Ultimate Sustainable Travel Guide: The Galapagos
Photo by Dustin Hanley
Selecting a destination that also preaches and promotes sustainability can help our impact as tourists be less damaging, and instead we can learn from it while contributing as well. Thus, let us take you on the ultimate travel guide to one of the world’s most ecological destinations: The Galapagos Islands.
Although sustainability is often thought of as the reduction of the environmental footprint, or in more simple terms, the purchase of eco-friendly labeled products at the market,, it encompasses a lot more. Sustainability is about finding a balance between economic growth and human well-being. This means reducing tourism's negative effects and maximizing its positive impacts on communities, cultures, and ecosystems. This is truly important as travelers around the world are bound to have higher environmental footprints, whether it is the flight ticket that takes us to our destination, or the bus ride that we use across tours. The journey of sustainability starts from the selection of the destination, the purchase of the ticket that will take us there, and our approach of traveling once we have arrived at our destination.
When it comes to the Galapagos Islands, it is very easy to balance having a sustainable trip while enjoying all of its beautiful destinations, that is because the Galapagos is a national park and the Ecuadorian people really cherish this by giving it the importance it needs. Thus, from the moment you set foot in the Galapagos, you will experience a true sustainable destination that even charges you a symbolic fee towards the maintenance of the park, being species conservation, guarding and marine to keep pirates from entering Galapagos currents.
The Galapagos Islands contain the unique flora and fauna that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Yes, the theory that stated “the survival of the fittest.” That is why, in the Galapagos you will see a variety of species that would be thought to only be part of ecosystems from across the world, yet all interacting symbiotically. Moreover, the whole archipelago, which consists of a collection of more than 60 islands and islets, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This has only incentivized and intensified the amount of tourists that would like to experience the Galapagos at its finest. Over the past 20 years, tourism in the Galapagos has quadrupled but this has been controlled to a certain extent with efforts from the National Park. For instance, there are only two flights to the Galapagos and they always arrive from Ecuador mainland, allowing a deeper control of tourists that enter the islands. Nevertheless, the fact that they are an open touristic destination means that the islands have experienced an unprecedented human intrusion which has luckily been well controlled by its inhabitants.
Even so, tourism can still have a positive effect on the environment. It is no surprise that income coming from tourism has helped the island prosper and conserve its natural resources. In fact, it is this strong economic impact that tourism has on inhabitants that has made the whole purpose of Galapagos to enhance and improve its sustainability approaches. What's more, the perspective gained by tourists after visiting the Galapagos is almost as important as this contribution. Once you have experienced the delicate balance, it is difficult to grasp how even small changes can make a big impact on an ecosystem, in particular in one as special as in the Galapagos.
How Can I Be Sustainable While Traveling To The Galapagos?
The solution isn't more or less tourism. The bottom line is: better tourism. Although the Galapagos has strong regulations and parameters, globalization has made traveling more affordable. Plus, the fact that the whole economy is trying to recover from the aftermath of the pandemic, has made it difficult for inhabitants to decline the entrance and visit of more people into Galapagos. As a result, what used to be before is not the same now. For instance, 5 years ago people had to book trips to the Galapagos more than a year in advance as the regulations allowed only a certain capacity and cruising was more popular. Nowadays, people can easily enter the islands without having to book anything in advance. This of course means that parks may get overcrowded in the mainland and the overall islands become busier, disrupting the free fauna that lies calmly in Galapagos.
As travelers ourselves, we recommend making the right decision, regardless of whether you are booking in advance or at the last minute, or choosing the right provider. This is a key factor as you will determine whether you are supporting a provider that believes in sustainability and believes in the conservation of the Galapagos. One of the companies setting an example as to what responsible travel is, is Voyagers Travel. Sustainable tourism is one of the fundamental tenets of how they operate, and many travelers can agree with that. This means that their whole concept of tourism evolves around giving back to the community and the environment. Thus, carbon offsetting, local eats, and even local transport and choosing ecological accomodations is a priority
In the Galapagos, adhering to the 14 Galapagos Islands National Park guidelines is a must for traveling in a sustainable manner. Following these regulations, which are also explained to all travelers upon entry in the Galapagos, allows you to minimize the impact on the local flora and fauna and improves their chances of thriving in the future. This also ensures that future generations continue enjoying the incredibly diverse environment at the Galapagos.
Now, if you are looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact when traveling to the Galapagos, here we have come up with 5.
Funding and Maintaining Conservation Projects Through Tourist Income
When entering the Galapagos, every tourist must pay an entry fee that is solely used towards the conservation of the Galapagos. Tourists with Ecuadorian nationality pay $6 dollars and international tourists pay $100. So for starters, by visiting the Galapagos as an international tourist you are already contributing to conservation efforts within the National Park. In this fee, 40% is going towards various park projects. For instance, one of the projects you are contributing to is the elimination of invasive species, such as dogs and goats on specific islands in the Galapagos. Other projects are, for instance, the repopulation of giant tortoises and their preservation inside the park.
Furthermore, one of the latest efforts to become more sustainable that is found in the Galapagos Islands and that acts as evidence of why funding the National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation is so important, is the 2.4MW San Cristobal Wind Project, which will gradually replace diesel-powered electricity. The aim of this project is to make the island surroundings more eco-friendly, and overall energy independent, while also to reduce emissions and lessen the risk of potentially catastrophic oil tank spills in the island. By traveling to the Galapagos, these are the projects that you will be supporting. Moreover, let us not forget about the key participant that will also be benefited: the local population. By traveling to the Galapagos you will be interacting with only people born in Galapagos as by law, they are the ones who can work in the islands. Thus, every conversation that you might have with a person there will be an affirmation that you are contributing towards their economy even by a tiny bit.
Visiting Parks and Protected Areas
Now, having already paid this entrance fee to the Galapagos, make sure you act responsibly so that you minimize your impact on the environment you are entering. This means respecting the wildlife and complying with the visitor guidelines. Another way to contribute and minimize your print is by following the Leave No Trace Principle. In short this means to:
You plan ahead and prepare, so that you make sure you take with you exactly what you need and there is no leftover waste.
You travel on durable surfaces, this way you don't destroy surface vegetation or organisms, which could possibly lead to soil erosion and development of undesirable trails.
You dispose of waste properly, making sure you place your waste in the proper designated places
You leave what you find, allowing others a sense of discovery by leaving plants, rocks and other objects as you find them to minimize site alterations
You respect wildlife and are considerate to others, by traveling in small groups the chances of disturbing wildlife are lower. Also, being considerate of others will help everyone enjoy their trip to the Galapagos.
You keep your distance from all animals and flora
Make sure you do not touch any animals as we might carry infections that the species cannot and will not tolerate.
Avoid Using Single-Use Plastics
A way to travel responsibly not only at the Galapagos but anywhere you go, is to avoid single-use plastic bottles. In this case we recommend you carry your own reusable water bottle. Whenever possible, refill your water bottle instead of buying a new one, which is also very encouraged at all hotels and hostels, as well as cruises that you might be staying at. This will drastically reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean. If you are concerned about the water quality of the source, there are also many alternatives that include a built-in purifier. At the Galapagos there are many boats that do offer drinking water so that you can safely hydrate yourself. Another way to reduce waste is using reusable refillable toiletry bottles and even skipping the use of straws when you order a drink.
Choose Sustainable Travel Operators - Traveling By Boat / Cruise
Traveling by boat is the most convenient way to travel in the Galapagos. On the islands, only a few boats are allowed to visit the different islands and are subject to follow a set of environmentally friendly regulations in order to circulate.
A clear example of wanting to maintain sustainable travel practices is using produce grown locally in hydroponic plantations for preparing every meal at the boat, one of the biggest examples and one of the projects that we loved to meet was the one implemented by Voyagers Travel. This not only means consuming locally produced food and responsibly grown, but also means there are no additional carbon emissions due to having to transport the food to where you are.
Selecting a company that seeks to lessen its environmental impact and wants to contribute to the well-being of local communities also helps align your goal of sustainable travel in the Galapagos. Some indicators are the use of biodegradable soap, having drinkable water onboard so that guests can use their own bottles instead of having to buy one-use plastic ones and encouraging passengers to reuse their towels to reduce waste.
Keep Your Dollars Local
During the pandemic, the lack of tourism in the Galapagos caused not only companies but also many communities to suffer. By making sure that you contribute to the local economy, you can help them rebound.
The best way to make sure that local businesses reap all the tourism benefits is supporting local entrepreneurs. You can do so by staying in local guesthouses or hotels, rather than international chains. Also local restaurants are a perfect place to eat traditional fresh food made with local ingredients. Another way to keep your dollars local is by using local guides and making sure that when you book your package tour your operator prioritizes local providers.
Even though tourism has both positive and negative effects on the ecosystem, sustainable and responsible tourism can help minimize the possible damage and protect the environment for future generations to come. Through change and many efforts the Galapagos has overcome invasive species and saved others from extinction. Now over 95% of the original flora and fauna is now protected. The Galapagos Islands should be kept as natural as possible. It is important to minimize our impact on one of the most beautiful environments in the world.
Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy that works with destinations, tourism boards and development banks to co-create sustainable tourism plans and strategies for tourism hotspots looking to position themselves as sustainability pioneers.