Galapagos. A part of its history ...

Since we started in 1998, as SAIL’N GALÁPAGOS, the first Yacht agency & Superyacht services, we believe that coming to the South Pacific, and specially to the Galapagos Islands, is a unique experience, discovering a different place, appreciating and enjoying nature in its highest degree of biodiversity in this unique World Heritage.

Since I settled in the Galapagos, in 1985, I started building a personal and professional base in the region.  The goal has always been to put the conservation of Galapagos as a priority, serving in public or private sectors, we have always committed to this values with all our actions.

Until 1997, the visit of foreign yachts and sailboats to the Galapagos, was informal, spontaneous and wasn’t managed under a legal frame.  Most tourists arrived by air and used local tourism boats to visit Galapagos.

SAIL’N GALAPAGOSbroke those paradigms by starting a pathway to let foreign yachts and sailboats arrive and visit Galapagos through a legal framework.  We started a new option for the region with sailing visitors, which contributed directly to the local economy.

Our beginning was not easy, but we were convinced that your visits to Galapagos was a good option for the islands.  Together with the authorities, we started building the regulations and processes to set a standard for the visits.  We were part of structuring the payment systems, monitoring, inspections, itinerary procedures, natural guides and standards, a whole developed system that allows your visit to take place smoothly, also allowing similar agencies to operate.  It has not been an easy path, we have overcome many challenges, but we are still the leaders.

We, Ricardo and Yvonne, represent the foreign yachts in Galapagos.  We are the starting point, the first agency founded in this unique World Heritage since 1998.

Our brand equals integrity, we are Galapagos, our commitment is quality and we guarantee this to our clients.  Our business relationship with you will be personalized and we will dedicate ourselves to serve you with the professionalism and security you deserve.  We are part of the islands, and our goal is to achieve your goal of a smooth experience.

We are committed to keep on making Galapagos a great destination for yachts and sailboats, with the beautiful nature of this archipelago and our best effort we will achieve the conservation of the islands.

Please, allow us to have the privilege of giving you the best experience we can by managing your visit in Galápagos.

Visiting Galapagos on your own private yacht is more expensive, but it has its reason; the use of your taxes paid.

Although the world continues to move at great speeds, the Galapagos has retained its magic and charm. For this, the Galapagos is a unique place to visit. However, we all know of the many issues that the Galapagos faces in order to retain its ability to enchant the world. Therefore, we must all maintain our insistence that the quality and measures taken to visit the Galapagos are done with great care and consideration.

In order for visitors of the Galapagos to understand that it is an exceptional privilege to visit the Galapagos and share in the wealth of beauty that we have, those of us who live and work here must preserve and protect the Galapagos the best we can. My investment in the Galapagos as a businessman is to encourage people to visit the Galapagos in the comfort of their own yachts as long as they adhere and support the special rules in place to protect the integrity of human interaction with the Galapagos. The business that visitors in their yachts provide is an example of how to create jobs for people while simultaneously protecting the ethic of how business should be operated within fragile ecosystems. Therefore, my commitment remains faithful to the Galapagos in my personal life and in my business to provide tourism services in a way that protects and preserves the future of these islands. 

The taxation of those individuals who come by private yachts reflects the efforts of the GNP to invest tourist dollars directly towards managing sustainable tourist operations within our islands. It is this contribution of “green” taxation which provides all of us with the chance to scuba dive with whale sharks; swim with marine wolfs; get excited watching the dolphins jump; watch hundreds of birds fly over the bays full of fish; stare in the eyes of iguanas, and become mesmerized by the site of penguins under magical island sunsets. 

  

I offer this via. I believe in the Galapagos and in the principles behind the regulation and taxing of mega yachts for its preservation. I keep my position that visiting Galapagos on board a private yacht offers the ability to personalize your standards and maximize your contribution to the preservation of our precious but extremely fragile Galapagos.  Why only contribute less than 1% of your expenses weekly to the GNP when you can contribute 22% with relatively no differences in your total expenses? 

We, at SuperYacht Galapagos guarantee our traditional professionalism, excellence and commitment, but more than anything, encourage opportunities for everyone as long as they protect the integrity of the professional environment, personal environment, and magic of the Galapagos! 

Ricardo Arenas

SUPERYACHT GALAPAGOS

2018, April 22

Tortuga Bay

Han pasado meses que no expreso momentos de correr, nadar,  caminar, o tan solo cuando  me siento con los míos en la terraza de nuestra casa,  y siento la naturaleza que cubre mis sentidos. 

Lo tengo  a “flor de piel”! habiendo regresado de correr de Tortuga Bay. 

Mi respiración más agitada, algo de dolor en un talón, pero sigo disfrutando...dejando mi sudor pisada tras pisada. Pero que ante aquel sendero rodeado de cactus y palos santos, con un sol que abrasa quemando tu piel, no es nada ante aquel camino  que desemboca en la majestuosidad imponente de aquella playa.   Siento la misma emoción desde hace 33 años.  

Las fragatas posadas sobre el mangle entre las dos playas, no dejando esa exclusividad solo a los pelicanos; mientras abajo aves orilleras caminando apresuradas en la arena, y esas  iguanas imperturbables manteniéndose en su lugar.  

El mar con su color  verde, moviéndose intensamente, cambiando sus tonos, con el viento viniendo del Oeste, que hacia planear aquellos piqueros enmascarados que de fondo ese azul del cielo manchado de blanco por las nubes en sus lados, caían en picada en busca de peces.   Uno bajo el agua, viendo los tiburones jóvenes, curiosos, pero nerviosos, indicándote…este es mi lugar, esto es mío.

  

Y cuando sales de esa posa mirando más arriba del manglar ves, que aun siendo cerca del mediodía todavía una luna menguante se destaca en ese cielo…tan solo te queda agradecer que tienes este sagrado lugar que no es una playa cualquiera, es mi templo, lugar donde encuentro, más allá de lo que simplemente se ve....

Ricardo Arenas P.

Puerto Ayora (Tortuga Bay ), 8 Abril, 2018