The Galapagos Islands are a place of great beauty and natural wonder. Some say the Galapagos Islands are 1,000 times more biodiverse than an ordinary rainforest. Famous for the abundance of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, the Galapagos Islands inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution and continue to be a living laboratory for scientists from around the world today.

This one-of-kind natural paradise must be preserved. The Galapagos National Park Service has spent the past 50+ years protecting the Galapagos islands from humans by limiting visitors and promoting responsible tourism. The Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) was created in 1986, consisting of an area of 70,000 square kilometers. In 1998 the protected area of the GMR was expanded to 133,000 square kilometers. And just last month, the government of Ecuador formalized the expansion of the reserve by another 60,000 square kilometers to protect even more sea life and surrounding ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. This new decree expands existing conservation zones and creates a safe swim way where endangered migratory species, such as sharks, whales, turtles, and manta rays, can safely travel. 

GoGalapagos-Kleintours applauds these efforts and takes our role as responsible tour operators seriously. Here are a few ways we responsibly share the unspoiled nature of the Galapagos Islands with visitors from around the world. 

Environmental and social responsibility: It starts on our ships…

Every little detail onboard our ships provides guests with practical solutions to minimize ecological impact. All our vessels are certified to the highest national and international standards of good environmental practice. We operate our fleet with the utmost respect for island ecology. We aim to reduce our ecological footprint at every level. Which is why our vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art technology in critical areas such as waste management, water treatment, and energy consumption.

…and continues on land

As eco-conscious tour operator, we practice extreme responsibility when sharing the pristine nature of the Galapagos with visitors. Of course, rules vary depending on specific locations in the Galapagos. Still, they include:

• No more than 16 people allowed in a group;
• No touching of wildlife (people must maintain a minimum distance of two meters from all wildlife);
• No collecting of rocks, shells or other natural souvenirs from any Galapagos sites;
• Strictly enforced times and places for each activity – such as swimming, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy rides, etc. – to avoid the presence of too many people. 
• Regulated courses that our must tours take each day, etc. 

The above rules are enforced by the Galapagos National Park Service. And by strictly adhering to them, we are able to share the magic of the Galapagos Islands with you.

Only through our collective conservation efforts—tour operators, governments, conservation organizations—can the Galapagos Islands continue to thrive. We here at GoGalapagos-Kleintours are excited to continue to responsibly take visitors on a journey to the Galapagos Islands—the world’s most pristine natural environment.