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Social responsibility in Galapagos has been at the core of Metropolitan Touring’s efforts to shape and expand the tourism sector. By leading with impactful environmental initiatives, we have consistently aimed to strike a harmonic balance between protecting the unique and fragile environment and gently introducing visitors from around the world to the wonders of nature.
Seasonal Changes
The tourist sector is often seasonal, just like many other sectors of the economy. Americans make up about 70% of the passengers on Galapagos adventure cruises. As a result, July through August 15th is typically the busiest month for us, during which time every trip is reserved. A few things have altered during this time, the most obvious being our visitor groups.
During the summer break, more families with little children visit; usually, it’s just the two of them. The best thing about this is that watching the joy on children’s faces as they receive a close-up glimpse at our incredible creatures is always entertaining. With the summer break’s conclusion, things have changed again, and most American students return to classes this month.
Low Season: An Opportunity to Give Back
Plenty of rooms are available aboard the boat because we still need to be fully booked. After all, this is the off-season. Metropolitan Touring takes advantage of this chance to assist the Galapagos Islanders. We achieve this by providing financial support to archipelago residents who have spent their entire lives here but have not yet had the opportunity to explore more of their stunning homes because of financial constraints. We had twelve Isabela Island craftsmen on board the Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise and they appreciated the opportunity to travel with us.
Environmental Social Responsibility in Galapagos: Always on the Lookout
Even while the park rangers were having a fantastic time and paying close attention to our experienced naturalist guides, they were also very mindful of the minor things, like the state of the paths we were walking on and whether all signs and markers needed to be changed. When they saw missing steps and unsecured rails on staircases, they immediately reported and resolved any issues—overall, seeing how the people of the Galapagos enjoyed and looked after their archipelago was heartening.
The timing was ideal; as soon as we arrived at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, we could observe an invasive species (a cat, no less) flourishing in the wild. Fortunately, we had time to snap a few photos of it. With these, the park rangers can document the issue and take prompt action to mitigate it, preserving the breathtaking natural setting of this beautiful spot.
Galapagos Islands conservation: it’s all about the statistics! Working together is crucial!
