By traveling with Cheesemans’ to Galápagos, you will embark on a conservation-minded, nature-focused expedition aboard the Samba, a vessel owned and operated by the Salcedo Family. The Salcedos are pioneers of the ecotourism industry, and they demonstrate a high regard for their community and the environment. The Samba employs a crew of all Galápagos residents, uses local materials in the ship’s decor, and sources supplies from farmers and fishermen from the archipelago who use sustainable practices. All the revenue generated by the Samba stays in the local economy. This inspires and enables residents of Galápagos to develop other environmentally conscious businesses. The Salcedos provide a model for business practices grounded in the mutually beneficial interdependence of people and the ecosystems.
The Galápagos Islands’ ecotourism industry and the ecosystems themselves are dependent on the custodianship of future generations, which is why the Salcedos created the Naveducando Foundation, an educational program acting as a catalyst for conservation and sustainability by providing students with the knowledge, support, and tools to protect the archipelago in the short and long term. In 2017, the Naveducando Foundation launched Galápagos Infinito, a bi-annual, five-day “floating classroom” experience on the Samba that takes seventh graders, who otherwise would not have the means to explore their own archipelago, on an expedition through the Galápagos teaching about wildlife, ecology, geology, history, conservation, and sustainability. Naveducando has since expanded into the virtual world by developing Infinito En Linea, a digital literacy program including subjects such as island life and history, terrestrial and marine ecology, climate change, volcanology, and more. Local children become more familiar with technology tools and hone their online communication skills and cultural competency through virtual interactions with instructors and peers from around the world. Like Galápagos Infinito, Naveducando’s Galápagos Infinito En Linea program encourages students’ understanding and appreciation of the natural world and inspires a passion to protect Galápagos while offering them tools and exposing them to future job possibilities that will bring their goals of preservation to fruition.
Naveducando Foundation – This education-focused organization seeks to inspire, teach, and equip students in Galápagos to revere and preserve the ecosystems of their archipelago. The Naveducando Foundation offers students the chance to participate in “living classroom” expeditions as well as virtual learning opportunities.