The Galapagos Islands are a special treasure for the world to enjoy and protect. Finch Bay Hotel is a leader in the tourism industry for helping protect this environmentally sensitive area. Seasoned explorers of the world are asking us to be more conscious about the footprint we leave; we follow their thinking and continue leading the way for others.

Why ECO:

• Finch Bay’s staff and operation are fully committed to strictly follow Galapagos National Park’s conservation rules and policies.
• Finch Bay has the Smart Voyager Certification, exclusively supplied only to hotels in Ecuador who meet a set of strict conservation standards for protecting the environment, local wildlife, and the well-being of workers and local communities.
• Because of its sustainable practices, Finch Bay was selected as a Pilot Project when the Smart Voyager Certification started in the Galapagos Islands. Since the introduction of the Smart Voyager Program, and its practices we have reduced our energy consumption by 16%.
• Finch Bay’s design and colours (green and beige) enable a mimetic blending to the surrounding environment. The use of local materials is always a priority when it comes to building, redesigning, or refitting.
• Finch Bay is the only hotel in Galapagos with its own sewage treatment plant. Active bacteria consume biological waste before becoming treated water. Treated water (grey water) is used to irrigate the hotel’s gardens.
• Finch Bay collects its rain water for watering the gardens too. This has resulted in a reduction of 6% of its fresh water consumption.
• As part of Metropolitan Touring’s efforts with Fundacion Galapagos-Ecuador, Finch Bay adheres to our company’s environmental policy and supports rubbish handling, classification, and recycling.
• Solar panels at the hotel supply energy for water heating.
• Outdoor illumination is supplied by energy-saving, movement-activated light-bulbs.
• Water consumption is constantly monitored, keeping daily records of consumption and supplying periodical checks to the whole piping system.
• Introduction of alien species to the Islands is strictly and carefully prevented when acquiring goods and supplies.
• All soap, detergent and shampoo supplies are environmentally-friendly and biodegradable.
• 90% of the hotel’s staff is native to Galapagos, thus supplying a source of income and wellbeing to the inhabitants and theirs families.
• Active involvement with the community, particularly by offering internship programmes at the hotel to scholars from Galapagos education centres, and also, cooperating with local artists by exhibiting their art at the hotel.
• Local artists are encouraged to supply us with their work for permanent display at the hotel’s public areas.
• Naturalist Guides are permanently trained and monitored in their environmental interpretation skills.
• Finch Bay staff undergoes environmental training. This allows them to understand how their daily practices at work benefit the environment.
• Finch Bay has a yearly audit program for its Smart Voyager Certification. Such audits generate an action plan for continuous improvement.
• Bulletin boards at Finch Bay permanently communicate to guests and staff, the company’s environmental policy as well as all our initiatives in sustainability.
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  Finch Bay leads the reduction of plastics needs from the mainland: 36% reduction in 2009, which means 6,360 plastic bottles didn’t come to the islands.
• Finch Bay developed in September 2008 its own vegetable garden. Local production has eliminated the need of importing items from the mainland, and so far near 500 Kg of fresh produce has been produced at our own farm. This reduces systematically, the use of man/time, fuel, CO2 emissions, agrochemical sprays, and packaging materials. Naturally, it makes the hotel more efficient in its costing.
• Finch Bay dries most of its linen and towels under the equatorial sun, and reduces the need of local energy for heavy-duty driers.
• Finch Bay is committed to restoring the local coastline of its location. The reforestation of mangroves is a top priority, and by the end of 2010 the goal is to have planted 500 seedlings of button mangroves.