Fair Trade Information:
Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador with sales offices in Quito and Miami.
Since 1990, Ecoventura transports 3000 passengers every year aboard a fleet of four expedition vessels. The company has set the standard for high environmental policies through conservation efforts including SmartVoyager, Carbon offsetting and setting up a fund with WWF called the Global Marine Biodiversity Fund, Ecoventura’s goal is to safeguard the environment by offering environmentally friendly cruises that minimize the environmental impact of its operations.
Owner of Ecoventura, Santiago Dunn says his goals for Ecoventura were to inspire others as well as to be part of the solution for the issues facing tourism in Galapagos.
With The Rainforest Alliance he developed the SmartVoyager program and his company was one of the first to certify their tour boats in 2000 after such costly improvements as installing desalinating units, less-polluting four stroke outboard engines on their dinghies and the installation of advanced TRABOLD oil filter systems that reduce consumption of fuel and oil lubricants resulting in a 10-20% reduction in gas emissions.
The standards also require good living conditions, medical insurance and advanced training for the boat crew and guides.
Carbon emissions from the company's four yachts (and offices including business travel) are offset by a portfolio of projects through US-based company Native Energy Travel Offsets since 2006. Through NETO, Ecoventura is investing in the future of our planet, by bringing corporate travel industry dollars directly to the development of new wind turbines on native lands and other renewable energy sources to help lower global carbon emissions.
What is really significant here is that we are not waiting for passengers to “opt-in” to an offset program, rather we are paying the full amount for offsets upfront to ensure the company is carbon neutral. NETO partner Megan Epler Wood notes that owner Santiago Dunn has made Ecoventura one of the most environmentally conscious travel companies in Ecuador, one which is admired by its passengers and travel companies globally.
In 2007, Ecoventura partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund which targets environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening the local communities’ ability to manage natural resources. Ecoventura raised well over $80,000 the first year alone. Passengers are also encouraged to donate to the fund that supports Galapagos National Park projects. The GMBF will benefit several projects including control of the marine reserve through repairs and maintenance of the fast boat TIBURON MARTILLO. The boat will be stationed at Wolf and Darwin Islands which are visited by divers on the Sky Dancer. The fund will also sponsor students from San Cristobal Island with scholarships for two years to study tourism or Environmental Science or Natural Resource Management at the University of San Francisco in Quito. The funds will also go toward local schools to benefit the children of local fishermen to help fund children’s environmental clubs.