An eco-friendly spa has opened on the Galapagos Islands – famous as the place where Charles Darwin formulated the theory of evolution and one of the most strictly regulated regions in the world for development.

Spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has collaborated with hotel and tour operator, Metropolitan Touring, to create the sustainable spa for the Finch Bay Hotel on Isla Santa Cruz.

The 27-room property is a member of the National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World portfolio, a heavily-vetted collection which only includes sites that have a strong commitment to sustainable practices and to protecting natural and cultural heritage.

Ian Bell, Raison d’Etre’s senior project manager says sustainability plays a huge role in the spa. “Each item ordered for the spa was assessed to establish its carbon footprint, and also for ease of disposal after use. We don’t have disposable slippers at the spa at the moment, as we’re still searching for product lines that are recyclable”.

Raison d’Etre created the spa menu and was also responsible for training the spa’s locally-hired therapists.

The spa has one single and one double treatment room and uses Barcelona-based Bruno Vassari products and Aroma Vida, an Ecuadorian wellness brand, which includes ingredients native to the Galapagos, such as palo santo oil, from the native ‘holy tree’, and Ecuadorian chocolate.

Bell adds: “One of the biggest challenges has been finding high-quality spa products that really reflect the powerful sustainability ethos of Metropolitan Touring.”

Additional facilities available to guests at the new Finch Bay facility include a gym, yoga studio, and two spa pools.

Metropolitan Touring was the first travel company to start operating excursions to the Galapagos 60 years ago. It offers island tours, cruises and owns two other hotels in Ecuador.

Following the opening of Finch Bay’s spa, Metropolitan Touring is now also set to expand the spa offering at Mashpi Lodge hotel in the Andean cloud forest in the coming year.

In other news, Six Senses has just revealed that it’s also working on a Galapagos site which is due to open in 2021.

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