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WHAT'S NEW IN GALAPAGOS

Highlights and news, from the Islands

We bring you recent news from the Galapagos Islands. Like all places on the planet, the Galapagos is in constant change and undergoing continual challenges. INCA strives to provide the most ecologically-friendly Galapagos travel experience for our guests, as we have since 1976.

Stowaway mosquitoes threaten Galapagos wildlife

By Ben Hirschler - Wed Aug 12, 1:48 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) - The unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands is under threat from disease-carrying mosquitoes arriving on board growing numbers of aircraft and tourist boats, researchers said on Wednesday.

Experts fear the spread of the southern house mosquito, or Culex quinquefasciatus, could have the same devastating effect in the Galapagos as in Hawaii during the late 19th century, when disease wiped out many indigenous birds.

The mosquito was first spotted in the Galapagos in the mid-1980s, but its presence then was considered a one-off.

Now research by British and Ecuadorian scientists has found the insects are, in fact, transported regularly by plane and are island-hopping on boats, spreading throughout the archipelago.

Genetic tests also confirm they are able to survive and breed once they arrive at their new home.

"More ships and more aircraft are coming to the Galapagos every year and the risk of something being introduced is growing all the time," said Leeds University researcher Simon Goodman.

"That we haven't already seen serious disease impacts in Galapagos is probably just a matter of luck." The southern house mosquito is a carrier of diseases including avian malaria, avian pox and West Nile fever.

It was brought to Hawaii in water barrels on whaling ships, leading to diseases that are blamed for wiping out many bird species. Only 19 out of 42 species and subspecies of honeycreeper now remain in Hawaii.

Goodman and colleagues, who published their findings in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, fear everything is in place for a similar wipe-out in the Galapagos, given the rapid growth in transport links with the mainland.

Tourism is a major source of income for the Galapagos and is growing by around 14 percent a year.

The government of Ecuador recently introduced a requirement for insecticide spraying on aircraft flying to the Galapagos, but the scientists said the scheme's effectiveness was not being monitored and the rules did not apply to cargo ships.

Mosquitoes are the latest in a string of invaders—including rats, wild pigs, flies and invasive plants—that have colonized the Pacific islands, located about 600 miles off South America's coast along the equator.

British naturalist Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution in the 19th century after studying the islands' unique animal population.

New Nest Found in Lonesome George's Corral

Hopes Soar at the Prospect of Obtaining a Descendant for Lonesome George

Puerto Ayora, Galapagos - 21 July 2009

Lonesome George looks on as Edgar Munoz, Director of the Galapagos National Park, measures one of the eggs from the nest of one of George's female companions which was laid earlier this week.

This past Saturday, Female No. 107, one of the two female tortoises who shares a corral with Lonesome George-the last Pinta Island Tortoise in the world-and who laid a nest for the first time back in 2008, returned to nest again this year. In the conservation world and in Galapagos, hopes are high that the eggs from her nest will produce a descendent for Lonesome George-the emblematic reptile of the Galapagos Islands.

Yesterday afternoon, guards opened the nest and five eggs were found in perfect condition. These eggs were removed, weighed, measured, and placed in artificial incubators at the Giant Tortoise Center for Reproduction and Captive Breeding at the Galapagos National Park. Now we must wait 120 days for the incubation process to unfold before learning if the eggs are fertile.

Because of the need to try to bring back the Pinta tortoise species (Geochelone abingdoni) from the brink of extinction, the five eggs were placed in an incubator kept at a temperature of 29.5 ° C, which will allow for the growth of female tortoises instead of males.

Female No. 107 and her female companion No. 106 are from the species Geochelone becki, originally from Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island. They have a carapace that is shaped similar to the shell of Lonesome George. Since 1993, the three tortoises have shared a corral, with the hope that they might eventually reproduce together.

In July of 2008, both female tortoises laid nests for the first time. But, hopes were dashed when all of the eggs were declared infertile near the end of the year. This time around in 2009, scientists are hopeful, but not optimistic, that this latest nest will produce a descendant for Lonesome George and his near-extinct species of Pinta Giant Tortoises.

Proceso de Relaciones Públicas - Parque Nacional Galápagos - Ecuador
For more information visit www.galapagospark.org

Fernandina Eruption Images

One of the world's most active volcanoes does its thing again April 10, 2009

Isla Fernandina, the youngest of Galapagos Islands, is one of the world's most active volcanoes. On April 10, 2009, a fissure opened up on the southwest edge of the crater in the same location as an eruption in 2005. The fissure was about 500 meters from the caldera, 200 meters long and 10 meters wide, with lava erupting up to 15 meters high.

As of May 6, the show was over, but the new lava will be visible for many years to come.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen from great distances as lava flows to the southwest and reaches the sea (NASA photos below).

Lava bubbling forth from crack in the southwest face of La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina, April 11 (Image: Galapagos National Park)

Lava flowing down face of Fernandina, April 11. (Image: Galapagos National Park)

More Images:

NASA images of the Fernandina Plume (NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center.):

April 11, 2009:

April 12, 2009:

April 14, 2009:

Sulphur Dioxide Plume from Fernandina on April 14, 2009 (NASA image courtesy Simon Carn, Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University.):

Galapagos with INCA

2010 Galapagos trips now online!

Our schedule for 2010 adventures are now open for reservations

2010 may seem like a world away from today, yet it will be here before we know it.

So think ahead to next year and imagine yourself on a Galapagos journey that will give you memories to last a lifetime.

Our 2010 Galapagos dates and prices are ready for your perusal. Just click on any trip in the left-hand sidebar or visit Our Adventures for all trip information.

Or give us a call at 510-420-1550—we'll help you select your Galapagos adventure for 2010 or any time.

Step into discovery in the unique Islands of Galapagos on an INCA adventure!

2009 and 2010 Galapagos Prices Held or Reduced

And sometimes it's even better...

These challenging economic times have hit us all. We've found some ways to decrease trip costs and operating expenses, yet continue to deliver the same highest quality adventures that we have for over 30 years.

While our 2009 prices were set long before the world economic situation developed, we have been able to secure two remarkable savings for you. The first takes place as soon as this July!

Our Five Ways to Get More Galapagos for Less:

All INCA 2010 Galapagos trip prices have been held to 2009 levels
	2010 Galapagos prices held at 2009 rates for all yachts, all itineraries* Each year as our costs for hotels, yachts, services and more increase, we have kept our trip price increases to a minimum. It takes a bit of guesswork, since we must set our trip prices long before we receive our costs from suppliers. We have just learned that the owners of our Galapagos yachts will keep their 2010 prices at 2009 levels. As the yacht makes up the majority of the trip cost, we will be keeping our 2010 trip prices at 2009 levels. Your INCA trip in 2010 will cost no more than if you traveled in 2009. *The Fall Season 2010 rates are slightly more than Fall Season 2009.
Fuel Charge included on Reina Silvia trips
	All trip prices on the Reina Silvia from July 11, 2009 on will include the Galapagos Fuel Charge, a tax imposed by the Ecuadorian Government on fuel for all Galapagos yachts. This means a savings of $175 per person.
Fuel Charge included on Integrity trips
	All Integrity trip prices starting September 1, 2009 (excluding year-end Holiday departures) will include the Galapagos Fuel Charge, a tax imposed by the Ecuadorian Government on fuel for all Galapagos yachts. This means a savings of up to $250 per person.
Fall Season Integrity Prices
	New Fall Season Integrity trip prices—see note below—beginning September, 2009 on all trips are reduced $500 per person. Fall Season rates will apply in 2010 too, but they won't be quite as low, so take advantage of the maximum savings this Fall.
Combine Two!
	Travel on the Integrity this Fall and combine both the new Fall Season trip price (at the best rate ever) and the included Fuel Charge, a potential savings of $750 per adventurer.

To see how these new rates apply to any of our Galapagos adventures, just click on any trip in the left-hand sidebar, or visit Our Adventures for all trip information links.

You may also give us a call at 510-420-1550—we'll help you select your Galapagos adventure for 2009, 2010 or any time.

New Fall Prices for Galapagos!

For the first time ever, special Fall pricing on all Galapagos Integrity adventures

Leaves will be falling this autumn, but long before then our prices are falling for our Integrity Galapagos Adventures.

The owner of the Galapagos yacht Integrity has just instituted lower, Fall Season rate for all departures September through mid-December 2009, and September through mid-December 2010.

We are passing this unprecedented opportunity on to you! All Integrity departures on all Fall Galapagos itineraries between September and mid-December are now $500 lower and include the Galapagos Fuel Charge.

Just click on the trip of your choice in the left sidebar to view the new rates.

There is no time like this fall to visit the Galapagos with INCA!