SUSTAINABILITY
Montemar is the first and only locally-owned, high-end hosting project in the Galapagos that is 100% run by Ecuadorians who are active members of our community. For us, social sustainability is as important as environmental sustainability. That’s why we personally look after the guests to create unique experiences that connect everyone with the best of the islands and its people.
GREEN BUILDINGS
We are at the forefront of sustainability in the Galapagos because we try to minimize our footprint in everything we do. Local nature provided 70% of the material used in the development of our Villas. To avoid having to transport construction materials from the continent, the Montemar Eco Luxury Villas were built out of local bamboo, volcanic rocks and non-native hardwoods, like Spanish Cedar, harvested from the land.
All the electricity for the villas is produced by solar panels, 100% of the water is collected from the rain and we treat all of our wastewater. Montemar is a zero single-use plastic property and we work with biodegradable cleaning products. Our commitment to sustainability has made us a reference, which is why we were invited to share our expertise in a TED Talk.
Learn more about Montemar’s sustainable concept by watching Reyna’s Ted Talk on YouTube:
FARM-TO-TABLE FOOD
We at Montemar are so proud of the delicious organic food we produce, prepare and serve in each Villa. We’re also recognized for the award-winning coffee we grow on our local farm and present in our tasting sessions.
Free-range organic chickens provide us with fresh eggs that are a great plus for your taste buds at breakfast, lunch and dinner. From our organic, biodynamic garden, we harvest an array of natural ingredients including bananas, pineapples, granadillas and many other fruits, vegetables and homegrown herbs. Our artisanal breads, cakes, tomato sauce and fresh yogurt are also carefully handmade.
RESEARCH OF TORTOISES
Living and hosting visitors in the Galapagos Giant Tortoises Territory, the migration path of the Chelonoidis porteri species on Santa Cruz Island, is a huge responsibility. That’s why we care about them. One of the only 13 species of the largest living turtle on Earth, the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Giant Tortoise has chosen Montemar’s area to live and hang out.
We hosted a scientific research project that proved that our property has a higher density of tortoises than the other four plots on the islands. One theory as to why the tortoises spend more time in Montemar is because they prefer to feed here. When we bought the land, it was an old, abandoned pasture. We managed to control invasive species without agrochemicals, which has allowed native and endemic herb species to flourish. This seems to be good food for them.
Montemar is part of the ‘Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme’ , which supports scientific research projects. Learn more and find out about the scientists who manage the program here
COFFEE FOR CONSERVATION
The idea of growing coffee on the grounds started as a strategic solution to finance the rewilding of the farm for tortoises. Since controlling invasive species is an expensive process, we designed a business plan to generate enough income through coffee production.
Planting four varieties of arabica coffee that grow in the shade of tropical fruit and native trees was one of the biodynamic and agroforestry practices we adopted in four hectares of the property.
After a lot of hard work, the red coffee beans harvested gave way to surprising, high-quality coffee that was voted by experts the best cup of commercial coffee produced on the island. Profits from this new business became essential for financing the conservation of the giant tortoises that graze in the farm.
To see how Montemar’s coffee became the ink for the beautiful art project by Nina Lempenauer, of @ninalempenauer, check out this video
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
In addition to supporting 20 environmental initiatives to guarantee reforestation and nature protection in the Galapagos, Montemar works to promote social sustainability. That includes our Organic Garden School, which hosted 31 workshops, with 15 children per group, from 2020 to 2023. As we believe art is an important tool for positive transformation, during that same period, we supported 15 local artisans and provided 49 art workshops with recycled material for local kids in the project Manitas en Acción. Since 2020, Montemar and partner Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galápagos have been supporting the Hope Scholarship Fund, an initiative that helps local youths study and prepare themselves academically. So far, the fund has been key in getting five young people into university. United to protect the Galapagos, our local community continues to frequently work on coastal and neighborhood cleanups: We’ve supported 15 cleanup campaigns since 2020.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A B CORP
We are thrilled to announce that Montemar is now a certified B Corp, the first company in Galapagos to get this important accreditation.
Being a B Corp means that Montemar is held to very high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability. Montemar joins a growing global movement of inspiring and like-minded businesses who focus on positive social and environmental impact to contribute to a better world.
Montemar is the brainchild of Reyna and Roberto, an Ecuadorian couple who made Galapagos their home nearly 30 years ago. Their commitment to sustainability and conservation is genuine and has led all the business decisions ever since the project was conceived. Montemar provides top-class accommodation in luxury villas and curated exploration trips in the Galapagos Islands. From water to energy, from food to waste, and from location to construction materials, every single aspect of Montemar has been carefully selected in order to yield the lowest possible environmental impact. Montemar’s role with the local community is very active in supporting educational and scientific projects as well as local artisans and entrepreneurs.
“The journey to become a B Corp has been fun and smooth for us, as we are truly aligned to what the B Corp Movement is about. It was about putting everything we were already doing at Montemar in writing”, says Reyna about the 14-month process of certification.
“Having the first Certified B Corp in Galapagos is truly a great achievement for the B Corp Movement in Ecuador. We are very proud to have the commitment of Montemar to join efforts so that more companies adopt the standards of measurement and management of social and environmental impact,” says Sistema B Ecuador, the non-profit organization in charge of promoting the B Corp Movement in the country.
“For our community, our providers, our staff, and our clients, we commit to keep the highest standards that being a B Corp means, in Benefit of the planet and the people”, conclude Reyna and Roberto.
July 2024