Raison d’Etre eco-friendly spa opens in Galapagos
by Megan Whitby | 01 Oct 2019
Spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has collaborated with hotel and tour operator Metropolitan Touring to create an eco-friendly spa at the Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos.
Built from locally-sourced volcanic rock, the spa has a minimalist, contemporary design throughout with large glass windows to let plenty of natural light in. The building has been created to emphasise the unique flora, fauna and landscape of the Galapagos. A yoga room on the top floor provides views of the ocean, while Outdoor hot-tubs allow guests to take in the surrounding nature.
Among the spa's eco-friendly features are a water treatment plant and mostly natural local building materials used throughout to minimise carbon footprint.
The hotel, on Isla Santa Cruz, is the Galapagos’ only member of the National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World portfolio. Properties 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. The hotel follows a strict recycling system and conducts its own beach clean every day.
Ian Bell, Raison d’Etre’s senior project manager, tells CLAD that sustainability is not just a selling-point, but key to working in the Galapagos.
“It plays a huge role and can be experienced throughout the resort, when it comes to water and wastage recycling and disposal. Each item ordered for the spa was assessed by its carbon footprint and also for ease of disposal after use.”
The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel is the only beachfront hotel in the Galapagos, with 27 rooms and suites, a spacious living space and restaurant that opens out to a poolside terrace and bar with views of the beach.
The spa opened in July.
Galapagos Raison d’Etre Metropolitan Touring Finch Bay Hotel National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World Ian Bell Bruno Vassari Aroma Vida
The spa has one single and one double treatment room and uses Bruno Vassari and Aroma Vida products for treatments
The spa has one single and one double treatment room
The Finch Bay Hotel, on Isla Santa Cruz, is the Galapagos’ only member of the National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World portfolio
Finch Bay Hotel operates multiple sustainability procedures to save energy and decrease emissions
Metropolitan Touring is now also set to expand the spa offering at their other hotel, Mashpi Lodge, in the coming year
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Spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has collaborated with hotel and tour operator Metropolitan Touring to create an eco-friendly spa at the Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos. Built from locally-sourced volcanic rock, the spa has a minimalist, contemporary design throughout with large glass windows to let plenty of natural light in. The building has been created to emphasise the unique flora, fauna and landscape of the Galapagos. A yoga room on
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