Sustainable travel in the Galapagos Islands

Why is sustainability important for the Galapagos?

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Everyday activities that are a part of human society produce emissions that are responsible for excess greenhouse gases. However, it doesn’t relegate humanity to the role of the problem. As individuals, families, or even companies, we can be part of the solution. That said, we need to take responsibility for our actions and rethink the way we go about our daily activities. Yacht La Pinta, for instance, is dedicated to giving guests a superb experience in the Galapagos, while teaching them about the importance of preserving delicate ecosystems and giving them the tools to offset the carbon emissions generated by their travels in Ecuador. This way, we can facilitate a carbon-neutral service that is environmentally conscientious and ecologically sustainable.

Climate change: Basic Concepts

Greenhouse Gases

Any type of gas that becomes stuck in the atmosphere can be considered a greenhouse gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide gases are the most common of these, commonly referred to as carbon emissions. Methane and nitrous oxide are some other greenhouse gases. Typically, emissions are the byproduct of burning fossil fuels and conducting various agricultural activities. Every time we burn fossil fuels, it releases carbon into the atmosphere. This carbon creates a little invisible ring around the atmosphere, trapping the heat from the sun and causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. It almost acts as an unwanted sunbed turned on high.

What can be done about it?

We believe that forests hold the key to mitigating the effects of climate change, precisely by addressing the issue of excess greenhouse gases. By protecting, planting, and expanding important forest areas, we can support the work that trees do; convert CO2 into oxygen. If we can help repopulate forests they can help us capture excess carbon dioxide and keep it from getting stuck in the atmosphere. Not only that, we can also help important species regain some of the territory that they once occupied, thereby helping their numbers grow and improving the health of these vital ecosystems.

Carbon footprints and how to reduce them

By having an all-time low fuel consumption thanks to some brand-new modern technology integrated into the engine, Yacht La Pinta is able to reduce an important part of its carbon footprint. We make use of waste recycling, onboard water desalination and treatment systems, and energy efficiency systems to make sure that you’ll be both comfortable and have peace of mind that your vacation isn’t having a negative impact on the surrounding natural paradise. We also take more common environmentally-friendly practices, like avoiding single-use plastics. Every passenger’s cabin is equipped with our specially designed water bottles- no plastic throwaway cups for us!

Carbon Neutral Sustainable Travel

To be carbon neutral, an entity needs to make sure that their carbon emissions are equal to or less than the amount of carbon they remove from the atmosphere. This can be done by implementing more energy-efficient practices and/or contributing to conservation projects in “carbon sinks” or places where carbon can be removed from the atmosphere. Carbon sinks are often found in forests, the ocean and projects working with soil.

Examples of CO2 Emission Reduction and Carbon Offsetting

When you book your trip with us, we use our expert-certified carbon footprint calculator to determine how much activity we need to ensure your journey is carbon neutral from your plane flight, to the cruise, and the food that is prepared aboard the ship. Typically, a two-week stay is calculated to be around USD 30.00. This is what we refer to as your carbon offset. The calculated offset is assigned a value, the cost of which goes towards many projects around mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Calculating the carbon footprint of our explorers aboard Yacht La Pinta

The projects that receive these funds work on decreasing carbon levels in the air by planting trees, reworking soil, and capturing carbon dioxide from the ocean. Therefore, every molecule of carbon dioxide that you produce can be neutralized. When our expert-certified calculator is put to the task, we can determine your footprint by examining the types of activities you undertake and calculating it across the number of days that you’ll be traveling/visiting.

Service	Tons of CO2 Emitted	Offsetting Price in USD
Quito-Galapagos-Quito (Flight)	0.520	$8.32
7-day/6-night expedition cruise in Galapagos	0.830	$13.28
Transfer In	0.013	$0.21
Transfer Out	0.013	$0.21
Booking and Administrative/Back Office	0.100	$1.60
Total Offset Cost per passenger	1.476	USD $23.62

Conscious Travel

Your memories of the region should be as clear and remarkable as the destination itself. Make your visit one to remember.