Fuel Surcharge Increase for 2012 in Domestic Flights
Due to the elimination of the subsidy on fuel for domestic airlines announced by the Ecuadorian Government; local Airlines will be charging a fuel surcharge to passengers traveling within Ecuador.
After several conversations and negotiations, staring February 1st AEROGAL will be charging a fee of US$80 per passenger including taxes for the roundtrip to the Galapagos either from Quito or Guayaquil this fee will be invoiced to tickets of tours that already have been booked or paid, if the fee was not pre-paid, it can be paid by cash or credit card at Kleintours' counter before boarding the flight.
Galapagos tortoise may not be extinct
Good news for conservancy! A rare species of giant Galapagos tortoise thought to be extinct for over 150 years probably still exists according to studies by a Yale University team, who reached to this conclusion after finding genetic traces of the turtle known as Chelonoidis elephantopus or C. elephantopus in the DNA of their hybrid offspring.
The C. elephantopus was originally found only on Floreana Island and it's estimated that it extinguished shortly after Darwin's historic trip to the Galapagos in 1835. Thirty of the tortoises found are less than 15 years old; so the chances of the pure-blood parents still being alive are high, given that they can live to over 100 years old.
The genetic sampling conducted in 2000 of these tortoises led to the discovery of genetic fingerprints that suggest that individuals of C. elephantopus could still live on the island. Now the researchers plan to have a workshop in order to discuss what can be done and send an expedition at the end of this year to look for the pure Floreana tortoises.
Photography contest winners!
We invited you to vote for the photos you like the most among those that have won during our photography contest that takes place on board M/V Galapagos Legend, M/Y Coral I & II.
The final results are: third place goes to Alex Talyamsky, second place to Zachary Zelazo Kessler and our winner is Tamara Renae Itterman with her underwater shot.
Congratulations to them and thanks for traveling with us!
What's going on in Galapagos during February?
* Greater flamingos start nesting on Floreana Island.
* Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island.
* Penguins migrate away from Bartolomé Island to cooler waters of Isabela and Fernandina Island.
* Weather: Rainy season.
