Galapagos holiday cruise options
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We work with a selection of boats in the Galapagos, carefully chosen for their sustainable credentials. In all cases we pay for you to become a benefactor of the Galapagos Conservation Trust for a full year. The GCT issues guidelines as to the sorts of tourist visits that have least impact on the sites - those guidelines are that small boats, owned and operated locally, are the best bet for the preservation of the Galapagos.
Most of our boats are SmartVoyager certified. Boats are only able to gain this accreditation by meeting a set of strict conservation standards for protecting the environment & wildlife. In general, the boat owners and most of the crew on our boats come from the islands, which makes the enterprise sustainable.
Specific Vessel Credentials:
Ecoventura (the owners of Eric, Flamingo and Letty) were the first to gain the SmartVoyager environmental certification – and have kept it ever since. They have set up a scholarship scheme on the islands to educate the children of fishermen, giving them the chance to move out of the fishing industry which challenges the marine balance in the Galapagos Islands. Eric boat - On top of that Eric has been converted, as of late 2008, to operate largely from its own solar panels and a couple of small wind turbines. It is the first hybrid boat in the Galapagos.
Ecoventura are also working in collaboration with fishermen to help set up micro-businesses, again with a view to moving them away from depleting fish stocks. Ecoventura is a carbon neutral company, offsetting all of its emissions from the boats and from its offices.
Sagitta boat (also applies to Mary Anne, Samba and Beagle) - The owners of this boat, the Angermeyers, are truly passionate about the Galapagos Islands. Born and raised in Galapagos, and acquiring his skills firsthand from his father Fritz – a boat builder – Fiddi Angermeyer is a genuine pioneer of the Island’s tourist industry. Their boat operations are all SmartVoyager certified.
The Angermeyers also work with the Galapagos Foundation to recycle garbage in the Islands as well as taking to the continent what cannot be recycled. In addition they promote the coastal cleaning among the fishermen, as well as the manufacture of handicrafts using recycled materials.
The Cachalote, the first class boat we use for our charters, is also SmartVoyager certified. Boats are only able to gain this accreditation by meeting a set of strict conservation standards for protecting the environment & wildlife. The extensive list of criteria include:
- Reducing, where possible, negative environmental impacts. This includes ensuring that all machines used on the boat (motors, generators, desalinators, air conditioning, hot water tanks) function at the optimum threshold for energy consumption and that no paints containing lead or TBT are used on the boat.
- Lowering the risk of introduction and dispersal of exotic species by ensuring all cargo is transported in authorized containers.
Visitors can play a vital role in the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. We actively encourage you to follow these guidelines while on your trip:
- Be careful not to transport any live materials to the islands, or from island to island. This includes making sure you clean your shoes before re boarding the boat after any excursions.
- Although you will often be able to get extremely close to the animals, you should not touch or handle them. A sea lion pup will be abandoned by its mother, for example, if she smells the scent of a human on her young. The same applies to chicks of birds.
- Plants, rocks, animals or their remains, such as bones, pieces of wood, corals, shells, or other natural objects should be removed or disturbed, as this may damage the islands ecological conditions.
- You should try not to disturb or pursue any animal from its resting or nesting spot. The nests should be approached carefully, keeping a distance of at least one to two metres. If disturbed, the bird will flee and abandon its egg or chick, which is then vulnerable to the sun and predators.
- You should stay with your guide throughout your time on each island and follow his/her instructions and advice. Never leave the path, which are clearly marked by small black and white posts.
- Keep all rubbish such as film wrappers, chewing gum, bottles etc in a bag or in your pocket and dispose of them on board the boat. Do not throw litter on the islands or overboard.
- Bring a water bottle with you to the islands rather than using disposable bottles.
- Do not buy souvenirs made from plants or animals native to the islands, such as sea lion teeth, turtle shell, black coral. This is the best way to discourage the trade.
Community
The owner of our favourite superior first class boats have set up a scholarship scheme on the islands to educate the children of fishermen, giving them the chance to move out of the fishing industry which challenges the marine balance in the Galapagos Islands. They are also working in collaboration with fishermen to help set up micro-businesses, again with a view to moving them away from depleting fish stocks.
Conservation standards for protecting the well being of workers and local communities include the following:
- Helping to promote education into responsible behaviour by contributing to training courses for guides and technicians.
- Ensuring just working conditions for all employees by meeting or exceeding national minimum wage, providing medical services, insurance and a working environment free from discrimination.
- Using, where possible, food grown on local farms which adhere to responsible farming practices.
- Supporting local communities by encouraging visitors to engage in social, economic and cultural activities.
Social responsibility projects are key to the Angermeyer operation. Currently they are working with an organic farmers’ association on the islands, a bakers’ cooperative, two different artisan projects and a micro-business support scheme. Finally, 25% of profit was donated to the Galapagos local government for capital projects in 2008.
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