condition

At this moment Alta continues to be grounded at Camaño Islet. The yacht’s hull and engines are very heavy, thus, it has been impossible to try and pull the yacht away from the islet with the Coast Guard ship. Representatives of the Insurance Company arrived to the Islands on Friday, March 19, to assess the situation, and after visiting the grounding spot and looking into the possible alternatives to pull the Alta away from the islet, they have decided that they will do this by lifting the hull from the rocks with special floatation devices. These devices have to be brought from Panama, which means the yacht will not be pulled out of Camaño Islet for another couple of weeks. Once pulled out, the specialists from the insurance company will determine the extent of the damage and take pertinent actions.

Quasar Nautica Expeditions M/S Alta Statistics
Type of Vessel: Three-Masted Staysail Schooner
Capacity: 16 passengers, 8 crew plus 1 naturalist guide
Length: 46 meters (140 feet)
Beam: 6.8 meters (21 feet)
Draft: 3.4 meters (10.5 feet)
Builder: Titleness, Norway

M/S Alta was certified to operate by numerous overarching national and international regulations which include the Galapagos National Park, DIGMER and ISM (International, Classification Society and Port State Inspections etc.).

Hull and Machinery Insurance: Marsh Ltd. London, England

Protection and Indemnity: Shipowners: Luxembourg

DIGMER – Galapagos Registration No. TN-01-00100

M/S Alta received its full inspections and certifications, which included a Conditions Survey, required by Insurers Marsh Ltd. and Shipowners, as well as all inspections and certifications required by DIGMER (Ecuador’s Marine Merchant Entity).

Quasar Nautica Expeditions Update, March 22, 2010 11h00 GMT

The level of one’s appreciation (or lack thereof) regarding your Galapagos Islands cruise experienced can be strongly based directly upon the level of expectations you had going into the cruise.
Tourists can have higher, lower or realistic expectations. Obviously you want to have a very realistic expectation (including all the advantages, disadvantages, up and downs etc) – you receive all that you thought you would. Spot on!

However, all too often, this is not the case. The next best scenario (in my opinion) is that one has a poorer expectation, and the reality is superior to what you had envisioned. This, by natural effect, tends to make your overall experience a positive one.

The worst scenario is that your level of expectation is too high (in relation to the reality). This, without a doubt, leads to a natural disappointment – as you didn’t receive all that you thought you would.

The lesson in all of this is that it is important that you have a clear, realistic vision of what you will receive. Consequently, the data and information being provided to you by the point of sales you have selected should be real, accurate and up to date.

Happy cruising!

Sangay Touring
www.sangay.com

Scientists report colony of Galápagos sea lions in northern Peru

January 28, 2010
Original source:  Andean Airmail & Peruvian Times

The Organization for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals, or Orca, says a colony of sea lions endemic to the Galápagos Islands have established a colony off the coast of northern Peru as a result of increased sea surface temperature in the region.

The colony includes 30 sea lions that traveled 1,500 kilometers, about 932 miles, from Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands to the Foca Island, located off the coast of Peru’s Piura department, daily El Comercio reported. The president of Orca, Carlos Yaipén, says the Foca colony is the first reported outside the Galápagos archipelago and due to an increase in sea temperature caused by climate change.

“Never before has a residency of Galápagos sea lions been reported outside of the islands. Individual sea lions have been reported stranded in Ecuador and Colombia, here as well, but never a colony,” says Yaipén. “This is due to their adaptation to climate change. The conditions of the sea around Piura are now similar to the Galápagos. This could result in the arrival of more sea lions as well as other species.”

Surface sea temperature around off the coast of Piura has reportedly increased over the last 10 years from an average of 17 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius. Sea temperature around the Galápagos Islands averages 25 degrees Celsius.

The Galápagos Islands is an archipelago of 19 volcanic islands located at the confluence of three ocean currents about 604 miles west of continental Ecuador. The islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique “living museum and showcase of evolution.” In 1978, they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

JANUARY 29/2010

The USGS reports the following:

Magnitude	5.0
Date-Time	Friday, January 29, 2010 at 13:16:29 UTC Friday, January 29, 2010 at 07:16:29 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	1.979°N, 90.303°W
Depth	10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region	GALAPAGOS ISLANDS REGION
Distances	325 km (205 miles) NNW of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos 330 km (205 miles) NNE of Puerto Villamil, Isabela, Galapagos 1245 km (770 miles) WNW of Guayaquil, Ecuador 1335 km (830 miles) W of QUITO, Ecuador
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 13.1 km (8.1 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters	NST=121, Nph=121, Dmin=293.4 km, Rmss=1.18 sec, Gp=144°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=7
Source	USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	us2010sba6

As a public courtesy, and following Sangay Touring’s constant ethical and professional approach to Galapagos cruises, we publish the following regarding the economic Galapagos Islands boat, M/Y Gaby (aka Gabi):

Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism

Oficio No.- MT-GRG-2010-0013

Date: January 21, 2010

To all tour operators and agencies we inform you of the report by the Puerto Ayora Port Captain [see below excerpt section].  In addition we take this opportunity to inform you that, due to numerous complaints regarding the incompletion of services provided by the operator of the Gaby, the respective legal department of the Minsitry of Tourism will be exectuting in the following days, in conjuction with the Direccion Juridica, the respective administrative and legal procedures to ensure that all the pertinent and legal procedures are applied.

Official communication [translation of pertinent sections] from Capitania de Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Date: January 18, 2010

The boat, Gaby, is currently prohibited to navigate due to the incompletion of Internaitonal security regulations.  The boat, due to damages to its motor and generator, cannot navigate December 28th, 29th & 30th 2009 and after 3 inspections conducted by the Puerto Ayora Port captain to verify the boat’s condition has decided to stop its operation until such time as the boat returns to satisfactory conditions.

GALAPAGOS BOAT & CRUISE SELECTION TIPS
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS …..

CRUISE LENGTH

Selecting a short cruise (i.e., 3 or 4-nights) when a longer cruise is what you want; or selecting a long cruise (i.e., 7-nights) when a shorter cruise is really want you need.

What is not commonly stated is the following: The first and last day of any given cruise are short days (as they are based on the flight arrival and departure schedules into/out of Galapagos).  Cruises really start with the arrival of your flight into Galapagos between 09h30 and 11h30 the morning of the first day of the cruise in Galapagos, and end between 08h30 and 10h30 in the morning of the last day of the cruise.  Most classify Galapagos cruises as 4-DAY, 5-DAYS and 8-DAYS when these cruises really translates into 2, 3 and 6 full days, respectively (or 3, 4 and 7 full nights, respectively) in the Galapagos Islands.  The two partial days at the beginning and end of the cruise are mainly occupied traveling to and from the islands.

In my years of experience I have equal numbers saying that a 4-night cruise was the perfect length, while others stated that the 7-night experience was without a doubt the best.  If you want to cover as much of the diversity that the Galapagos has to offer, the 7-night cruise is the best and only option for you.

TYPE OF VESSEL

Selecting a cruise ship when a smaller vessel is more your style; or selecting a sailing boat when a motor or cruise ship is really what you’re after.  The vast majority of the non-cruise ships are, on average, for 16 passengers (allocated into 8 double cabins). There are a small handful that carry less (i.e., 10 passengers) an equal number that can carry up to 24 passengers.

PHYSICAL ASPECT: There are different advantages and disadvantages of the various types of vessel (cruise ship, motor catamaran, motor-sail catamaran, motor boat, sailing and motor-sailers).  The larger and heavier the vessel, the more stable it is in the water.  The most stable (important for those extremely sensitive to sea sickness) are the large capacity cruise ships (i.e., Eclipse, Evolution, Galapagos Explorer II, Galapagos Legend, Isabella II, La Pinta & Santa Cruz).  These vessels carry between 32 to 100 passengers, have spacious and well acquainted cabins & facilities, spacious decks and social areas and highly qualified and trained crew members.  Cabins are generally allocated on two (or more) different decks.  Several boast jacuzzis, gyms and other perks.  The possible disadvantages (depending obviously on one’s point of view) are the following: (1) generally attract an older and higher socio-economic clientele; (2) a greater number of fellow passengers; (3) the activities are generally geared towards older passengers so are not demanding (for those wanting a more active cruise – plenty of snorkeling & hiking etc – a smaller vessel is better suited for you); and (4) slower boarding and debarking of the vessel (i.e., for island visits) as passengers are divided into smaller groups of 16 to 20 passengers each.

Turning to the non-cruise ship options, you have (1) the catamarans – motor & motor sailers – that include Valkiria, Archipel I (aka Galapagos Journey III), Archipel II, Nemo II, Queen Beatriz (aka GAP VI), Queen of Galapagos, Seaman II, Treasure of Galapagos, Anahi, Athala & Nina; (2) sailing & motor sailers like Angelique, Encantada, Beagle, Cachalote, Mary Anne, Nautilus, Sagitta & Alta; and (3) the motor boats – which is the largest list of vessels in Galapagos.

The heavy, wide motor catamaran version (i.e., Archipel I & II, Anahi etc) are not only well appointed, but due to the width of the vessel are spacious in terms of cabins and social areas and stable.  Some even have onboard jacuzzi to soak into after a long day hiking the islands.  The lighter motor sailing catamarans (i.e., Valkiria, Nemo II etc) are comfortable and relatively spacious, but not as stable as their heavy motor brothers above.

The sailing boats (most of them are technically motor sailers – when there isn’t sufficient wind, I think you would be glad that they can still navigate under motor power!) are long and narrow by nature.  This makes them vulnerable to swaying (or rocking) in the seas … even when anchored.  Most of these vessels have small and somewhat cramped cabins and limited deck and social areas.  However, vessels like the Beagle, Cachalote, Mary Anne, and Alta have an attractive and cozy atmosphere aboard.  These vessels are, without a doubt, geared more towards your adventurous and active passenger.  They provide and intimate experience – something that is hard to replicate on a large cruise ship.

The bulk of the Galapagos cruise vessels fall into the ‘motor’ category – from your small, old & basic economic motor boats like the Amigo, Rumba & New Flamingo right up to the luxurious and relatively spacious Galaxy, Voyager & Grace and Tip Top IV etc.  The wider and heavier the motor boat is, the more stable it is.  Many (but not all) of these motor vessels have cabins allocated on two (or more) different decks.

CABINS: While most Galapagos boats only have double cabins (cabin for two people), a very limited number have single and/or triple cabin arrangements.  The standard bedding arrangements are upper/lower twin bed berths (bunk beds), while a good number – generally in the First and Deluxe classes – may have several cabins that have one double bed and/or two lower twin beds.  With very few exceptions, almost every cabin on the various Galapagos boats has its own private facilities (i.e., shower, bathroom, hot/cold water etc).  Cabin location can be important.  Generally speaking (but depends on the mechanical layout of the boat in question) the father forward and up the cabin is, the farther away you will be from the motors/generators.  This translates into less noise, vibration, heat and possible fuel aroma.

Regardless of the vessel, they all navigate and operate in a similar fashion – the major inter-island transitions (i.e., from Espanola over to Floreana, for example) are done on the overnight hours.  That way, when you awake the next day, the boat is already anchored off the island to be visited that morning.   This maximizes the daylights hours, and thereby attempting to reduce transitions during the day to a minimum.  There are occasional transitions done on some boats between the morning and afternoon visit (these transitions may be to another point on the same island or to a nearby island).  These however are generally not that noticeable as passengers are enjoying lunch aboard during the transition.

That being said, there is no one Galapagos cruise that is perfect for everyone. Each person has his or her particular likes and dislikes, expectations and requirements. Some prefer the large, comfortable cruise ships that carry 40 to 100 passengers while most prefer a more intimate, smaller option.

Part II to follow shortly … which will cover important aspects as itineraries, naturalist guides, boat classes, time of year etc.

Aerogal & Tame airline fares have increased due to governmental airport taxes effective immediately (January 7th, 2010). For those passengers already paid in full, sangay Touring will absorb this increase.

January 1st to April 30th / June 15th to September 14th / November 1st to December 31st

GALAPAGOS FLIGHT RATES – HIGH SEASON

ADULT | CHILD | ROUTING
$422 | $217 | QUITO – GALAPAGOS – QUITO
$403 | $208 | QUITO – GALAPAGOS – GUAYAQUIL
$400 | $205 | GUAYAQUIL – GALAPAGOS – QUITO
$372 | $191 | GUAYAQUIL – GALAPAGOS – GUAYAQUIL

May 1st to June 14th / September 15th to October 31st

GALAPAGOS FLIGHT RATES – LOW SEASON

ADULT | CHILD | ROUTING
$367 | $190 | QUITO – GALAPAGOS – QUITO
$349 | $181 | QUITO – GALAPAGOS – GUAYAQUIL
$346 | $178 | GUAYAQUIL – GALAPAGOS – QUITO
$328 | $169 | GUAYAQUIL – GALAPAGOS – GUAYAQUIL

Note: ‘Child’ is anyone under 12 years of age / ‘Adult’ is anyone over 12 years of age.

SOURCE: http://www.galapagos.org/2008/index.php?id=233

The Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) is committed to maintaining the quality of visitor sites in terms of infrastructure, flow of visitors, and the quality of interpretation, and to ensuring that tourism activities in the archipelago adhere to the principles of ecotourism, as established in the Park’s Management Plan.

The results of the Park’s annual monitoring activities, together with reports presented by naturalist guides, and information shared by tourists, has revealed that the high demand at some sites is reducing the quality of the visitor experience. To address this problem, the GNPS recently held a workshop in which tourism operators, naturalist guides, and Park personnel worked to organize new itineraries for the 70 boats operating multi-day tours in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

During the workshop, participants analyzed and discussed different alternatives, and agreed to implement 15 day itineraries which will not visit any site more than once within a 15-day period. This arrangement would allow passengers to participate in cruises lasting five, seven or 15 days.

In 2010, the GNPS will begin the process of rolling out the new itineraries. The goal is for all tour ships operating in Galapagos to adhere to the 15 day itineraries in 2011.

The implementation of this measure will reduce visits to the most critical visitor sites, such as Bartolomé and Española by 50%.

Other complementary measures to optimize the management of the tourist experience include: visits to the towns, improved distribution of flights among Galapagos airports, zoning of ancillary tourism activities, and mechanisms for providing access to sites under special circumstances.

Proceso de Relaciones Públicas – Parque Nacional Galápagos – Ecuador
For more information write to: comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit http://www.galapagospark.org

The tourist boat Cormorant II (aka Galapagos Journey II), with licence no.TN-01-00-226, suffered mechanical damages while navigating near Punta Flores, on the north coast of Isabela Island. Aboard were 14 passengers and 8 crew members.

The Galapagos National Park patrol boat, Guadalupe River, was realizing a relief of personnel at the Bolivar Canal base (Isabela Island) when they received a distress call from the Cormorant II at aproximately 02h30 today.

The National Park park rangers immediately made their way to the site and successfully rescued all passengers and crew members, but the strong currents and waves that have been present in the past few days in the archipelago completely destroyed the catamaran, losing all material, documents and equipment that was aboard.

The crew members of the Guadalupe River provided first aid to various passengers that required minor attention. All the rescued individuals were transfered to the Itabaca Canal (north point of Santa Cruz Island) where they were received by the cruise operator.

Representatives of the Galapagos National Park will conduct a survey of the possible environmental damages, as at the time of the incident, the catamaran was carrying 1000 gallons of fuel in her storage tanks. The representative of the Cormorant II, Ángel Gustavo Villacís, will need to execute the necessary guarantees and mitigation procedures.

Original source (in Spanish) from El Comercio: http://ww1.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=307762&id_seccion=8

The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) will be the next province of Ecuador to convert into a free wireless (wi-fi) region, thanks to the wireless connection pilot project REDGAL.

This past Friday, the digital newspaper “El Cuidadano” announced that tests are currently being conducted on network connections to provide free internet to all of the Galapagos Islands population, using equipment that allows for large coverage with a bandwidth between 1.5 and 2.0 Mbps.

The project was spearheaded by the Galapagos National Institute (Instituto Nacional Galápagos) at the end of August 2008.

Original source is in Spanish, found here: http://tecnodatum.com/2009/03/galapagos-tendra-internet-inalambrico-gratuito/

Source: El Comercio (Ecuador)
Date: August 22, 2009

The AH1N1 virus has arrived in the Galapagos Islands. The Director of Ecuador’s Health system, David Basante, indicated that yesterday afternoon a 17-year old adolescent, from Santa Cruz Island, is the first reported and known case in Galapagos.

The Director indicated that the adolescent was in “perfect health” and will receive 75mg of Tamiflu for 5 days.

The Ministry of Health has dispatched 500 treatments of Tamiflu to the Galapagos Islands. Of this, 2 have been administered to two suspected cases. The authorities do not know how the infection occurred.

Galapagos has two hospitals (in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal), with each one having a 15-bed capacity. As of yesterday, hospital staff of both hospitals have increased procedures and facilities to attend to patients that arrive with possible symptoms.

To date, on a national level there have been a total of 900 positive reported cases, with 24 associated deaths.

Introduction & history

M/Y Grace’s stellar past includes ownership by millionaire tycoons like Sir George Tilley and Aristotle Onassis, a brief stint in the British navy and the vacation home of guests recognized worldwide, including Winston Churchill.

This yacht has traversed the waters of this world under many names, but we have rechristened her with a name that takes her back into her history; to the very best of her times. Named after her late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the name is a representation of her elegance, beauty and prestige. Grace is the ideal yacht for the the traveler who seeks a true explorer experience, complemented with excellent service, superb accommodations and excellent dining. All who travel on-board this yacht will be part of a mission to bring to life the natural living legacy of the islands.

2009 AVAILABILITIES: http://www.yachtsgalapagos.com/online_availability/GraceAvail2009.htm

2010 AVAILABILITIES: http://www.yachtsgalapagos.com/online_availability/GraceAvail2010.htm

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR 2010 BOOKINGS

FIT (For Individual Travelers) Special Package

[SPECIAL PACKAGE A]

All new passengers booked and confirmed by September 15, 2009 for our 2010 departures will receive their Air Tickets to the Galapagos Islands at no additional cost.

[SPECIAL PACKAGE B]

All new groups (4 or more guests on the same departure) booked and confirmed by September 15, 2009 for our 2010 departures will receive their Air Tickets to the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee and the Transit Control Card at no additional cost.

*Note: Offer is for new bookings only and is not retroactive to current bookings

Celebrating 50 years, the Charles Darwin Foundation has launched its new web site: http://www.darwinfoundation.org/

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health has confirmed 9 fatalities due to the A H1N1 flu virus in Ecuador [July 21, 2009]

Ambato | 1 male | 30 years old | July 2
Cuenca | 1 female | 28 years old | July 7
Quito | 1 female | 42 years old | July 11
Riobamba | 1 male | 74 years old | July 12
Quito | 1 female | 48 years old | July 12
Loja | 1 male | 24 years old | July 14
Alausi | 1 female | 26 years old | July 15
Chunchi | 1 female | 59 years old | July 17
Canar | 1 male | 38 years old | July 17

Source: El Comercio / July 21, 2009