One of our favorite days of the year is April 22nd: Earth Day! We love Earth Day because it is an important reminder to everyone just how special this planet is and how vulnerable it can be.
Ecoventura understands how fragile the environment is because every day we are in the Galapagos. Tourism is crucial to the economy here but it can also cause challenges in this isolated archipelago.
That is why we are committed to providing a memorable mind-expanding Galapagos travel experience to our guests while minimizing the impact of our vessels.
Ecoventura’s Partnerships:
To further our eco-conscious mission, we partner with non-profit organizations to help conserve the fragile ecosystem here and to give back to the local Galapagos community.
In July 2017, we signed an agreement with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galapagos National Park (GNP) to establish the Galapagos Biodiversity & Education for Sustainability Fund (GBESF). Our combined efforts for the GBESF support research and Galapagos conservation to help protect the Islands and ensure the health of this diverse ecosystem.
Ecoventura is donating all proceeds or net revenue from cabins sold on two of our cruises: May 13-20 on the Galapagos Sky, our dedicated dive liveaboard vessel and September 2-9 2018 on the MV ORIGIN, our luxury vessel. The departure on the Galapagos Sky has sold out – However, cabins are still available on the ORIGIN and we are offering a 10% discount! Our goal is to raise at least $150,000 for the fund each year!
From right to left: Eliecer Cruz (former governor of the board), Dr. Arturo Izurieta (executive director of the CDF), Santiago Dunn (Executive President Ecoventura), Dr. Jorge Carrion (Environment Area Director of DPNG)
Another source of funding we support is the Galapagos Traveler Conservation Fund (GTCF). Guests are encouraged to consider donating to help protect the Galapagos. GTCF donates 100% of the funds raised directly to the organizations working on the ground to preserve and protect these islands and not to administrative costs.
The GTCF goes towards many different projects and programs and one organization close to our hearts is  Ecology Project International (EPI). EPI educates the local community on environmental issues and works side-by-side with Galapagueño youth on conservation projects.
One way we support EPI is by offering special family departures with an excursion for families to work alongside EPI students in their scientific work.
Celebrating Earth Day in the Galapagos:
Every year we celebrate Earth Day on board our vessels with our guests including talks from our naturalist guides and bio-degradable decorations. We will feature a special menu with Earth Day inspired cocktails and cuisine. Just look at the beautiful details of last year’s Earth Day cake!
Our passengers always enjoy our annual celebrations but we do so much more to be a responsible and sustainable tour operator. After all, every day is Earth Day to us!
Pack for a Purpose:
We also encourage our guests to participate in Pack for a Purpose! We provide a list of items that are needed in local schools and communities and passengers can use extra space in their suitcase to bring supplies with them.
Once donated, Ecoventura delivers items directly to schools and foundations. In this way, an action that requires little effort or packing space can make a big impact in the local community! Â Â
Running A Green Operation:
In 2006, we became the first carbon-neutral operation in the Galapagos! We reduced carbon emissions from our fleet and our business offices then offset emissions through a portfolio of projects through including the purchase of carbon credits and funding development of new wind turbines.
We wanted to further reduce our carbon emissions, so in 2008 we installed 40 solar panels and two wind turbines to the upper deck of the M/Y ERIC. These improvements made the Eric the first hybrid yacht in the Galapagos!
We hope you learned a lot about what makes Ecoventura different from other cruise lines. We are proud to be a leader in sustainable Galapagos travel here in the Galapagos!
Happy Earth Day to you! If you have questions for our team or would like to inquire about booking a cruise with us, we are here to help so contact us today!
