Sustainability
Montemar is the first and only locally owned, luxury hospitality project in the Galapagos that is 100% run by Galapagueños and Ecuadorians...
who are active members of the broader Galapagos community. For us, social sustainability is as important as environmental sustainability. That is why we create unique experiences for our guests that allow them to connect with land and a variety of islanders who actively protect it and who give back to its people as well.
Montemar Social &
Environmental
Impact Summary
GREEN BUILDINGS:
We are at the forefront of sustainability in the Galapagos because we try to minimize our footprint in everything we do.
We are at the forefront of sustainability in the Galapagos through various practices that attempt to minimize our footprint in everything we do. Local nature provided 70% of the materials used in developing our Villas. To avoid transporting construction materials from the mainland, Montemar Eco Luxury Villas were built out of local bamboo, volcanic rock and non-native hardwoods, like Spanish Cedar harvested from local land.
Most of the electrical power for the villas is produced through solar panels, 100% of the water is collected from 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 at a TED Talk conference. Learn more about Montemar’s sustainable concept by watching Reyna’s Ted Talk on YouTube:
Most of the electrical power for the villas is produced through solar panels, 100% of the water is collected from 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 at a TED Talk conference. Learn more about Montemar’s sustainable concept by watching Reyna’s Ted Talk on YouTube:
We Are Proud To Be
A Certified B Corp
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 that focus on positive social and environmental impact to contribute towards creating a better world.
Montemar is the brainchild of Reyna and Roberto, an Ecuadorian couple who made Galapagos their home nearly 30 years ago. Their genuine commitment to sustainability and conservation 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 around 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 to yield as much environmental impact as possible.
Montemar’s role with the local community is very active in supporting educational and scientific projects as well as local artisans and entrepreneurs.
Montemar is the brainchild of Reyna and Roberto, an Ecuadorian couple who made Galapagos their home nearly 30 years ago. Their genuine commitment to sustainability and conservation 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 around 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 to yield as much environmental impact as possible.
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 with 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 certifcation process.
Having the first Certified B Corp in Galapagos is a great achievement for the B Corp Movement in Ecuador. We are very proud to commit 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.
OUR ACTIONS ON
Sustainability
Farm-To-Table Food
01
Tortoise Research
02
Coffee For Conservation
03
Community Initiatives
04
Farm To Table
Gastronomy
Gastronomy
01
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 at 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.
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.
Tortoise Research
02
Living and hosting visitors in the Galapagos Giant Tortoises Territory, the migration path of the Chelonoidis Porteri species on Santa Cruz Island, is a big and important responsibility. That’s why we care about them. One of the only 13 species of the largest living tortoises on Earth, the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Giant Tortoise has chosen Montemar as its area to live in and hang out in.
We hosted a scientific research project that proved that our property has a higher density of tortoises than the other four plots on the island. One theory as to why tortoises spend more time in Montemar is because they prefer to feed in this area. When we bought the land, it was an old, abandoned pasture. We managed to control the growth of invasive species without agrochemicals, which has allowed native and endemic fauna to flourish. These seem to be the perfect meal for tortoises.
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.
We hosted a scientific research project that proved that our property has a higher density of tortoises than the other four plots on the island. One theory as to why tortoises spend more time in Montemar is because they prefer to feed in this area. When we bought the land, it was an old, abandoned pasture. We managed to control the growth of invasive species without agrochemicals, which has allowed native and endemic fauna to flourish. These seem to be the perfect meal for tortoises.
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
03
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.
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.
Community
Initiatives
Initiatives
04
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 Galapagos 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.
Since 2020, Montemar and partner Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galapagos 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.
OUR ACTIONS ON
Sustainability
Farm-To-Table Food
01
Farm To Table
Gastronomy
Gastronomy
01
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 at 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.
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
02
Research Of Tortoises
02
Living and hosting visitors in the Galapagos Giant Tortoises Territory, the migration path of the Chelonoidis Porteri species on Santa Cruz Island, is a big and important responsibility. That’s why we care about them. One of the only 13 species of the largest living tortoises on Earth, the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Giant Tortoise has chosen Montemar as its area to live in and hang out in.
We hosted a scientific research project that proved that our property has a higher density of tortoises than the other four plots on the island. One theory as to why tortoises spend more time in Montemar is because they prefer to feed in this area. When we bought the land, it was an old, abandoned pasture. We managed to control the growth of invasive species without agrochemicals, which has allowed native and endemic fauna to flourish. These seem to be the perfect meal for tortoises.
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.
We hosted a scientific research project that proved that our property has a higher density of tortoises than the other four plots on the island. One theory as to why tortoises spend more time in Montemar is because they prefer to feed in this area. When we bought the land, it was an old, abandoned pasture. We managed to control the growth of invasive species without agrochemicals, which has allowed native and endemic fauna to flourish. These seem to be the perfect meal for tortoises.
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
03
Coffee For Conservation
03
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.
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.
Community Initiatives
04
Community
Initiatives
Initiatives
04
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 Galapagos 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.
Since 2020, Montemar and partner Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galapagos 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.