Intelligent Design: A Guilt-Free Solution For Galápagoers

To go or not to go to the Galápagos? It’s a question that nags at every wildlife enthusiast. In 2007 UNESCO declared the archipelago a World Heritage site in danger, thanks in no small part to overcrowded cruise ships. Which is why Ecoventura president Santiago Dunn wants to scale things back. His expedition ships carry up to 20 guests each and were among the region’s first vessels to be “Smart Voyager” certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Now comes the first Galápagos-bound hybrid ship, Ecoventura’s M/Y ERIC, which has 40 solar panels and two wind turbines. “We want to give people the incredible experience of visiting the islands without the fear that they are harming the wildlife and fragile ecology,” says Dunn. In other words, go now—just go green (seven days, from $2,925 per person, all-inclusive; ecoventura.com).