QUITO, April 29 (Xinhua) — Ecuador on Wednesday declared a national state of emergency and barred foreigners who have been in Mexico from arriving in the country on commercial flights as a precaution against swine flu, officials have said.

According to a decree signed by President Rafael Correa, the state of emergency will last 60 days starting from Wednesday. The decree also ordered the Internal and External Security Ministry to coordinate with the Committee of Emergency Operations (COE) and the Health Ministry to take necessary measures to contain the spread of the swine flu virus.

Meanwhile, the authorities also suspended charter flights to and from Mexico to prevent the spread of the virus. Aviation officials have notified airlines that passengers who have been in Mexico will not be allowed into Ecuador, although Ecuadoreans will be allowed to return home. Travelers who want to enter the country from Mexico have to be closely monitored for flu symptoms.

Ecuador has not confirmed any swine flu cases. The authorities are carrying out medical checks on travelers arriving from Mexico and the southwest United States and have placed regional hospitals under alert to monitor for symptoms.

CLOSURE OF COCA AIRPORT – OPERATION OF PROGRAMS IN AMAZONIA

The airport of Coca will be closed between May 4 and July 17, 2009.  During this period, the programs in Amazonia will operate as follows:

SACHA LODGE

Guests of SACHA LODGE will take TAME flights to the airport of Lago Agrio.  Sacha Lodge will provide private transfer from Lago Agrio to Coca and back (the distance between Lago Agrio and Coca is approximately one hour).

From Monday to Friday flights are:
Quito – Lago Agrio  TAME flight EQ201 departing Quito at 10:00 and arriving to Lago Agrio at 10:30
Lago Agrio – Quito  TAME flight EQ202 departing Lago Agrio at 11:00 and arriving to Quito at 11:30

On Saturdays:
Quito – Lago Agrio  TAME flight EQ207 departing Quito at 10:00 and arriving to Lago Agrio at 10:30
Lago Agrio – Quito  TAME flight EQ208 departing Lago Agrio at 11:00 and arriving to Quito at 11:30

LA SELVA JUNGLE LODGE

Guests of LA SELVA JUNGLE LODGE will use mainly VIP Airline for flights to Lago Agrio, although the same flights stated above could also be used.

Transportation Lago Agrio – Coca – Lago Agrio will be provided by the airline, but a representative of La Selva will accompany guests on this portion.

From Monday to Friday flights are:
Quito – Lago Agrio  VIP flight departing Quito at 09:15 and arriving to Lago Agrio at 09:50
Lago Agrio – Quito VIP flight departing Lago Agrio at 14:50 (2:30 PM) and arriving to Quito at 15:25 (3:25 PM)

On Saturday:
Quito – Lago Agrio VIP flight departing Quito at 7:00 and arriving to Lago Agrio at 07:35
Lago Agrio – Quito VIP flight departing Lago Agrio at 12:00 noon and arriving to Quito at 12:35

NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER

Guests of NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER will take VIP flights from Quito to Lago Agrio with the same schedule as above.   Take note that VIP airline departs from its own hangar, not from the terminal.  Transportation between Lago Agrio and Coca will be in comfortable and safe buses.

GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN ECUADOR ON SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009

Ecuador will hold general elections on April 26 to elect a president, members of the National Assembly (Parliament) as well as provincial and regional deputies. The elections of next Sunday, April 26, will complete an intensive electoral process in Ecuador, which started in 2007 when the Ecuadorians approved a Constituent Assembly mandated to draft a new constitution, which was later approved by referendum last September. The European Commission, the European Union (EU)’s executive arm, has deployed, at the request of the Ecuadorian authorities, an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to monitor the next general elections in Ecuador.

As per Ecuadorian law, no liquor can be sold, distributed or consumed between 12 noon of Friday, April 24 and 12 noon of Monday, April 27.

Santa Cruz 20% discount: May 4-June 1, Aug 17-Sept 4 & Nov 16-Dec 14

Eclipse Rates include: 2 nights hotel, Galapagos flight, Park fee & Tourist card: May 2-9, May 16-23 & May 30-June 6

Nina Discount $1000 US per person: May 5-12, May 12-19, May 19-26, June 2-9,  June 9-16

Eric, Letty & Flamingo Fuel tax included & 10% discount Aug 30-Sept 6, Sept 6-13, Sept 13-20, Sept 20-27 & Sept 27-Oct 4

Mary Anne $2800: April 29-May6, May 6-13, $3000: May 13-20, Dec 2-9, Dec 9-16, $3100: July 15-22, July 29-Aug 5, Oct 28-Nov 4

Galaxy $2250 April 1-30, $2500 May 1-31, $1500 April 7-11 & April 21-25, $1750 May 1-30

Please see http://www.galapagosreservations.com/ for more specials and up-to-date rates.

The Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute informs that La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos has started a new eruptive process.  The island-volcano – 1476 meters high- is not inhabited and located 90 Kms. to the northwest of Puerto Villamil the closest village on Isabela Island, so there is no danger for the human population.

The current eruptive process started during the night of April 10 and was reported by the park wardens and by a tour boat which was in the vicinity.  Lava flows have been observed, coming from a lateral fissure located 500 meters below the crater at the southwest side of the island, close to Cape Hammond.  This is a radial fissure 200 meters long and 10 meters wide that reaches up to 15 meters high.  There is also a large column of smoke.

The volcano of Fernandina Island erupted five years ago, without causing major damage to the flora and fauna of the area.

Tour excursions to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island have not been suspended; authorities of the Galapagos National Park are closely monitoring the developments to determine that it is safe to continue with them.