Give Back to the Galapago

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Announces„ Give Back to the Galapagos Promotion

MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2010 ˆ Here‚s a new twist on added value. The visionary, small-ship travel company Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/) announces a new „Give Back to the Galapagos‰ promotion that offers guests a rate reduction matched by company dollars to assist important environmental initiatives. See: http://www.ecoventura.com/expeditionyachts/specialoffers.aspx

„Our clients always want to know how they can help our efforts to create a positive level of sustainability for this fragile eco-system called the Galapagos,‰ said Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura. „This is a way they for them to benefit twice: once by receiving a rate reduction and once by giving something back to the islands.‰

Dunn explained that the new give-back program is a 10 percent discount on rates on certain departures with 5 percent applied to the cruise rate and 5 percent assisting the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) (http://www.ecoventura.com/aboutus/ourgalapagoscommitment/galapagosmarinebiodiversityfund.aspx) administered by the World Wildlife Fund.

The fund was established in 2006 in partnership with WWF that supports environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening the local community‚s abilities to manage natural resources. The biodiversity fund has provided funds for scholarships for local students to study at the university level, loans to micro-enterprise businesses creating sustainable sources of income, helped control illegal fishing activities through a permanent floating station at Darwin Island and a refit of National Park patrol boats.

„It‚s the reality of paradise being pushed to the edge. Our partnership mission with GMBF is to safeguard the Galapagos environment so that we and other responsible tour operators can continue to bring conservation-minded visitors here for many generations to come,‰ said Dunn.

Since the fund was created, it has raised over $170,000, of which $160,950 has gone directly to the various projects now in operation.

The 2010 trip dates when the give-back program applies are Aug 22-29, Aug 29-Sep 05, Sep 5-12, Sep 12-19, Sep 19-26, Sep 26-Oct 03, Oct 10-17, Oct 24-31, Oct 31-Nov 07, Nov 7-14, Nov 14-21, Nov 28-Dec 05, Dec 5-12 and Dec 12-19. There are also other special offers and dates to be found on the company website.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the Sky Dancer, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

To reserve a cabin or to receive a copy of Ecoventura‚s 2010 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com.

To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto:
http://www.ecoventura.com/.

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