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Sustainable Tourism in Galapagos

Our commitment to environmental and social sustainability

Our philosophy of sustainability

We love Galapagos' pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife. Pioneering sustainable tourism is part of our DNA, and the following explains how we are doing our bit for greener travel.

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Your trip contributes to Ventura’s holistic conservation project

A portion of your trip price goes toward Ventura’s Conservation Project, an initiative of the V Social Foundation launching in 2024. The conservation project will work with local people to give them ownership of their territory, protect the environment through reforestation and regeneration efforts, and prepare the community for taking over control of the project within five years. So, your trip contributes to environmental protection and truly shows how travel can be a force for good! Together, we’re developing something really special. Stay tuned for more details about how you are part of making a difference through tourism.

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Does Tourism Help or Hurt the Galápagos Islands?

We love Galápagos' pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife. Pioneering sustainable tourism is part of our DNA, and the following explains how we are doing our bit for greener travel.

Every visitor who comes to the Galápagos Islands must pay a $100 National Park Entrance Fee, which alone brings in more than $20 million to help sustain this expansive National Park and Marine Sanctuary - both much needed to protect the Galápagos from international fishing and whaling ships. Plus, the more people visit the Galápagos, the more they can share their stories and the importance of conserving the islands and the ocean as a whole. On the other side, the tourism business does require a big local infrastructure- more people must live in the Galápagos to staff the shops, hotels, and restaurants, which means that more housing must be built, more water systems must be installed, and more trash is generated.

On top of that, since the Galápagos Islands are so isolated, it also means that all products must be imported on large cargo ships and all garbage must be shipped out, which implies more large ship traffic and higher fuel consumption. So, both are true: Tourism does help to protect the islands, but also hurts them.

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Sustainable tourism on a cruise ship - is that even possible?

It's important to remember that Galápagos cruise “ships” have little in common with what is widely thought of when you mention a cruise. Most of our ships are actually yachts or catamarans that carry no more than 16 passengers and have a crew of around six. Even our biggest vessels carry only 100 passengers, a mere yacht in comparison to the world's big cruise liners. Still, we monitor the emissions caused by ships and services at the destination, and we continually strive to minimize them.


Trip nameTrip lengthTrip Tonnes
Adventure Route51.3
Adventure Route82.08
Adventure Route41.04
Baltra to San Cristóbal Cruise82.08
Beyond Darwin's Footsteps82.08
Big Galápagos Cruise153.9
Big loop of the Galápagos153.9
Big Loop of the Galápagos82.08
Center & East Galápagos Cruise41.72
Center & West Galápagos Cruise41.3
Center & East Galápagos Cruise41.72
Center, East & Genovesa82.08
Center & East (Quito to Quito)102.6
Center & Española Galápagos 41.04
Center, Floreana & Fernandina71.82
Center & Floreana Galápagos 41.04
Center & Floreana Galápagos 41.04
Center, Genovesa and West102.6
Center, Genovesa, East41.04
Center, Genovesa, Santiago51.3
Center, Genovesa, Santiago153.9
Center, Genovesa, Santiago102.6
Center & North Galápagos Cruise51.3
Isabela & Fernandina Galápagos 82.08
Center, San Cristobal & Genovesa51.04
Center & Santiago 51.3
Center, Santiago & Floreana82.08
Center & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Center & Southeast Galápagos 51.3
Center, Southeast & Genovesa102.6
Center, South & West Galápagos Cruise82.08
Central and Eastern Galápagos82.08
Central, South and East Galápagos52.6
Central & Eastern Islands51.72
Central, Eastern, Southern Galápagos82.08
Central, Eastern & Southern Islands Cruise82.6
Central, Eastern, Southern & Northern Islands111.82
Central & East Galápagos102.6
Central, East & South Galápagos102.6
Central Galápagos41.04
Central Galápagos (1 night in Hotel)51.3
Central Galápagos Cruise41.04
Central Galápagos Cruise51.3
Central Galápagos Cruise41.04
Central Galápagos Cruise51.3
Central Galápagos Cruise71.82
Central Galápagos Cruise51.3
Central Galápagos Cruise71.82
Central Galápagos & Genovesa82.08
Central Galápagos & Genovesa51.3
Central Galápagos & San Cristobal51.3
Central & Genovesa51.3
Central & Genovesa 41.04
Central Islands Galápagos41.04
Central, North & East Galápagos82.08
Central & North Galápagos41.04
Central & North Galápagos41.04
Central North Galápagos41.04
Central & North Galápagos Cruise51.3
Central, North & Western Galápagos82.08
Central & Northwest Galápagos102.6
Central & Northwest Galápagos82.08
Central, N, W & E Galápagos112.86
Central & San Cristóbal51.3
Central & Southeast82.08
Central, South & East Galápagos102.6
Central & Southern Galápagos61.56
Central & Western Galápagos82.08
Central West Galápagos82.08
Central West Galápagos51.3
Classic Galápagos: Center & East82.08
Classic Galápagos: Centrer & South82.08
Classic Galápagos: South82.08
Classic Galápagos: South & Easte82.08
Complete Galápagos Cruise174.42
Complete Galápagos Cruise82.08
Complete Galápagos Cruise174.42
Complete Loop of the Galápagos151.82
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Complete Loop of the Galápagos153.9
Discovery Route41.04
Discovery Route71.82
Discovery Route51.3
Diving in Darwin & Wolf82.08
East, Center & Genovesa51.3
East & Central Galápagos51.3
East, Central & West Galápagos102.6
Eastern & Central Galápagos41.04
Eastern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Eastern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Eastern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Eastern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Eastern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Eastern Galápagos Cruise71.82
Eastern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Eastern Galápagos Cruise82.08
Eastern Galápagos Cruise82.08
Eastern Islands51.72
Eastern, Southern, Central & North112.86
Eastern, Southern, Central & North112.86
Eastern & Southern Galápagos82.08
Eastern & Southern Galápagos82.08
East Galápagos Cruise41.04
East Galápagos Cruise82.08
East, Genovesa & Bartolome71.82
East Islands Galápagos81.72
East & Northwest Galápagos82.08
East, Northwest & Southeast112.86
East to West Galápagos51.3
East to West Galápagos112.86
East to West Galápagos151.82
East & West Galápagos153.9
East & West Islands Galápagos151.72
Española-Route51.3
Fernandina Route61.56
Fernandina Route82.08
Fernandina Route82.08
Fernandina Route61.56
Fernandina, San Cristobal & SE112.86
Floreana & Española41.04
Following in Darwin's Footsteps82.08
Footsteps back in time82.08
From East to North Galápagos82.08
From East to West Galápagos82.08
From East to West Galápagos82.08
From NW to SE Galápagos112.86
Full Galápagos Loop153.9
Full Galápagos Loop153.9
Galápagos Diving Cruise152.08
Full Loop NW+SE153.9
Full Loop NW+SE153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos92.34
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop of Galápagos153.9
Full Loop SE+NW153.9
Full Loop SE+NW151.72
Full Loop SE+NW153.9
Full Tour: East & West Galápagos153.9
Full Tour: West & East Galápagos153.9
Galápagos Adventure (Northern)51.3
Galápagos at a Glance (Southern)41.04
Galápagos Discovery Route82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise112.86
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving Cruise82.08
Galápagos Diving (extended)112.86
Galápagos Encounter (Central)41.04
Galápagos Encounter (Southern)41.04
Galápagos Explorer: Central51.3
Galápagos Explorer: Southern51.3
Galápagos Voyager (Central)123.12
Genovesa & Center Galápagos 51.3
Genovesa, Center & San Cristóbal82.08
Genovesa, Center & San Cristóbal51.3
Genovesa, Española & Center82.08
Genovesa & Floreana Galápagos 61.56
Genovesa Route61.56
Genovesa Route41.04
Genovesa Route82.08
Genovesa Route61.56
Genovesa Route82.08
Genovesa & Santiago41.04
Genovesa & Santiago41.04
Genovesa & Santiago41.04
Genovesa, SE & NW123.12
Genovesa & Southeast51.3
Genovesa & South East 81.86
Genovesa & South East81.86
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 51.3
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Genovesa & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Genovesa, Southeast & Northwest123.12
Genovesa, Southeast & Northwest153.9
Genovesa & West Galápagos Cruise82.08
Genvoesa & Southeast82.08
Grand Galápagos Cruise153.9
Inner Galápagos Loop82.08
In the steps of Pirates and Darwin82.08
Isabela & Fernandina Galápagos 61.56
Isabela & Fernandina Galápagos 61.56
Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago51.3
Isabela, Floreana & Española82.08
Isabela & Santiago82.08
Isabela & Santiago Galápagos 61.56
Isabela & Santiago & Southeast112.86
Isabela & West Islands81.72
Land & Sea: Central & East Galápagos71.82
Land & Sea: Central & East Galápagos102.6
Land & Sea: Central Galápagos71.82
Loop of East Galápagos82.08
Loop of West Galápagos82.08
Naturalist Galápagos Cruise51.3
Naturalist Galápagos Cruise82.08
Naturalist Galápagos Cruise41.04
North & Central Galápagos51.3
North & Central Galápagos41.04
North & Central Galápagos Cruise41.04
North & Central Galápagos Cruise71.82
North, Central & South Galápagos82.08
North, Central, & South Galápagos102.6
North, Central, West & East112.86
Northeast Galápagos Cruise112.86
Northern Galápagos51.3
Northern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Northern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Northern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Northern Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northern Galápagos Loop82.08
South & East Galápagos Cruise41.82
Northern, Western, Central & Eastern Islands121.82
Northern, Western, Central & Eastern Islands151.82
Northern & Western Galápagos82.08
Northern & Western Islands Galápagos81.82
North Galápagos Cruise51.3
North Galápagos Cruise51.3
North, Northwest & Floreana112.86
North & Northwest Galápagos 123.12
North, Santiago, Isabela & Fernandina112.86
North & Southeast Galápagos 82.08
Northwest82.08
North, West & Central82.08
North, West & Central Galápagos102.6
Northwest, Floreana & East112.86
Northwest, Floreana & East112.86
Northwest Galápagos51.3
Northwest Galápagos82.08
Northwest Galápagos61.56
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
From W to SE Galápagos82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise51.3
Northwest Galápagos Cruise102.6
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise61.56
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest Galápagos Cruise61.56
Northwest Galápagos Cruise82.08
Northwest + Genovesa112.86
Northwest + Genovesa112.86
Northwest + Genovesa112.86
Center & West (one Hotel night)111.3
Northwest, Genovesa & East112.86
Northwest, Genovesa & Southeast153.9
Northwest & San Cristóbal102.6
Northwest & Southeast112.86
Northwest & Southeast Galápagos 112.86
Outer Loop: Galápagos Cruise82.08
Pure Galápagos82.08
San Cristóbal & Española41.04
San Cristóbal & Floreana41.04
San Cristóbal to Baltra82.08
Santa Cruz & Isabela51.3
Santa Cruz & Isabela41.04
Santiago & Genovesa51.3
Santiago & Genovesa61.56
Santiago, Isabela & Fernandina71.82
Santiago, Isabela & Fernandina72.08
Santiago, Isabela, Fernandina & SW112.86
Santiago & Southeast61.56
South & Central Galápagos Cruise102.6
South, Central & North Galápagos82.08
Southeast51.3
Southeast82.08
Southeast and Northwest Galápagos Cruise121.72
Southeast & Center41.04
Southeast & Center Galápagos 61.56
Southeast & Center Galápagos 51.3
Southeast & Center Galápagos 51.3
Southeast & Center Galápagos 82.08
Southeast, Center & Genovesa82.08
Southeast, Center & Genovesa102.6
South, East & Central82.08
Southeastern Galápagos71.82
Southeast & Floreana Galápagos Cruise81.72
Southeast Galápagos82.08
Southeast Galápagos61.56
Southeast Galápagos41.04
Southeast Galápagos51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise61.56
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southeast Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise61.56
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Central Galápagos Cruise51.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise61.56
Southeast Galápagos Cruise61.56
Southeast Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southeast Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southeast Galápagos Cruise82.08
South & East Galápagos Cruise71.82
South & East Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southeast & Genovesa82.08
Southeast+Genovesa Charter Route82.08
Southeast Islands Galápagos Cruise41.72
Southeast & North102.6
Southeast & North Galápagos102.6
Southeast & North Galápagos102.6
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos153.9
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos123.12
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos133.38
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos112.86
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos153.9
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos153.9
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos133.38
Southeast & Northwest Galápagos153.9
South East to Genovesa82.08
Southeast to Northwest82.08
Southeast & West Galápagos Cruise112.86
Southeast & West Galápagos Cruise123.12
Southern & Central Galápagos82.08
Southern, Central, Northern & Western Islands151.82
Southern, Central, North & Western123.12
Southern, Central, North & Western123.12
Southern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southern Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southern Galápagos Cruise41.04
Southern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southern Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southern Galápagos Cruise51.3
Southern Islands41.82
Southern Loop Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southern & Northern Islands Galápagos Cruise72.6
Southern, Northern & Western Islands111.82
Southern & Western Galápagos112.86
South Galápagos Cruise71.82
South-West Galápagos82.08
Southwest Galápagos Cruise51.3
South-West Galápagos Cruise82.08
Southwest & North Galápagos 92.34
Southwest & North Galápagos 102.6
The Absolute Galápagos Cruise153.9
The entire Galápagos Archipelago82.08
The full Galápagos experience112.86
The West Galápagos Cruise61.56
The whole Galápagos Archipelago153.9
The whole Galápagos Archipelago153.9
Treasures of Galápagos: West & Center112.86
Ultimate Galápagos (Central)82.08
West and Southeast Galápagos112.86
West, Center & South Galápagos 112.86
West, Central & East Galápagos 82.08
West & Central Galápagos Cruise82.08
West & Central (Quito to Quito)102.6
West & East: Complete Galápagos153.9
West & East Galápagos153.9
West & East Islands Galápagos151.72
West, East & South Galápagos123.12
West, East & South Galápagos123.12
Western and Central Galápagos82.08
Western, Central & Eastern Islands Galápagos91.82
Western, Central, Eastern & Southern Islands121.82
Western Charter Route82.08
Western & Eastern Galápagos82.08
Western & Eastern Galápagos123.12
Western & Eastern Galápagos82.08
Western Galápagos51.3
Western Galápagos Cruise51.3
Western Galápagos Cruise51.3
Western Galápagos Cruise82.08
Western Galápagos Cruise82.08
Western Galápagos Cruise51.3
Western Galápagos Cruise71.82
Western Galápagos Cruise82.08
Western Galápagos Cruise82.08
Western Galápagos Cruise51.3
Western Galápagos Cruise61.56
Western Islands Galápagos52.6
Western Islands Galápagos81.72
Western Islands Galápagos81.72
Western, Northern, Central Galápagos82.08
West Galápagos51.3
West Galápagos Cruise82.08
West Galápagos Cruise61.56
West Galápagos Cruise82.08
West Galápagos Cruise61.56
West, Genovesa & East Galápagos123.12
West & Genovesa Galápagos Cruise112.86
West, North & East Galápagos 123.12
West, North & East Galápagos 123.12
West, North & East Galápagos 112.86
West & North Galápagos Cruise92.34
West & South Galápagos Cruise82.08
West, South & Genovesa123.12
West to East102.6
West to East Galápagos Cruise61.56
West to East Galápagos Cruise102.6
Wild Galápagos Escape 171.82

human-rights

Your trip respects Human rights.

Respect for human rights in tourism is a major concern. As an active member of the Roundtable for Human Rights in Tourism for many years, we verify that for all our trips, our partners respect the legal provisions in terms of wages and employment, especially for young people. We also support the "Don't look away" campaign, which aims to protect children in their vacation destinations from sexual abuse and exploitation.

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How can you help keep the Galápagos Islands pristine?

You can help keep the Galápagos Islands in their pristine condition by traveling responsibly. Only book your vacation with operators that have made a pledge to practice sustainability, protect the environment, and contribute to the local economy. You should follow the Leave No Trace policy, leaving each site just as it was when you arrived, and are asked not to bring any foodstuffs to Galápagos. The Galápagos Islands National Park has strict rules that you will become familiar with as you explore the Galápagos Islands.

The biggest advice, however, is to always stay with your guide - never go off-trail or beyond the path designated by your guide. Other rules restrict campfires, littering, and fishing, and no visitor is allowed to introduce any foreign organic matter or take any natural item from the Galápagos Islands.

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Tourcert - sustainability certification

As a sustainable tour operator we are certified by Tourcert and undergo a detailed audit of all business areas every 2 years. TourCert GmbH is a non-profit organization for certification in tourism and has set itself the task of promoting ecological, social and economic corporate responsibility in tourism.

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Member of the association "Forum Anders Reisen"

The Forum Anders Reisen e.V. (web page in German) is an association of travel companies that are committed to sustainable tourism. The travel experiences offered by their members are oriented towards people and environment, use local resources carefully and purposefully, and treat foreign cultures with respect. The Forum Anders Reisen was founded in 1998 and has around 130 members.

Questions, comments or suggestions?

Susana Cerén Baumann

I'm Susana Cerón Baumann, the CSR-Manager of Galapatours, and I'm happy to hear from you.


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