News of Ecuador

Information on the Galapagos Live Aboard Diving Cruises

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:26:17 +0000

Whale shark and diver Galapagos Darwin island

Scientists, naturalists and tourists have explored the Galapagos for decades, but only in the last 20 years it has become a diving destination. And only very recently have divers ventured from the protected bays and inlets to discover true Galapagos diving. That is to say, adventure diving on remote and current-swept islets and rocks where the profusion and concentration of marine life is staggering.

All Galapagos diving is done from smaller dinghies, or pangas, launched from our yachts. Most dives are done as drift dives, where everyone rolls into the water together and the panga driver follows the bubbles along a predeter- mined route. All divers should carry a safety flag which will be available on our yachts. Notice we didn’t say sausage, as the inflatable sausages in Galapagos are not suitable for use. They are made up from segmented PVC plastic with a bungee cord inside, and when extended, they make a rigid solid safety flag. A noise-making device such as a whistle or airhorn would also be a useful device. These accessory items will make it easy for the panga driver to spot you after you surface.

Water temperature depends on time of year, location in the archipelago and the dominant ocean current. It can range from the upper 70s oF to below 60o F (26oC to below 16oC), which is cold for the equator. While diving it is prudent to dress in layers, adding or subtracting another layer of neoprene as necessary.

EACH SITE AND ISLAND HAS ITS OWN FLAVOR
There is a palatable excitement to Galapagos diving. As you suit up and climb into the panga and head out across open water to the dive site, you feel like you’ve just stepped into a Discovery Channel special, or maybe even an early Jacques Cousteau documentary. The anticipation of what lies ahead, just below the surface, makes even the most experienced diver quiver. Each site and island has its own flavor, and everyone has their favorites; Isla Los Lobos famous for the sea lions, Wolf and Darwin where many sharks can be seen or Roca Redonda and Vincente Roca where an encounter with Sun Fish can be expected but regardless of which site you’re on, they’re all exciting.

It’s the sharks that get most people’s attention first. There’s nothing like rolling into the water off the panga into a school of dozens of hammerhead sharks, since they tend to be a little skittish. At some sites, like the northern islands of Darwin and Wolf, you can be caught in a huge school that seems to be unaware of your presence and just sweeps over you, wave after wave of hammerhead sharks going by like a presidential motorcade. Other sharks include the somewhat curious Galapagos shark, zillions of docile white tips and, if you’re lucky, whale sharks. Divers regularly encounter schools of eagle rays “flying by” in close formation, as well as larger and more majestic manta rays. Virtually all the sites are blanketed with clouds of Creole fish and immense schools of jacks. Brightly colored schools of surgeonfish and snappers add a vibrant touch.
Look closer and you’ll find Moorish idols, hieroglyphic hawkfish, panamic fanged blennies and maybe even a red lipped batfish or a brilliant yellow sea horse anchored to an even more brilliant yellow strand of black coral. And sea lions are everywhere in the central region, but not
up North. Combination class clown and schoolyard bully, these sleek torpedoes of strength and grace take great pleasure in showing off. First they’ll rocket in and out of
the blue directly into your face, screeching to a halt just inches in front of your mask, and then with a bubbly bark they’ll swim circles around you until they’re bored and then they’ll chase each other all over the reef. On some dives, you’ll just spin trying to keep track of everything you see. The profusion of marine life can be that dizzying.

GALAPAGOS HAS A FEW PECULIARITIES, TOO
Where else can you snorkel with penguins (yes penguins) on the equator? The little Galapagos penguin stands about a foot tall and is often seen in the cooler waters off the western islands and near the famous and popular Bartolome Puncta on Bartolome Island. Fairly shy, they tend to avoid divers, but the sight of them “flying” through the water at great speed, using their stubby wings for propulsion in pursuit of prey, is comical and memorable. Divers and snorkelers may spot a marine iguana grazing on algae in the shallows.
There’s nothing like the cry of “whale!” to bring you flying up on deck, even from the deepest in between-dive nap. Humpbacks, sperm whales and even orcas are sighted as the liveaboards make the passage from one island to the next. Huge schools of porpoises will divert from their route to frolic in the boat’s bow wave. The louder the guests squeal the higher the dolphins leap.

Wolf Buddy diving yacht

Diving in Galapagos is a memorable experience and it is certainly one of the 10 worldwide sites that every diver should definitely visit.

Very few boats have obtained permission from the Galapagos National Park authorities to perform these special diving cruises. Most are foreign operators in general from North America.

A cruise could be organised, with a bilingual Ecuadorian PADI instructor, who is moreover a marine biologist, and with a tri-lingual Padi divemaster, scheduled from November 12 to 19, and at a price significantly lower than those charged by the U.S. vessels. An opportunity not to be missed.

GALAPAGOS LIVE ABOARD DIVING CRUISE
SPECIAL DEPARTURE WOLF AND DARWIN ISLANDS – DIVING WITH THE WHALE SHARKS
NOVEMBRE 12th TO 19th, 2011

72% of the ecuadorians appreciate the policy of President Rafael Correa (survey of 26 February)

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:17:21 +0000

“SP-Investigación y Estudios” has done last February 26 a national survey in which it appears that 72% of the population refer to as positive the management of President Rafael Correa.

This result was obtained by asking directly the question “How would you describe the work of President Rafael Correa?” to a sample of 2400 people of more than 16 years old, in urban and rural zones, across all the country.

Answers are obvious: 17% considers it as very good and 55% as good.

On the other hand, 19% of the population believes that the President’s Management is bad, 6% estimates it very bad and 2% did not respond.
This analysis has a margin of error of + / – 4 and a 95% reliability.

Santiago Perez, director of the pollster company, added that the qualification is more positive than negative in all provinces and major districts, including Guayaquil and Quito.

According to him, this support comes from the fact that a group of more than 35% of the population receives direct and concrete benefits from the social works undertaken by the government. This group is augmented by a part of the citizens who want to continue supporting the process of change.

In contrast, there is a small group of people, less than 10%, which expresses its rejection of the government and that shall always maintain an antagonistic position. The middle high and the high socio-economic classes of the major cities are found in this group.

Source: Radio Sucre

Ecuador will reinforce his campaign for the non-exploitation of oil

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:24:25 +0000

Yasuni primary amazon forest

According to Ivonne Baki, the coordinator of the negotiating committee, Ecuador will strengthen its international campaign to obtain financial contributions in exchange for his proposal to leave underground the oil from the three wells of the Yasuni Amazonian reserve.

Baki, presidential ex-candidate and ex-ambassadress in the United States, announced that she will travel to Washington to meet with representatives of promotion companies whom Ecuadoran government wants to contract to broadcast its Yasuni-ITT project.

The 3 wells in the Yasuni national park would represent incomings for the country estimated at 7000 million dollars. The project proposes to let underground 846 million barrels of oil in exchange for economic contributions of the international community equivalent to half of the estimated profits.

This non-exploitation would avoid the emission of 407 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, qualified as “disappointing” for the moment the collection of contributions.

After her trip to the United States, Baki envisages visits in Europe to know the status of negotiations with countries such as Germany, Norway, Belgium and Spain. She also plans to promote the Yasuni initiative in Asia and in the Middle East.

Rafael Correa announced that if Ecuador do not receive by December 2011 significant contributions to support this initiative, he will proceed with the exploitation of the Amazonian wells “with the utmost care for the natural and social environment.”

Peru envisages financial support to the ecuadorian Yasuni project

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:15:40 +0000

Minister of Heritage, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, announced today that Peru envisages financial support to the Yasuni-ITT project.

Amount has not yet been revealed by the Peruvian government, but an official announcement is expected in the next days.

President Garcia has openly expressed his interest for the Yasuni initiative and he became indeed one of the main spokesmen to promote the contribution of other governments.

The minister also announced that crises in the Middle East are delaying the Yasuni project because the Ecuadoran government was hoping to receive support from some Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates.

The hope of reaching the $ 100 million before the end of the year is not lost. Currently, the Yasuni project has collected 36 993 496-dollar total in international financial contributions.

Ecuador direct flights with KLM from October

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:59:51 +0000

The KLM stop at Bonaire

Ecuador nonstop from October 2011. This announcement was made today, Monday, Feb. 7, by the KLM airline.

The company prepares a “strong expansion” in the Caribbean and will provide 2600 seats each week. According to KLM, this expansion will begin with their fall schedule, which starts on October 30.

It is planned to include in this schedule direct flights to Quito and Guayaquil.

The 5 weekly flights to Ecuador which stopped in Bonaire will be replaced by three direct flights to Quito in combination with Guayaquil.

These flights will be realized in a Boieng 777-300 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Correa, President of Ecuador, register the highest popular support since the return to democracy

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:13:16 +0000

President Rafael Correa in one of his weekly meetings

At four years in power, the approval rate of President Rafael Correa is one of the highest in the country’s history since the return to democracy in 1979, according to a study conducted by the polling firm Cedatos.

Cedatos carried out an analysis of the approval of the democratically elected presidents starting with Jaime Roldós, who began his administration on August 10, 1979 with the support of 68% of the population and who, after his death (May 24, 1981), had 44% support.

After Roldós – who was elected by an alliance between the Populist Party “Concentration of Popular Forces (Concentración of Fuerzas Populares) and the Christian Democratic Party “People’s Democracy” (Democracia Popular), all the other Presidents show a support of less than 40%, except Rafael Correa.

The current President of Ecuador, assumed his functions on January 15, 2007 with 73% of support. Support that after 100 days in office augmented at 76%.
After a year, support was of 64% and increased to 70% in its second year of administration.

By the natural wear of power, added to the effects of the international financial crisis and exacerbated by problems in the supply of electricity following a prolonged drought, in its third year, the young president recorded the lowest level of support of his entire period: 41%.

Since then and until now, popular support remains at 56%, according to the figures released by Cedatos.

Unlike Correa, presidents Jamil Mahuad (from 10.10.1998 till 01.21.2000) and Bucaram (from 10.10.1996 till 02.06.1997) had to abruptly end their mandate with a popular acceptance of only 7%.

Mahuad, who was evicted by a popular revolt when he froze the bank accounts of thousands of citizens, began his term with a rating of 66%, while Bucaram, which was revoked by Congress, which declared him in mental incapacity to lead the country, began his government with a support of 63%.

Lucio Gutierrez was another of the presidents who began his management with a high approval: 64%. This one went down fast due to a change in his political left speech, which took him away from the popular sympathy. Even before he assumed the power, Gutierrez had been declared as the best ally of the United States government.

Finally, just as Mahuad and Bucaram, this retired Army colonel has been dislocated April 20, 2005, under the pressure of the people, ending his mandate with 32 % of support.

Gustavo Noboa Bejarano, who succeeded Mahuad, recorded at the beginning a 51 % acceptance and concluded with 35%.

The cardiologist Alfredo Palacio, who took power after the overthrow of Gutierrez began with a support of 53% and finished his term Jan. 14, 2007 with an acceptance of 29%.

Oswaldo Hurtado, the constitutional successor of Jaime Roldós, completed his term August 10, 1984 with a support of 31%, after starting with a 44% in favor.

The right-wing president, León Febres Cordero took his duties August 10, 1984 with a support of 44%.
Cordero, who ruled with an iron fist, has completed its constitutional mandate with 32% acceptance, according to the study of Cedatos.

Thereafter, the Social Democrat Rodrigo Borja assumed power August 10,1988 with a popularity level of 46% which decreased to 36% at the end of his term, August 10, 1992.

Sixto Duran Ballen began his term with 51% and finished with 38% popularity.

In December 2010, CMS published a survey interviewer registering 73.19% acceptance for the management of President Correa, while the society Santiago Perez indicated that 71% of Ecuadorians noted as positive the work of the Head of State.

Rafael Correa and his wife

Polibio Cordova, director of Cedatos, described as unprecedented, the approval rate for the President. “These figures are unprecedented. Four years with a president who had to face many problems and which always has 56 percent of approval is unprecedented, “said Córdova.

He explained that the population sees in its President a person who makes decisions, who works for the people, who cares about the wellbeing of the poor, which provides facilities for marginalized groups to finance their small forms of work.

Other aspects that influence this support amounted to Correa are the granting of subsidies for housing, the improvement of health and education. “People think this is a president who can be made respect, which makes decisions, who works tirelessly. That, people see it, in comparison with other presidents, and that’s why people support him, “said the director of Cedatos.

Source : Andes

Caray turtles nest in the National park Machalilla of Ecuador

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:36:00 +0000

The Foundation “Equilibrio Azul” announced on the recent discovery of five new Caray Green Sea turtles (E.imbricata) that have nested in Machalilla National Park, in the province of Manabí, the Route of the Spondylus. Ecuador is the only country of South America where this species lays his eggs.

Felipe Vallejo, spokesman of the Foundation, said that the appearance of the specimens of this endangered species not previously recorded is, in his view, a good sign. It might be a symptom of the increase of this specie in Ecuador, but he added that it is not possible to confirm until after the nesting season, which runs from November until March.

Vallejo told that until recently it was not known that Caray turtles were nesting in South America, as it was known only to lay eggs in Central America. Nevertheless, several studies conducted jointly by the Ministry of Environment, various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the National park of Machalilla discovered that this animal was also nesting in Ecuador.

Caray turtles are in extinction because they have been captured for their meat, their skin and their shell, which is used to make ornamental combs, jewelry and glasses frames. The follow-up and protection of the Caray turtles in the world is therefore very important.

The Train of the Andes works again

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:51:52 +0000

Train of the Andes and Devil's Nose valley

The route of the famous «Train of the Andes», among which the most spectacular part is the one which joins Alausi to Sibambe passing through the famous “Nariz del Diablo” valley (the Devil’s Nose) is rehabilitated and begins again to work from today on, February 2nd, 2011.

After more than a year of work, the 13,5 kilometers of this section are finally operational. A diesel locomotive and three wagons of colonial style will assure the service.

Stopping envisaged in Chiripungo, Piedra Grande, Zigzag Viola and Nariz del Diablo with final stop in Sibambe where a tourist watchtower and a coffee shop are waiting for the passengers.

Departures are scheduled from Tuesday till Sunday at 8 A.M., 11 A.M. and 3 P.M.

The Ecuadorian government will invest 250 million dollars furthermore in the rehabilitation of the train of the Andes by 2012.

Yasuni-ITT project receives $ 100,000 from the Avina Foundation

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:36:54 +0000

The foundation, formed by community leaders and entrepreneurs of the region, became the first non-governmental organization to contribute to the project, said Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Minister of the Ecuadorian Heritage.

In the act of donation, the minister thanked Avina for having made this first “step”. Espinosa expressed his hope that the door opened by Avina will be borrowed by other organizations.

The Yasuni-ITT project aims to prevent the exploitation of oil fields in the Ecuadorian Amazon, home of 20% of all the oil reserves of the country.
For its part, the representative in Ecuador of Avina, Maria Eulalia Pozo declared that this plan “puts down a model of innovative development”.? ?In case of success of the Yasuni initiative, Ecuador will not drive the extraction of 846 million barrels of oil, which would avoid the emission of 407 million tons of carbon dioxide. ?
The Ecuadorian government has pledged to leave this subterranean deposit if the international community provides half of the profits that would be obtained if he ran.

In case of not receiving the support of the international community, the government will operate the field with the least possible impact on environment.

For now, Ecuador has received contributions from several governments, such as Chile, Spain and the regional government of Wallonia (Belgium), while others like Germany and Italy , Norway, Portugal and Canada are interested in the project.

The oil block Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) is located in one end of the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest and is considered by scientists as one of the sites of highest concentration of biodiversity in the world.

Source : Vistazo

$ 39 million for the Yasuni-ITT Initiative

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:49:16 +0000

Deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon forest

It was established an initial threshold of 100 million dollar to be harvested before the end of December 2011 for the trust of the Yasuni-ITT initiative under the United Nations Program for Development.
According to the Heritage Minister. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, we arrive now at 39 million.

Without excluding the existence of a plan “B”, Minister Espinosa said that the plan “A “, in which Ecuador puts all its interest, is complex and very difficult because it breaks the logic of the cooperation structures.

“Perhaps the international community is not ready yet for answering such an innovative plan”