| Galapagos clarifies the rules

AUTHORITIES in Ecuador have moved to
clarify the new rules regarding cruising in the
Galapagos (CW 01 Sep), saying the changes
will only affect cruise ship operators, not
visitors, to the region.
According to the authorities, the new
regulations which come into effect from 01
February 2012, will stop cruise operators from
visiting the same sites every week, instead
implementing a repetition rotation rate of 15
days (effectively meaning operators can only
visit the same site once in every 15 day
period).
This does not mean that tourists must cruise
for the full 15-day itinerary, with cruise
operators allowed to break up their 15-day
itineraries into a maximum of four segments,
which will create voyages of four days or more.
It is however expected that most operators
will break their 15-day itineraries up into
either two seven-night itineraries or two fivenight
and one 4-night itineraries.