THE GOLDEN SUSTAINABILITY

A sustainable and luxury experience on the enchanted islands

We are committed to creating an ecosystem where we are all active agents of change, producing a real transformation in the Galapagos Islands and building a future that preserves the magic of life.

Agreements

Our core actions are guided by three agreements that promote sustainable luxury tourism that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and constantly gives back to the islands.

Giving Back

Leave only memories behind, not footprints | Green Luxury Cruise Operator

Our primary action is to give back to the islands everything that they give us.
Through our Golden Sustainability initiatives, we take specific actions to neutralize our carbon footprint, seeking to be carbon neutral in everything we do.

Community Care

Constant support for people in their communities

Seeking to be sustainable is not only based on being reciprocal with the environment, but also with the people who live in it.

Our tangible actions taken inside and outside of the Galapagos archipelago are based on contributing to those who need us the most, providing them with real opportunities to improve their quality of life.

Smart Development

how we’re navigating toward the future

We strongly believe that nature is our greatest asset, and its future is in our hands. At Golden Galapagos Cruises, we’ve sought to innovate aboard our vessels using technology that significantly reduces the impacts of navigation on the islands.

Our Fundamentals

Environmental

The role of retribution

Tourism has a negative impact on fragile environments if it isn’t managed sustainably. At Golden Galapagos Cruises, we are proactively working toward becoming a greener company by implementing processes that reduce our impact every step of the way.

We have our own policies on board to guarantee a unique experience and useful education for our guests. Some of the specific actions that we have taken include the use of biodegradable products, responsible waste treatment, and prohibiting single-use plastics, among many others.

These actions are part of our focus on environmental stewardship as we work to restore ecosystems and neutralize our carbon footprint.

Social

All for them

We believe that companies are a function of the society that they are in, and how they treat it. Not only are their staff and shareholders part of it, the local communities that form it are, too.

Tourism plays a critical role in our societies, since it generates 1 of every ten 10 jobs worldwide.

Through our Golden Sustainability initiatives, we have directly included the community, which forms an essential part of your adventure, by prioritizing support for local suppliers and paying fair wages to our crew, generating a multiplier effect on the economy and giving families a better quality of life.

Additionally, our student scholarship programs and social assistance initiatives are constantly expanding to include more people and have a greater effect in the archipelago.

We are also immensely proud of the fact that more than 60% of our team are women, and our board is made up entirely of women.

Innovation

purified water dispenser Galapagos Cruise

Our compass to the future

Sustainability means not only being environmentally responsible or socially aware of those around us, but also renewing our Golden Experience regularly so that your adventure is not only sustainable, but also uses the best technology available.

This includes focusing on our fuel saving systems, which increase the efficiency of our luxury catamarans at higher speeds, thus consuming less fuel.

However, it doesn’t stop there – we pioneered the use of purified water dispensers, reducing the use of single-use plastics on board by a staggering 80%! Together with the use of new technologies, we limit our impact on marine life.

In fact, the experience begins on this very webpage, which was optimized to simplify and make commercial and operational processes much more efficient.

Actions & Solutions

Installation of purified water dispensers

Prevents the use of at least 15,000 plastic bottles per year

Smart innovation in catamaran engines

Reduces fuel consumption by 25% and CO2 emissions

Organic and chemical waste management on board

Prevents alterations to wildlife ecosystems

We changed direction.

we stopped talking and started taking specific actions for the environment, working to solve critical, globally relevant problems.

Initiatives and Innovation

We care for our community and its development

Usage of local products and local suppliers

80% reduction in single-use plastics on board our catamarans

Direct support for the “Galapagos Free of Microplastics” local foundation

Eco-friendly lights to be used at night

Improving local education, and scholarships for local students

How passengers benefit from a sustainability cruise Operator

Small actions lead to big changes. Travel without worrying about the footprints you leave, and help us build a sustainable future

Peace of mind from traveling to the Galapagos in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, and you’ll feel happy since you will contribute to and compensate for your visit to the Galapagos Islands, leaving no traces behind.

You will be able to see the positive effect of sustainable tourism on local ecosystems and communities for yourself, enjoying a pollution-free destination teeming with endemic animal life and happy communities.

We will take care of everything at every step of the way, ensuring that you enjoy a sustainable and magical experience in the enchanted islands, minimizing your impact on the archipelago.

The fact that we specialize in charters, private trips and small groups on our catamarans will allow you to reconnect with your inner self, thus enjoying biodiversity up close and in harmony with nature.

Hundreds of species and thousands of people will benefit from your trip to the Galapagos thanks to the entry fee paid to and managed by the Galapagos National Park. The park authorities allocate these funds to the conservation of species, scientific research and social assistance.

A healthy and sustainable ecosystem gives us a better quality of life, so what you find on your table will always be premium and fresh, eliminating the risk of contaminants and toxins in your food.

Golden Galapagos Cruises anchor at the sustainable development Goals

Believing in a sustainable future means that we firmly believe in the UN’s universal actions of change; We comply with and are committed to 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the islands and, consequently, for the planet.

Click on the indicators to see the specific actions that we’re taking on the islands:

QUALITY EDUCATION

Golden Galapagos Cruises has implemented a pilot project to assign student scholarships to low-income children in the Galapagos Islands and on the mainland.

GENDER EQUALITY

64% of all Golden Galapagos Cruises personnel are women. We believe that women are essential to the development of our planet.

CLEAN WATER & SANITATION

On board all of our luxury catamarans, you’ll find innovative water purification systems and salt water treatment plants.

DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Golden Galapagos Cruises firmly believes in and actively promotes sustainable economic growth based on the circular economy, supporting local suppliers and paying fair wages to its workers.

9-Industry-innovation-and-infraestructure-color

INDUSTRIES, INNOVATION and INFRASTRUCTURE

The use of smart motors and state-of-the-art machinery allows us to reduce the use of fossil fuels by 10% and our CO² emissions by 3%.

REDUCED INEQUALITIES

Our internal policies and corporate culture actively promote the inclusion and hiring of LBGTIQ+ people and single mothers, and we stand strongly against any kind of discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, financial status, or any other condition.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

The implementation of internal policies and differential actions, coupled with the use of Big Data, has allowed us to reduce food waste and the use of polluting products, significantly reducing the amount of garbage and mass consumption of single-use products.

CLIMATE ACTION

Golden Galapagos Cruises has launched a sweeping sustainability plan with very ambitious objectives, one of which is to net all of its Co² emissions by 2023 and reduce them by 35% by the end of 2025. We have also implemented a roadmap to carry out actions to combat climate change.

LIFE BELOW WATER

Golden Galapagos Cruises uses innovative technological systems to treat residual waters and toxic waste, which are not thrown into the sea, but are rather transported to the mainland where they undergo a specialized process to eventually be reused.

LIFE ON LAND

Golden Galapagos Cruises has launched two pilot projects for the reforestation of the enchanted islands, and finances foundations that care for species and promote the correct development of life within the Galapagos.

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

SicmaEcuador

Golden Galapagos Cruises Towards Carbon Neutrality

SICMA ECUADOR certifies that Golden Galapagos Cruises has signed a work commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in its organizational activities and operational products with the support of our firm.

April 20, 2022

C02 Neutro Cruise Operator

Giving back is the basis of our plan. In order to do so, we understand that we have to seek to neutralize our carbon emissions by working with companies such Sicma Ecuador.

SICMA ECUADOR is a company that offers training, consulting and environmental advisory services. It was born as an urgent call to offer solutions that mitigate global warming. One of its main objectives is to promote responsible environmental management in organizations, while promoting the productive development of companies, their profitability, competitiveness and preserving their area of influence while guaranteeing the ecological well-being of future generations.

Reduce fuel consumption

Reduce emissions by 3% per year, which represents 4,325 metric tons

1.5°C reduction in global temperature by 2030

CO2 emissions reduction by 33%

Green Objectives

Our plan covers both today and tomorrow. We know that changing the world cannot be achieved in one day, which is why we have established our green objectives. See how we are moving forward together to achieve them.

40%

Reduce single use Plastic

30%

Community Impact | Project Support

35%

Agents of change

485 years ago, an Eden was discovered in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – a place that was trapped in time where science, evolution and magic converge to create a truly unique experience. Our duty is to keep all of its charm untouched, and restore what has been affected by our presence. However, we know that we will not achieve this ambitious goal alone. Join us in our Golden Sustainability campaign, and be an agent of change to improve the future of the Galapagos Islands.

Working together for a sustainable experience.