News

La Cumbre volcano erupts on Fernandina Island, Galapagos
The Geophysical Institute of Ecuador reported that, during the night of this Saturday, March 2, 2024, the volcano La Cumbre, located on the uninhabited island of Fernandina in the…
Galapagos will implement an increase in its entrance fee rate
The new entry fees for the Galapagos Islands were officially announced on February 26, 2024, for both national and foreign tourists, effective from August 1, 2024. Starting on this…
Galápagos Boosts Biosecurity Against Avian Flu Threat
The Galapagos National Park has indefinitely closed three visitor sites on two islands where dead seabirds were found, triggering an alert of a suspected avian flu outbreak. In response…
Wolf Volcano Erupts in the Galapagos, 07-Jan-2022
The Wolf volcano, which at 1,710 meters is considered the highest volcano in the archipelago, has erupted at 00:20 (local time), spewing lava down its south flanks and clouds…
Galapagos New Entry Requirements Starting July 1st, 2021
The National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) through its resolution of June 10th, 2021, informed the new requirements that will apply to travelers who wish to enter the Galapagos Islands…
A rare white penguin is spotted in Galapagos
The Galapagos penguin specimen has a totally white plumage due to leucism, a genetic peculiarity motivated by a recessive gene that determines the white color of certain specimens. Found…
30 New Invertebrate Species Found in Deep Water off Galapagos
The Galapagos National Park (GNP) reported that thirty new species of invertebrates such as lobsters and corals were discovered in the marine reserve of the Ecuadorian archipelago of Galapagos,…
Giant tortoise believed extinct for more than a century was found in Galapagos
An adult female Fernandina Galápagos Tortoise has ever been found—on Fernandina Island, the youngest and least-explored of the Galápagos Islands. An expedition in 1964 discovered putative tortoise droppings, and…
More than 120 Baby Tortoises Stolen from the Galapagos Islands
More than one hundred tortoises babies have been stolen from the Arnaldo Tupiza breeding center located on Isabela island of the Galapagos Archipelago, the environment ministry confirmed. The hatchlings…
Do You Need Health Insurance to Visit Galapagos and Ecuador?
If you are planning to visit Ecuador or the Galapagos, you’ve probably heard about the new health insurance requirements. Do you need to buy health insurance in Ecuador? Here…
Chinese vessel caught in Galapagos with 6000 finned sharks
On 13 August 2017, a Chinese factory mother ship (Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999) navigating within the Galapagos Marine Reserve, was caught carrying 300 tons of fish; and subsequently,…
Geologist just found Earth’s 57th tectonic plate
Scientists have discovered a small tectonic plate (microplate) located off the coasts west of Ecuador and Colombia (along the ring of fire) which they call Malpelo. It is named…
New entrance rules for visiting Machu Picchu
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu has new rules for visitors. On Thursday April 27, 2017, Peru’s Ministry of Culture announced the new entrance rules for visiting Machu Picchu.…
Two Extinct Galapagos Tortoise Species May Be On their Way Back to Life
In 2012, when Lonesome George (the last living individual from Pinta Island) died the world lost another species. But now, three years after his death, scientists in Ecuador and…
Scientists identify new Galapagos giant tortoise species in Santa Cruz Island
Genetic studies have determined that Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Archipelago has two (not one) giant tortoise species. A team of Ecuadoran and international scientists said on Wednesday…
Mexican arrested for trying to smuggle iguanas from Galapagos Islands
A Mexican man who presumably was part of an international ring of wildlife traffickers, was arrested in Ecuador on Monday 7th September, trying to leave the Galapagos Islands with 11…
The Galapagos transit control card cost USD $20
When organizing your travel plan to the Galapagos Islands, you must contemplate within your budget that since last Sunday, March 1, 2015, the Transit Control Card (TCC) will costs…
A new generic name for Galapagos tortoises
For many years all species of Galapagos tortoises (up to 15 species recognized) were considered within the genus Geochelone, which embraced species of tortoises from in South America, Africa…
New Galapagos Entry Requirement, the Transit Control Card
The Galapagos Transit Control Card (TCC) is an immigration control measure set since April 28, 2008 by INGALA, the former Ecuadorian Governmental Agency that regulated all matters pertaining to…
Lonesome George, may Finally be a Father
Lonesome George, the last remaining Galapagos' Pinta giant tortoise, might be a father soon. George has had the company of two Espanola Tortoise females but until now his attempts…
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