Become active in your local nature or environmental groups such as The Rainforest Alliance , World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International.
Join the Galapagos Conservancy and help protect the Islands for future generations of adventure travelers
During the cruise, refill water bottles from our containers of purified water made from our reverse osmosis water mater.
You can bring your own non-plastic water bottles such as those found at www.kleankanteen.com
Bring only biodegradable sunscreens and lotions. Ecoventura will supply you with biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner.
Purchase your adventure gear with an environmentally-friendly manufacturer such as Timberland, Patagonia, ex-officio or REI.
Please reuse our brochure and give it a friend - our brochures are printed on MOHAWK Options, a 100% post-consumer paper, manufactured with wind power and certified by Green Seal and SmartWood for FSC standards.
Do not use disposable cameras. The less garbage you leave in the islands, the better. Please bring any packaging back with you to dispose of in the mainland.
Join NativeEnergy and offset your daily carbon emissions.
Ecoventura has implemented a waste management system and garbage-recycling program on all vessels. Please use the garbage receptacles placed on all decks with separate containers for plastics, paper, glass and organic waste. Organic waste is compacted and discharged according to International regulations and National Park requirements. Inorganic sold waste is classified into paper, glass and plastic and turned into the local municipal waste service and recycling center. The less garbage you leave in the islands, the better. Better yet - try to bring any packaging back with you to dispose of in the mainland.
Signs are posted in your cabins to remind you to reduce, reuse and recycle. You will find two types of towels in your cabin. The green towels are to be used for the island visits and snorkeling. The white towels are to be used in your cabin only. Our policy is to change your towels daily. However, to conserve energy, only the towels that you place on the floor will be changed.
The National Park establishes and maintains nature trails and interpretive signs. Signs posted on board our vessels list the National Park Rules & Regulations. During the orientation, your guide will go over the Galapagos National Park rules which you are required to follow. Visitors cannot legally go anywhere in the designated National Park area without being escorted by a licensed guide. Rules are enforced by naturalist guides and park officials and are as follows.
During the cruise, follow all the National park rules; they include:
Do not disturb or remove any native plant, rock or animal on land or in the water.
Be careful not to transport any live material or sand to the islands.
Do not take any food or drink except water to the uninhabited islands.
Do not touch, pet or feed the wildlife.
You must stay within several feet and avoid taking any flash photography
Do not startle or chase any animal from its nesting place.
Do not leave any trash on the Islands or throw any litter overboard.
Follow the marked trails at all times and do not walk out of their limits.
Stay together with your guide who must accompany all passengers on the trails.
Do not buy souvenirs of objects made from native Galapagos products (except for wood) especially black coral, sea lion teeth and shells of the Galapagos tortoises. There is no smoking permitted on the islands.
For more tips and insight, watch the IGTOA DVD filmed in 2007 aboard an Ecoventura yacht. Galapagos Network is a founding member of IGTOA, International Galapagos Tour Operators Association , a non-profit trade organization. Travelers can make donations IGTOA of which 60% goes straight to the Galapagos Conservancy and the rest goes toward the group’s mission of furthering responsible tourism in Galapagos.