Environmentally friendly tourism on the Galápagos

Environmentally friendly tourism on the Galápagos

It is a dream destination for many: the untouched islands of the Galápagos Islands, refuge for some of the most unique and rarest animal species in the world-at least that's how we thought. There were certainly untouched parts of the islands, but there were also street work in Puerto Ayora, broken beer bottles on the Cerro Tijeretas, plastic bottles in the Bay of Tortuga and, the saddest, a seal baby that played with a plastic spoon.

We couldn't help but ask whether the Galápagos should be left better in peace, untouched and immaculate from tourism. We are not able to advise future tourists from a visit, but we can show you how to do this as environmentally friendly as possible.

first of all, make yourself aware that tourists only have uncontrolled access to a tiny part of the islands. 97 percent of the island are protected by the National Park and the 70 registered visitors only include 0.01 percent of the land mass [1]. Second, every tourist has to pay $ 100. While a large part of the tourism money flows to the Ecuadorian mainland, every year around $ 63 million contributed to the local economy and the nature conservation efforts on the islands [2]. If you are always aware of your footprint at any time, you can significantly reduce the effects of your visit. Here is how.

consider an exploration on the land path

The National Park limits the size of boats to 100 passengers, but even 100 people can overload a beach when getting out. Instead of taking a large cruise, you should explore the islands on the country path and take public ferries to the other islands. This has the additional advantage that it contributes to the local economy instead of an international cruise company.

stay with the inhabited islands

Part of the temptation of the Galápagos Islands is that large parts of tourists are untouched-but when they visit the uninhabited islands, they are no longer untouched by tourists (!). Inhabited islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana and in the surrounding waters, so consider only visiting them.

water saving at all price

water is very precious on the islands, so make sure that you cover the basics: short shower and never baths, turn the tap on to brushing your teeth and use your toilet rinsing economically.

waste properly disposed of

garbage of all kinds should stay with you and be disposed of in the right recycling containers when you return to the populated areas. Under no circumstances leave plastic behind. If you use the bathroom, don't rinse your paper down the toilet; Instead, dispose of it in a trash.

follow the quarantine procedure

don't smoke

smoking and campfire are prohibited in the national park. You are a danger to flora and fauna, so fail.

Choose activities carefully from

Any kind of fishing from excursion boats is prohibited. In addition, motorized water sports, mini submarines and flight tourism in the national park are not allowed. If you see this, report it to the National Park Service. (I come from East London, so I'm not a grass, but sometimes it's the right thing.)

buy souvenirs carefully

souvenirs made of black coral, mussels, volcanic stone, parts of the day and local woods may not be bought and/or taken away by the islands. If you see this, report it.

stay on marked paths

For the protection of the wildlife, hiking trails are marked. If you turn, you will probably disturb the natural balance on the islands, so resist the temptation. Areas within the national park can only be visited with a licensed Galápagos national park guide, so do not try to enter them on your own.

keep your distance from wild animals

don't touch them and do not let yourself be touched.

don't feed the wild animals

We were accompanied by a group of Finken at breakfast and tried to feed them with our crumbs, but resisted us. The animals can feed themselves. Do not change the natural balance on the islands.

Alt = “animal world-galapagos island photography”> Atlas & Boots

Do not use flash photography on the animal world

This can change your natural way of life. Professional photographers and filmmakers need a national parking permit.

Use only authorized campsites

You have to obtain approval 48 hours before building the warehouse. Contact the National Park Service.

Visit the interpretation centers

spend time with non -profit organizations such as Charles Darwin Research Center to learn more about the history of the islands. The interpretation center on San Cristobal is particularly good, so take some time to get there.

Choose environmentally friendly suppliers

If you book a hotel (or another provider), take a look at its environmental efforts. Royal Palm on Santa Cruz and Casa Opuntia on San Cristobal are safe bets if you have the budget. If you see something that crunches, don't stay silent. On San Cristobal we saw a bus with 'Eco-Friendly Tours' on the side, which stands standstill for 10 minutes with the engine running. If you sit on such a bus, say something!

raise it to

When you see a plastic bottle on the beach or garbage on the side of the road, throw it into a trash can. You will help you get the beauty of the islands.

after all, if you are not really interested in nature, you are considering not going there

Find out more: galapagos.org

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

 .