Unforgettable: G Adventures Takes Guests Far From the Crowds on Galápagos’ Floreana Island

No one shot water pistols at us on Floreana Island or yelled ‘Tourists go home!’  But then, why would they?

There were only 16 of us in our G Adventures fam group — and we were the only tourists on the 173 km² Galápagos island. “As we were arriving into Floreana, I knew we were landing in paradise,” said Zeeyad (Jilu) Popat, Senior Vacation & Travel Consultant with HB Vacations in Surrey, BC. “There were no obtrusive views of buildings, beautiful unspoiled & empty beaches, the calming sound of the waves and how can you top off a welcoming committee of sea lions, pelicans and iguanas on the jetty? I was already hooked from the moment we arrived!” 

For a group of well-travelled advisors who have experienced overtourism firsthand, the quiet calm of Floreana took some getting used to. While our group was being delivered by open truck to various guesthouses, our G Adventures Chief Experience Officer and Galápagueña Sandra Maraquiza gave us directions to a black sand beach where we would find the island’s tiny bar. And she advised us to meet “in the middle of the road” for the walk to dinner. 

Unlike many popular islands, visitors don’t outnumber locals on Floreana, the sixth-largest of Ecuador’s Galápagos Archipelago. There are between 150 and 200 living on the volcanic one-time whaling outpost, with most earning a living through farming. The human population is vastly outnumbered by iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lions and many other species of birds and marine animals.  

But farming in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a tough gig, and tourism has taken on a greater importance in recent years throughout the archipelago. With little infrastructure to serve visitors, Floreana saw a sharp increase in day tours from cruise ships, but residents didn’t see much benefit. With few job opportunities from the added tourism, the community’s youth rarely returned after leaving the island to study. 

Enter Planeterra, the non-profit organization established in 2003 by G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. Described as the world’s leading non-governmental organization turning travel into impact in communities, Planeterra serves as G’s non-profit partner and focuses on supporting social and environmental initiatives through tourism.  Planeterra invested in a large scale training program on Floreana to enable residents to manage all aspects of tourism on their island. The community-owned-and-managed association coordinates activities such as guiding, trekking, kayaking and snorkelling. It has also encouraged the development of guesthouses and home-based restaurants, where G Adventures guests stay and dine. 

“G Adventures is the only company that stays on land on Floreana Island, supporting community-led ecotourism projects through partnerships with organizations like Planeterra’s Floreana Ecotours,” says Anup ‘Nuppy’ Mistry, a G Adventures Global Purpose Specialist and devoted iguana lover. Mistry escorted a Canadian fam group on the nine-day Galápagos Island Hopping tour. 

“This approach not only reduces environmental impact by avoiding constant boat travel but also provides direct economic benefits to local residents, helping to preserve the island’s culture and environment. Floreana was a truly magical island and was home to some of the biggest iguanas you’ll ever see! It’s a treasure for the planet, a reminder of what nature can be when left alone,” Mistry added. 

The goal is to provide job opportunities for residents to benefit from the booming tourism industry. By controlling the number of arrivals to the island, and enhancing the experience with an overnight stay, the hope is that Floreana can maintain its pristine habitat, clean waters and natural heritage. 

As well as spectacular wildlife, Floreana has a fascinating human history too. You can learn more about that in a story on the G Adventures blog. The island is home to the first “post office,” established by whalers in 1793. The seafarers kept a wooden barrel near their landing spot, where they would place letters that would be picked up and delivered to their destination by other ships on their way home to Europe or the U.S. 

A barrel is still kept on Floreana today, and visitors are encouraged to write postcards and place them there without postage. Visitors sift through the mail that’s already there, and if they find one addressed somewhere close to home, they take it with them and deliver them, often by hand.

Our group loved the idea, and several of their postcards have already arrived in Canada. As we pulled away from Floreana, there were a lot of pensive looks on the faces of our group. We all knew we had experienced something rare and precious. “Our couple of days there will leave an everlasting memory with me – the authentic and genuine people, raw nature (mountains, forests, beaches and amazing creatures) and an island vibe that just melted all my worries away and left me in awe,” said Popat.