Galapagos 10 Day Trips Banned

I have heard from several sources that in 2008, Galapagos National Parks will no longer allow 10 day itineraries. Does someone have more info on this. Also, any insight on the politics involved in this ruling? Suppose divers are interfering with long-lining at Wolf and Darwin:(

I wrote the national park service via a Spanish translator by Mail, Email, and Fax and received no reply. 14 day trips will also be required to come back to Santa Cruz after 7 days, sort of defeating the main feature.

I have heard from several sources that in 2008, Galapagos National Parks will no longer allow 10 day itineraries. Does someone have more info on this. Also, any insight on the politics involved in this ruling? Suppose divers are interfering with long-lining at Wolf and Darwin:(

can you tell me where you got this source? we run galapagos charters and deal with three operators in the islands and this is the first i've heard of it.

if you let me know i can try and verify it.

sounds typical of what the powers that be here would try and do instead of imposing restrictions

on the type of activities that really are damaging the islands. for example, official sources put last

years diver figures at 30,000 divers diving galapagos. we did some very generous calculations of

our own and could only come up with a possibility of half that many.

regards,

mark.

We are in the process of booking a trip and have been informed by Reef & Rainforest, Peter Hughes and Aggressor of this new rule. For 07 the only option is back to back 7 day trips.

so when is the official date where the change over is to happen? When will the last greater than 7 day charter go out?

does anybody know?

I believe you can still get a custom itinerary, but it is very difficult, and none of the normal dive charter boats will be able to do it easily. Antonio Moreano has started a private charter business for Galapagos, and would be a good person to contact about custom itineraries. You may have to charter an entire boat, though. (contact me for his info).

Seems to me that this is the Parks Authority shooting themselves in the foot ?

I was actively considering a trip that way but if I can't get to Darwin & Wolf then I am not going to go - scratch one tourist group and any dollars that I we may spend - there are other places on the planet.

Either that or it has to be 2007.

Maybe the long liners pay better than the tourist ?

Paul C

paul, i did a 7 day trip there, 5 days at wolf and darwin, 1.5 days down south

With which outfit Mike ?

Sounds ideal.

Mike,

That does sound perfect - I would be interested in who you went with also.

Folks,

The rule goes into effect at end of '07. I don't think any new 10day itins can be added however for '07...must be existing. From what i hear, they are trying to manage the impact of tourism on the park...it has grown a ton. Unfortunatley, the comerical fishermen will continue to devestate the park (the much bigger issue) but the park is powerless to really enforce this without serious political reform and tons of money:(. So, the do what most people do and try to control the only things they can...the tourists.

Aggressor... we did check out dive on arrival, then steamed up north, then one day in the south on the backend

Just tell em that is what you want to do before you go

We had the same schedule as Mike on the Aggressor.

we had chartered the whole boat, so it was easy.

you may not be able to do so depending on who is on your charter.

The main agrressor galapagos seven days itinerary include two days in Darwin and one in wolf. When we were there (october 2004 looooong time ago ) we did nine dives in Darwin and one in wolf (total of 15 dives) in six diving days...

Seems to me that this is the Parks Authority shooting themselves in the foot ?

I suspect the tourist head count on any single day will remain the same, but when those heads change to belong to different people will occur more often and consequently the GNPS will collect more park fees. It's too bad, they could have accomplished the same effect by charging a schedule of fees corresponding to the length of stay.

political reform here in ecuador won't make one bit if difference in galapagos unless there is a complete overhaul of the navy, the police force, and the military, as a great number of them are involved in

corrupt practices.

i sat in front of a police officer on one of the islands last year and was gobsmacked as he told me freely how much money the police force there have 'invested' with japanese fishing operations in return for turning a blind eye.

the galapagos is an international interest, but unfortunately is in the hands of a local government who care for nothing more than a fistful of dollars, most of which comes from illegal sources.

lets hope more tourists go to the islands, that more dollars begin to come in from them, and that the emphasis is turned away from fishing.

unless of course collateral forces invade the islands and take them for international interests, but hey there's no oil so that's not likely to happen either.

geez i remember those golden years when i wasn't cynical, and believed in huiman nature.

Sad but true...very true...there is no such thing as collective interest...just collecting interest for one's account. My goal, capture as much as possible on HD before it is all gone...and it will be gone:(

I just hope all these greedy corrupt fat old men end up with some disease so they cannot spend the money, then all suffer a slow crippling painfull death

The world is not looking good for the next 50 years, there is going to be some major stuff happening that's for sure.

Wags.. how lovely...

hahaha

It appears the Japanese fishing industry are really the primary culprits buying off opposition to their fishing practices whenever and wherever it may occur. Ironically, where would we be if we were to boycott Japanese goods in protest?