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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.

Valentine's Day & Darwin Day
Photo Contest Results

Winners of our inaugural snapshot show-off

Inspired by the dual worth-celebrating special days of Valentine's Day, February 14th, and Darwin Day, February 12th, we launched our first "Galapagos Love" photo contest. The contest was open to former guests and for just one week, yet entries were numerous, enticing and amusing. Photos were judged by Weston Walker, our video editor and grandson of Wes Walker. Based on submissions, we decided on two categories: True love (and species continuation), Galápagos Style, and The lighter side of love in Darwin's Isles. Check out all winners and entries: Valentine's Day & Darwin Day Galápagos Photo Contest

Galapagos Fur Seals Head for Peru Waters

By Dan Collyns BBC News, Lima - Monday, 8 February 2010

A colony of fur seals has moved 1,500km away from the Galapagos Islands, a Peru-based organisation which monitors the aquatic mammals has said.

The Organisation for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals (ORCA) says the fur seals have swum to northern Peru because of rising temperatures.

It is the first time fur seals have set up a colony away from the islands, Orca says.

Average sea temperatures off northern Peru have risen, monitors say.

Measurements from the Peruvian Geophysics Institute indicate the sea surface temperature in the northern Peruvian provinces of Piura and Tumbes have consistently risen from an average of 17C to 23C over the last 10 years.

The temperature is much closer to the sea temperature around the Galapagos Islands, which averages about 25C.

Now that the conditions of the sea around northern Peru are so similar to the Galapagos, they say, even more fur seals and other new marine species could start arriving.

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!