Social Responsibility
Pikaia lodge will generate around 70 permanent jobs for local settlers on the island of Santa Cruz and comply with all legal, economical and social benefits stipulated by local labor laws. The Galapagos special protection law restricts the hiring of Ecuadorians from the continental mainland, as well as foreign nationals, and grants a limited number of temporary residence permits to non-settlers.
Before the advent of the special protection Galapagos law in 1998, the tourism, agriculture and fishing sectors legally brought many continental workers to the Islands, triggering a local population growth explosion. If this trend were allowed to continue, it could have led to overpopulation and unsustainable pressures on the Islands’ natural resources.
The Pikaia Lodge administration will apply for no more than 15 temporary residence permits for key highly-skilled employees with international experience, such as Lodge managers, the executive chef, key multilingual service personnel, and specialized technicians for our complex support systems. These positions must be announced on local radios, billboards or press to give locals ample opportunity to apply; we only receive the permit to bring in external people when no local person can fill the position. Unfortunately, few local residents currently speak English or have the required skills for our high quality guest service. Our ”imported” employees will have a legal and moral obligation to mentor and train locals in preparation for filling their job positions in the future. The good news is that the majority of our available positions will be filled by locals from the adjacent agricultural village of El Cascajo. Six months before the Lodge opens, employees will undergo intensive training for their specific field of service by our hospitality specialists. The people from this community are known for being an honest, hard-working agricultural labor force, with a friendly attitude to visitors.
We believe in being good neighbors. Besides creating jobs for people from the community, we are developing a long-term social responsibility program, including:
• For the last five years, Pikaia Lodge has employed an English teacher for the local El Cascajo school, and this program is ongoing.
• The Lodge donated materials for students’ parents to paint the local school. We have undertaken to continue our support to maintain the school buildings and fixtures.
• The Lodge donated materials to replace the church roof, work which was carried out by local community members.
• The Lodge donated paving materials and fuel for repairing the main road of the village, with the machinery provided by the municipality.
• We undertake to organize and promote regular sporting and ecological events in the village.
• When possible, local students will be invited to Pakaia Lodge conference room for ecology or science presentations by our scientific resident or guides.
• The Lodge will source agricultural products such as Galapagos organic coffee, vegetables and seasonal fruits, exclusively from the El Cascajo community.
• The Lodge will promote and include in its guest programs activities owned and run by village residents, such as visits to lava tunnels, craters and wildlife refuges. Local people can also offer home and village visits, providing our guests with hospitality and samples of local produce.
Pikaia Lodge Explorations
Enquire now a “once in a lifetime” travel experience!
It will change for ever the way you see Life and Nature while doing exciting physical activities, enjoying superb comfort levels, with new gastronomical experiences and blended with an interesting dash of Science for the intellect. All this, within awesome natural settings and beaches for the ultimate relaxation of body, mind and spirit.
¡A wildlife Photographers Dream!
Do not miss our introductory rates for 2013.
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Reservations, Payments and Cancellation Policy for Groups (10 or more guests)
Reservations, Payments and Cancellation Policy for individual Guests
All reservations require a minimum deposit or US$ 350 per guest according to the following table:
• Reservations made within 120 days or more prior to arrival date: Deposit within a maximum of 10 days after date of request. Total payment maximum 60 days prior to the arrival date.
• Reservations made between 119 and 90 days prior to arrival date: Deposit within a maximum of 10 days after date of request. Total payment maximum 60 days prior to the arrival date.
• Reservations made between 89 and 0 days prior to arrival date: Total payment should be made immediately.
Special reservations conditions for Exploration Packages during Christmas and New Year.
• A deposit of 10% must be paid immediately to confirm the reservation.
• 30% of package rate, 240 days prior to arrival date.
• 50% of package rate, 180 days prior to arrival date.
• Balance of the total payment should be made 120 days prior to arrival date.
NOTE: All reservations have a “Tentative” status until the reception of the required deposit. With the deposit, the reservation(s) will be changed to a “Pre-confirmed” status. With total payment, it will be changed to a “Confirmed” status.
Cancellations and penalties:
• Cancellations made 90 days or more prior to arrival date have no penalties. Cancellations made between 89 and 60 days prior to arrival date have a USD $350 per guest service charge.
• Cancellations made between 59 and 26 days prior to arrival date, 50% of the total package rate will be forfeited.
• Cancellations made between 25 and 0 days prior to arrival date, 100% of the package rate will be forfeited.
• Pikaia Lodge does not accept changes in the reservation dates. In case the guest(s) changes the reservation, we will consider it as a new reservation and is subject to all the applicable penalties.
• We strongly advice our guests to take a vacations cancelation insurance with their local insurance Company.
• If a travel agent does not send the total payment to our office or our bank account on the dates and conditions specified by our reservations and cancelation Policy, Pikaia Lodge is entitled to cancel the reservation, and will not be held responsible for the cancellation towards the guest.
Galapagos Islands Information
