DARWIN 200

2009 marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin, and 150 years since the publication of his world-shaking tome 'On The Origin of Species.'

The dream destination in which to explore his legacy is the Galapagos Islands, the archipelago whose wildlife inspired his ‘survival of the fittest’ hypothesis.

The theory of evolution by natural selection, of which Darwin introduced, is one of the most influential that has ever been produced. BBC Radio 4 has produced the Darwin Season 2009 to celebrate the birth of Darwin.

David Attenborough, Andrew Marr and Melvyn Bragg explore the life of Darwin and his work and discover why Darwin remains such an influential character today and the story behind this remarkable man’s work. Listen as 5 well-known contemporary thinkers write personal letters to the great man and Maritime historian Robert Prescott tracks down HMS Beagle's last resting place.

A unique personal touch for the BBC’s Darwin series sees the great-great-grand-daughter, writer Ruth Padel, embark on a personal journey to discover four aspects underlying her ancestor’s genius. Ruth looks at Darwin the man and attempts to unravel some of the thoughts and emotions which shaped him.

Each programme focuses on one central theme and uses interviews from a wide range of experts, readings from Darwin’s letters, diaries and recordings made on location at Darwin’s Down House home and music which evokes a portrait in sound and script. With contributions from the geologist Richard Fortey, the English scholar Gillian Beer, Darwin’s biographer Janet Browne, the former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries and the Darwin biographer and his great-great-grandson Randal Keynes, Darwin, My Ancestor delves deep into the life of the great man.

Visit the Galapagos on a 12 day cruise on the elegant MS Alta. Described to be one of the most beautiful yachts in the Galapagos presents you with a 12 day voyage of discovery through the Galapagos, with a fantastic offer of £3295, saving up to £900.

However, if you can’t make it to Ecuador to play with the iguanas and boobies, you can still get swept up in Darwin fever closer to home with a host of events (www.darwin200.org) – here’s just a taster of what’s on offer:

Darwin Exhibition

14 Nov 2008-19 Apr 2009, Natural History Museum, London

Retrace Darwin’s life-changing journey aboard the HMS Beagle. This detailed exhibition includes a rare display of Darwin’s belongings and zoological specimens.

Darwin Day

12 Feb 2009 - A range of events all around the country will celebrate the great man’s 200th birthday.

Mr Darwin’s Fishes

12 Feb 2009 onwards - This fascinating exhibition offers fresh insights into Darwin’s research, focusing on the Beagle’s aquatic specimens.

Darwin 2009

5-10 Jul 2009 - Aiming to rekindle people’s passion for the natural world, this festival features talks, performances, workshops and exhibitions to commemorate the scientist. Sir David Attenborough is among the eminent speakers.

To plan your voyage of discovery in the Galapagos, call our Latin America experts on 08456 345 118.