Latin Trails – tour operator in the Galapagos, receives Smart Voyager Certification for their luxury class catamaran the Galapagos Journey I.
The Smart Voyager program was initiated by the Ecuadorian citizen’s group, Conservación y Desarrollo in collaboration with their partner, Rainforest Alliance, to credit operations (mainly hotels and Galapagos tour boats) that meet a set of strict conservation standards. These standards expand the scope of what it means to truly be sustainable. Naturally, they include conservation efforts in things like waste management. But they also take into account a company’s policies on developing the local community, enhancing worker’s conditions, and maintaining high safety standards.
This being Latin Trails’ first boat to make the cut, the company sees this award as a great achievement, but certainly not the end of their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Many would say this is the final step in achieving an eco friendly operation. For Latin Trails and Galapagos Journey Fleet it is certainly not the beginning and for sure not the end. It has been a long process of continuous improvement in our environmental practices. – Latin Trails
For travelers, the Smart Voyager seal is a guarantee that your hard-earned dollar will benefit the local people and help protect local ecosystems. And in the Galapagos, where the impacts of tourism on such a fragile environment need to be in check, supporting Smart Voyager boats ensures the same Galapagos experience for the next generation of explorers.
Kudos Latin Trails!
FROM METROPOLITAN TOURING:
METROPOLITAN TOURING’S GALAPAGOS YACHT LA PINTA RECEIVES
THE SMART VOYAGER CERTIFICATION
The SmartVoyager sustainable tourism certification was created in order to improve environmental, social and safety measures, and to reduce the environmental footprint that a tour operation could cause.
We are happy to announce that Metropolitan’s expedition vessel La Pinta has just completed the audit to obtain its SmartVoyager Certification granted by Conservation and Development, member of America’s Sustainable Certification Network. Rainforest Alliance developed SmartVoyager in collaboration with their Ecuador-based partner group Conservación y Desarrollo (C&D). The program awards its green seal of approval to tour operators in the Galapagos Islands who meet a set of strict conservation standards. This achievement is part of our action plan as per stated in the company’s Environmental Policy.
Our commitment towards achieving sustainable development motivates us to continually search for the best environmental practices available; permanently train our staff on how sustainability works and convey the message to our guests regarding environment and wildlife conservation, natural resources management, and the wellbeing of workers and local communities.
Currently, all of Metropolitan Touring’s expeditions vessels –Yacht La Pinta, MV SANTA CRUZ, Yacht ISABELA II and Yacht SEA FINCH–, as well as Finch Bay Eco Hotel, bear the SmartVoyager Certification, which is a guarantee for our clients and guests of environmentally-oriented operations, community support and the best sustainable practices.
Hybrid technology is showing up everywhere and now it’s in the Galapagos Islands. In November, the M/Y Eric (part of the M/Y Eric, Letty, and Flamingo I fleet operated by Ecoventura) became the first hybrid boat in the Islands .
In October 2008, 40 solar panels and 2 wind generators were installed on the Eric. The goal of the project is that 17% (or more) of the vessel’s power will come from solar and wind sources. The project was financed by Toyota, a producer of hybrid cars and a supporter of the World Wildlife Fund.
Ecoventura has continually set the pace in ecological innovation and commitment for Galapagos operators. We hope that this will help pave the way for other yachts to incorporate renewable energy sources in their operations.
