Mission

Galapagosurf has a main mission and is, to promote all self-propelled water sport activities in Galapagos and Ecuador Marine areas. We believe that Adventure Ecotourism is a real answer to development for third world countries like Ecuador (check Editorial for more on this).

We believe and promote complete sincerity and clearness on business deals looking for long-term results, not short-term in any sense or way. We believe water sports; Surfing in particular, to be a great water sport activity that bonds humanity with the Environment, creating a Natural way of Conservation, Eco-Logical and Environmental Education. We also beleive that Birdwatching is a great way also to bond Nature with the people and create at same time a higher awareness of forests. In the Galapagos case especially, we believe surfing to be of much help for the Galapagos dilemma (most of the money produced in Ecotourism goes out of Galapagos to the mainland), promoting a healthy recreation on locals, a positive shift from regular and traditional way of doing Tourism at Galapagos (get on the plane-get on the boat-spend 1 day in town-by a t-shirt- back to plane), that will create alternative jobs for locals and help prevent the informality and predation on the Marine Reserve Area of the Islands. As surfers stay for very long time (1-3 weeks waiting for swells) in towns using local services, most of money spend by them stays in the hands of locals and not in the hands of Agencies, Operators, Owners, who don´t live in the islands. Same thing happens with other watersports activities based in towns.

wall painting by Ricardo Nuñez

Surfing is relatively new in Galapagos. Park officials are suspicious about it still. National Park Officials are at this moment working on an especial regulation for water sports activities in the Galapagos Marine Reserve to limit crowds, boats, setting up especial areas, etc. So there are important Park rules. Rules that are OBLIGATORY to all visitors and residents.

Our surf tours are really under our big FIRST MISSION that is, above all and anyone; TO PROTECT THIS ENVIRONMENT AT ALL COSTS AND TO PROMOTE ECO TOURISM JOBS.

1.) We are conscious of the Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of the coasts as important and irreplaceable.

2.) We respect the crowd capacity or amount of surfers in a spot. Therefore, no more than 10 to 12 surfers as maximum (when there are waves). Thus, we respect the integrity of surfers as the environment.

3.) We are aware that human beings (surfers) are an integral piece in the marine environment, but native animals and "native surfers" are first as sealions, fish. Locals have first right

4.) We respect the right to claim but only by arguments and ideas, and only in that way. .

5.) We recognize and approve the right to surf all waves inasmuch as we do the least impact to the environment, so much as the animate or inanimate individuals.

6.) We do not discriminate, race, religion, sex or origin whatsoever.

7.) We firmly believe in environmental education based on production with least impact on environment. It is essential for future generations and health of the planet. We look forward for educational materials linked with reality that can be informative, proactive, synergetic, and fun.

8.) We value Truth. We express the unique values in Surfing, ¨non-egoistic¨ individualism, camaraderie, non-materialism and the sincere appreciation of the historic relation between human being and the sea.

9.) We collaborate with the National Parks and other Eco Institutions and their authorities to back and collaborate to the objective of Conservation, respecting the rules and laws in benefit of the environment and the local population.