One of the many highlights of the work I do is the ability to travel during shoulder seasons. November is downtime for me. The boats have been packed up. Our last guests came and went paddling mid-October. For me, this is a valuable time of the year. A time to reflect and catch my breath, while also a time to travel and explore. I find this helps reset my mindset, boosts my creativity, inspires new ideas, and opens my eyes to the value of different cultures. Every trip I go on, I try to take notes. I try to learn. I try to see if there are parallels with what I do. And I see if I can bring something back to my little business on the coast of Maine. On this blog, I wanted to discuss how a well-known set of islands off the coast of Ecuador inspired Ecotourism in me.

The Galapagos islands are a chain of islands some distance off of Ecuador.  It’s either a short flight or a long boat ride from Quito. There are four inhabited islands with extraordinary communities: Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana, and San Cristobal. I started my trip with a bumpy ferry ride to Isabela after backpacking in mainland Ecuador for two weeks. I saw the only major land predator on Galapagos, the Galapagos hawk, and did some snorkeling at the famous Cabo Rosa Tuneles, and a quick history tour of an old penitentiary. After just a few days and then a bumpy ferry ride back to the main island of Santa Cruz I met Mike and Dale (or “mom and dad” now, as it’s the off-season). Here I spent many more days visiting new islands, seeing wildlife, snorkeling, and learning a great deal about this extraordinary ecosystem.

Cabo Rosa Tuneles

The Galapagos islands are a unique paradise. The scenery and islands are beautiful. There are plenty of recreational activities such as snorkeling, boating, diving, and more. The real highlight is the wildlife. Never have I been in an environment in which people and animals coexist so closely and serenely together. Many of the species are endemic, meaning they are only located in this area of the world. While snorkeling in the ocean, a seal came within a foot of me. Seals and other wildlife are also a common sight in the towns, sometimes lying on man-made benches sunbathing. At the inland hotel we stayed at, there were 2-3 tortoises on site the entire time living there. These tortoises are typically over a century old. Locals, animals, and tourists coexisted on these little islands. The question was how?

Sea lion snorkeling

I am no expert on Galapagos, but I believe that a large reason for such unique animal life is that it is an intact ecosystem. An ecosystem that for so long has had limited outside interference. These animals have never had to LEARN to be afraid of humans….so they are not. Visitors provide the respect that they deserve. If you are interested in learning more about the environmental and cultural history of Galapagos, check out this website.

Almost everything on Galapagos is a guided experience. I enjoyed many of the guides in Galapagos, while also observing how they work and seeking to take learning lessons home with me. The guides are all locals, and all have to pass a rigorous and prestigious exam. They need to prove they know a lot about the area and the etiquette for exploring these lands. I appreciated their ability to create a unique customer experience while still focusing on sustainability when observing and recreating in these areas. They know history, animal facts, environmental knowledge, and more. They also had an urgency about respecting the habitat and environments of this area. There is a common understanding that sustaining this beautiful environment is beneficial for all who wish to come here in the future. This, in essence, is eco-tourism.

Galapagos is quite possibly the most unique wildlife habitat in the world. So many species are endemic to that area. So many were never taught to fear humans, which makes this an ideal ecosystem to observe up close. It is a wonderful tourist destination – for the right kind of visitor – for this reason.  During our stay on Santa Cruz, we stayed at a beautiful Eco lodge in the middle of the island called: Semila Verde. One evening, I came back (after a few local Mojitos) and talked with the new owner, Robert, for quite some time. He talked me through much of the local customs in the area: how sustainability is important, how guides go about leading tours through knowledge and respect for the local environment, how fishermen take what they need and no more, and much more. Talking with Robert and experiencing Eco-tourism among the islands was insightful. It also showed me that there are good models for sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation. I also wondered if our little island off the coast of Maine has more parallels with Galapagos than most would think of at first? 

Tortoise at Semila Verde

I will be working on a blog focused on ecotourism and our attempt to use it as a model. Keep an eye out for that blog soon. Looking to learn more about sustainable tourism and Galapagos? Check out this organization.

Looking to travel to Galapagos, feel free to contact Will: will.steinharter@fora.travel