TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Registration for this spring’s Alabama Museum of Natural History vacation tour of the Galapagos Islands closes March 15, or when all spaces are filled.

Scheduled for May 5-14, The University of Alabama museum’s tour aboard a 20-passenger yacht will retrace Charles Darwin’s 19th-century voyage, which led the famous explorer and biologist to formulate his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Located on the equator 600 miles off the South American continent west of Ecuador, the remote Galapagos Islands are home to unique creatures, volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches, and crystal clear waters that teem with life.

The unique and beautiful flora and fauna thrive in such unusual and stark conditions that the islands have become a living laboratory for the study of evolutionary science. It was while reflecting on the differences among birds found on the various islands that Darwin began to formulate his theory of evolution that led him to write one of the world’s most well-known publications, “On the Origin of Species.”

The trip is all-inclusive from Birmingham and prices are as follows: Iguana Deck, $4398; Dolphin and Booby Decks, $4498; Otavalo Market pre-trip extension, $798. Space is limited to 20 people.

For more information, call the Alabama Museum of Natural History, located on the UA campus, at 205/348-9826, or International Expeditions at 800- 844-5764.