Responsible tourism in Galápagos
Our Galapagos Holidays
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Galapagos land based adventure holiday
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
Flexible Galapagos Islands tailor made tour
Your choice of four to eight-day land-based adventure
Galapagos cruise holiday
Discover rich marine life, abundant bird colonies and stunning landscapes
Galapagos adventure holiday
An active Galapagos Islands adventure holiday
Costa Rica and Galapagos wildlife holiday
Galapagos wildlife cruise plus Costa Rica nature/beach week
Budget Ecuador and Galapagos holiday, 23 days
Experience all of Ecuador for travelers on a budget
Galapagos activity holiday
Trek, bike, kayak and snorkel on this fantastic adventure
Galapagos activity & wildlife holiday, land based
Tailor-made land-based activity holiday in Galapagos
Classic Galapagos Island hopping
Highlights of the Galapagos, discover the main Islands
Galapagos multi activity holiday
An amazing adventure Galapagos Multi-sports
Ecuador and Galapagos tour
Explore the Andean landscapes in Ecuador and the Galapagos
Galapagos Islands cruise, 10 days
A fantastic, in-depth Galapagos experience
Galapagos adventure holiday
Unique Wildlife, Snorkeling, Hiking, Cycling, Kayaking
Galapagos family holiday
Follow in the footsteps of Darwin on this family holiday
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
Ecuador highlands tour & Galapagos cruise
Experience Ecuador's stunning highlands and the Galapagos
Peru and Galapagos active holiday
Private Inca Trail away from crowds & small boat cruise.
Galapagos Islands holiday
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
Floreana Island wildlife tour, Galapagos Islands
A wildlife holiday on Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands
Galapagos cruise plus Ecuador and Peru
Combine two truly outstanding places in South America
Galapagos & Ecuador holiday for families
Active family holiday in Ecuador and Galapagos
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
Ecuador & Galapagos holiday, tailormade
Discover the Andes, Amazon and Galapagos
Galapagos islands conservation volunteering
Help with conservation in the most beautiful place on Earth
Ecuador railway holiday with Galapagos cruise
Step into Darwin's shoes and explore the Galapagos
Galapagos Islands adventure tour
The original Galapagos Land Based Tour
Galapagos, Bolivia and Peru tour
Galapagos Islands, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia adventure
Galapagos cruise and Ecuador tour
Explore the Amazon, Cloud Forest, Andes & the Galapagos!
People & culture
Cruising for a bruising
The Galápagos is one case where we can definitely say that we do NOT need a bigger boat. Or, indeed, another boat. Once thought of as the most ecologically sound way to bring tourists into the national park, it can be like rush hour at Heathrow Airport runway out there sometimes.There has been a strong movement to dicourage the use of big, high end cruise ships and thankfully the Ecuadorian government intervened and the national park now restricts the size of the boats allowed to cruise the islands, to100 passengers maximum. Some islands, such as Genovesa, are limited to boats with no more than 40 passengers. The boats are strictly policed, with one operator having its operations stopped for having lobster in its freezer, outside of the lobster season. This same company was also the subject of Channel 4's Dispatches, which uncovered alleged unethical and illegal working conditions. The company denies the allegations, but just to say, the world is watching out for the suspicious appearance of bruises. The Galápagos cannot afford any environmental blows.
Conscious Community Tourism
Further reading from BBC, International Union for Conservation and Nature, Galapagos at Risk
“Land-based tours will take you exploring around the islands of the national park and you will meet some of the communities that live there - a rare chance to experience the other face of Galápagos beyond the cruise ships. You'll come face to face with the famously tame wildlife, meet the Ecuadorians that are proud to call themselves Galapagueños and learn about the complex issues facing this extraordinary World Heritage listed environment.”
Responsible tourism tips
“The biggest growth in the Galápagos has been on the land, which we welcome. But after years of very strict regulation on the water, hotels are not regulated as much as we would like, without the same stringent system of licences, water treatment regulations and, in some cases, no community involvement. I would recommend that visitors who want to spend time on the land ask their operator what they are doing for the community, not only financially but in terms of education about the islands, their importance and unique status.”