Ecoventura - Galápagos Network

Overview

Description

Darwin's Enchanted Isles - a volcanic archipelago on the equator 600 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast - are one of our planet's most precious and unique ecosystems, home to an extraordinary profusion of exotic, often endemic flora and fauna. This remote island group, with its dramatic and desolate beauty, is home to some of the most unique species in the world. Many are endemic, such as the Galapagos tortoise, marine and land iguanas, the flightless cormorant and, of course, Darwin's famous finches.

Darwin noted that different species adapted to fit different niches on individual islands, which gave rise to his idea of natural selection. After visiting the Galapagos in 1941, Herman Melville called them "Las Encantadas". But it wasn't until 1959 when it became part of Ecuador's national park system that this fragile ecosystem with its rare and endemic species was protected. In 1979, the Galapagos archipelago was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rooms

We have a total of 38 rooms on 4 boats. Ecoventura's yachts Eric, Flamingo and Letty each have 10 staterooms; the Galapagos Sky has eight. Each room has an outside view.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 94

Percentage of local employees: 60%

Ecoventura has built a solid reputation for being a leader in sustainable travel. The goal of owner Santiago Dunn is to inspire others to be part of the solution for the issues facing tourism in the Galapagos:

• In 2000, Ecoventura became one of the first recipients of the SmartVoyager certification, a voluntary sustainable tourism certification program developed by Conservación y Desarrollo in Ecuador and the Rainforest Alliance. The program minimizes the impact of tour boats in the Galapagos Islands by improving social and environmental conditions of boat operations. Certification involved a considerable investment in improvements such as installation of water filters, less-polluting four stroke outboard engines on the dinghies, and more recently, the installation of advanced TRABOLD oil filter systems that reduce consumption of fuel and oil lubricants resulting in a 10-20% reduction in gas emissions.
• Ecoventura became the first carbon neutral operation in the Galapagos (and Ecuador) in 2006. Carbon emissions from the company's four yachts (and offices, including business travel) are offset by a portfolio of projects through US-based company Native Energy. Native Energy calculated the amount of CO₂ and has offset our carbon emissions through wind turbines in Alaska Native Villages, Native American reservations, and methane capture at family dairy farms. What is significant here is that Ecoventura does not wait for its passengers to "opt-in" to an offset program, rather they pay the full amount for offsets up-front to ensure the company is carbon neutral.
• In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ecoventura helped to establish the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) in 2008 to support environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening local communities’ ability to manage their natural resources. Ecoventura 's Executive President, Santiago Dunn originally pledged a donation of $80,000 annually (in cash and in-kind services) for the first three years in support of the fund, and has increased his pledge to $100,000 per year for the next three years. Dunn recently accepted an invitation to serve a three-year term, starting in October 2010, on the World Wildlife Fund 's National Council.

  GMBF funds are allocated to support the refit, maintenance, and deployment of the "Tiburon Martillo", which serves as a permanent floating base or station near the Wolf and Darwin islands. It is staffed by park rangers who patrol the area for illegal shark finning and long-line fishing activity within the marine reserve. Funds from GMBF have also been allocated to benefit families of local fishermen through the development of a microenterprise for the fishermen's wives to manage. This will provide an alternate means of income and also set an example to create other tourism related businesses and reduce the need to fish.

  In May 2007, GMBF launched a scholarship program for local students to study for two years at the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS), part of the University of San Francisco de Quito's Galapagos campus located on the island of San Cristobal. The objective is to form community leaders to help manage conservation and be prepared to take a stand against illegal fishing that threatens the islands' ecosystem.

Ecoventura participates in the Pack for a Purpose program, where guests can bring school supplies, medical supplies, and other small items from home to donate to the local community. Guests simply drop off their donation with the staff, and Ecoventura will deliver it for them.

Rates

$150 and up

Scheduled departures are offered every Sunday from San Cristobal Island with comprehensive 7-night itinerary including the outer, most spectacular islands. Learn more about Eric, Flamingo & Letty itineraries.

Ecoventura also operates the Galapagos Sky, a 16-passenger live-aboard dive boat offering 7-night itineraries visiting the Wolf and Darwin Islands.

For more information about rates and reservations, click on the orange “Contact” button above.

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.ecoventura.com/expeditionyachts/2011rates.aspx (available in English).
• www.ecoventura.com/dive_live_aboard/2011rates.aspx (available in English).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Quito (UIO); Guayaquil (GYE)

Nearest local/national airport: San Cristobal (SCR)

Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: ~2 miles (3 kilometers) from the San Cristobal airport to port.

Passengers should arrive in Ecuador (either Quito or Guayaquil) at least one night before the cruise. Flights to the Galapagos from Ecuador are automatically confirmed by Ecoventura on Aerogal Airlines, a privately owned and customer service oriented company.

The flight to Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park fee, and transit control card fees are collected and pre-paid in advance. Learn more.

Additional Information

Darwin's Enchanted Isles are one of our planets most precious and unique ecosystems, home to an extraordinary profusion of exotic, often endemic, flora and fauna. Tourism to this remote volcanic archipelago is both part of the solution and also part of the problem. Humans have unwittingly brought alien species that compete with native plants and animals. The growing number of settlers migrating from the mainland of Ecuador to the islands has put pressure on a fragile environment that imperils the entire ecosystem. As a result in 2007, UNESCO declared the Galapagos as a World Heritage Site at risk.

Ecoventura is dedicated to preserve the ecological integrity of the Islands for both its scientific value and economic benefit. Through various conservation efforts and projects, including SmartVoyager, carbon offsetting, and the Global Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF), Ecoventura can support their claim as a responsible tour operator.

Through two strategies - conservation education and marine conservation - GMBF puts donated funds to work on the ground, supporting local projects through grants and addressing critical issues, reversing ecological damage and conserving Galapagos for the future. Its efforts, along with those of other Galapagos supporters, will help ensure that this global treasure remains prosperous and thriving with life.

In 2005, Santiago Dunn, President of Ecoventura, was presented with the Rainforest Alliance's prestigious Individual Sustainable Standard-Setter award for his significant contributions to environmental conservation and sustainability. "We want to give our passengers the assurance that Ecoventura has taken every measure to ensure that passengers enjoy a safe, thrilling adventure without harming the unique wildlife or the fragile environment. We all live in this world and breath the same air, the very least we can do is try to preserve it for our children and the generations to come," says Santiago Dunn.

Awards or Recognitions

• Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award in the "Green Cruising " category, 2009.
• "Best Overall Cruise Line" from Condé Nast Traveler's World Saver Awards, 2009.
• "Best in a Marine Environment" from Virgin Holidays' Responsible Tourism Awards, 2008.
• Winner of the Rainforest Alliance’s 2005 Sustainable Standard-Setters award.

Additional Web sites

• igtoa.org/members/detail/galapagos-network (available in English and Spanish). List of international boat tourism operators. Features descriptions of Ecoventura's boats the "Eric", "Letty", "Flamingo", and "Galapagos Sky".
• www.ecoventura.com/expeditionyachts/specifications.aspx (available in English). The Modern Fleet of Ecoventura - Eric, Flamingo & Letty Specifications.
• www.ecoventura.com/dive_live_aboard/specifications.aspx (available in English). Galapagos Sky [premium dive live-aboard] Specifications.

Date This Information Was Provided

June 2011.

Photos courtesy of Ecoventura - Galápagos Network, Ecuador, for SustainableTrip.org.