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What does “Sustainable Tourism” mean in Galapagos?
The Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism require that tour providers strive to make their businesses as environmentally friendly as possible. Galapagos tour providers must take steps to:
- Conserve water and energy
- Recycle and treat waste material
- Source locally-produced products
- Hire local employees, pay them a fair wage, and offer them additional training
Some companies go beyond simply complying with regulations and are proactive in their efforts to preserve Galapagos by supporting community and conservation projects. Galapagos Conservancy encourages visitors to Galapagos to travel with accredited, licensed tour providers with a strong commitment to Galapagos conservation. Our Travel Partners have corporate philosophies or are members of organizations that ensure adherence to strict environmental standards and social responsibility in their operations.
In 1979, the Galapagos Islands became the world’s first UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site — an honor bestowed upon our planet’s most magnificent places. Following a few simple rules is all it takes to experience the magnificence of the Islands in a sustainable way. From respecting the wildlife to purchasing souvenirs wisely, your choices will make a difference. Please review the Galapagos National Park rules before you travel to the Islands.
From when to travel, what to bring, how to get there and more, we are happy to help you plan your trip — and we have provided some guidelines for all of these questions and more.
Read more about creating a sustainable society in Galapagos.
Latest News
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Study Rules Out Hybridization of Yellow and Pink Iguanas on Wolf Volcano
10.16.18 October 15, 2018 A recent study ruled out hybridization between the yellow... More >
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Galapagos Celebrates 40 Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
09.08.18 September 9, 2018 This weekend marked the 40th anniversary of Galapagos being... More >
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GC Mourns the Loss of Friend and Colleague Felipe Cruz
08.12.18 August 12, 2018 We are saddened to report that Felipe Cruz, who worked passionately... More >
Latest Blog Posts
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Can the Galapagos marine ecosystem rebound from repeated bouts of El Niño stress?
By guest author Jon Witman, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology professor at Brown... More >
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An explosive trip to Isabela: New potential nesting sites for Galapagos penguins
By guest authors Caroline Cappello, Godfrey Merlen, Dee Boersma Our research... More >
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A library in the Enchanted Islands
By Edgardo Civallero, Library Coordinator with the Charles Darwin FoundationPuerto... More >
