Spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has collaborated with hotel and tour operator, Metropolitan Touring, to create an eco-conscious spa for the Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos.
The property, on Isla Santa Cruz, is the Galapagos’ only member of the National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World portfolio. Lodges are only included in the portfolio if National Geographic believes they share a strong commitment to sustainable practices and to protecting natural and cultural heritage.
Each lodge is vetted by a National Geographic sustainable tourism expert before being labelled as a member of the collection.
Ian Bell, Raison d’Etre’s senior project manager said: “Sustainability plays a huge role in the spa at Finch Bay.
“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”.
Finch Bay Hotel has 27 rooms and suites and already operates multiple sustainability procedures to save energy and decrease emissions.
The hotel follows a strict recycling system and conducts its own beach clean every day.
Guestrooms are stocked with environmentally-friendly toiletries and refillable water bottles, while care is taken to ensure minimal pesticides and preservatives are used in its food.
Raison d’Etre created the spa menu and trained 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.
“One of the biggest challenges has been finding high-quality spa products that reflect the sustainability ethos of Metropolitan Touring,” said Bell.
Facilities at Finch Bay also include a gym, yoga studio, and two jacuzzis.
About Metropolitan TouringMetropolitan Touring was the first travel company to start operating excursions to the Galapagos 60 years ago.
The company offers tourists Galapagos Island tours, hotels and cruises, and they run three expedition ships in the Galapagos Islands: Yacht Isabella II, Yacht La Pinta and the Santa Cruz II.
Along with the Finch Bay property, the company also owns two other award-winning hotels in Ecuador; Casa Gangotena in Quito Old Town and Mashpi Lodge in the heart of the Andean Cloud Forest.
Following the opening of Finch Bay’s spa, Metropolitan Touring is now also set to expand the spa offering at Mashpi Lodge in the coming year.
