Sustainable Tourism in Galapagos

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.