They were eight in the family. In the late fifties and early sixties, the islands were very isolated, the family poor, and their situation complicated, so their grandfather Angel raised them.
When the eldest children, Leonardo and Hugo, were 14 and 13 years old, grandfather Angel helped them to build a little fishing boat to give the possibility to support the family. To honor the grandfather, they named it Angelito, the nickname of Angel, which in Spanish means little angel.
During weeks over weeks on the sea, Leonardo and Hugo discovered the whole archipelago. They learned a lot about the most beautiful places, their natural wonders, and the history of the Galapagos. After this awakening and turning adults, Hugo started working as a captain on one of the first tourism boats in the Galapagos, the Santa Cruz. Meanwhile, Leonardo continued fishing aboard the little Angelito.
After Hugo worked a few years as a captain on the tourism yacht, the brothers decided to switch to tourism. As pioneers, they converted the fishing vessel Angelito to one of the first small Galapagos ships for tourism. Their first big step to focus on conserving the Galapagos!
In the eighties, in Angelito’s early days, when it still was a little vessel for only eight passengers, the boat was small, without luxury, but very lovably. Many of the cruises were for two weeks, with adventurous and nature-loving passengers, and we even went around the for others mostly unknown west side of Isabela!
However, it was the way that Leonardo and Hugo showed the Enchanted Islands, with so much passion and enthusiasm, that captivated the guests and gave them lifetime experiences!
This magical way to experience the nature and the wildlife of the Galapagos onboard this small yacht many years ago is how we still do it!
Technical specifications:
Navigation and Safety equipment:
2 GPS, Magnetic Compass, radar with range of 36 miles, echo-sounders
Camera security control of all strategic points of the boat (p.ex. engine room)
Facilities on board:
Responsible Marketing and Fair Trade:
Throughout all of our operations, we believe and practice fair trade as far as possible, from start to end, as well as we always keep a high standard of honesty and ethics. We are not just a business offering a product, we truly believe, we truly show and we truly sell what the Angelito is, and what the Angelito can offer, being honest in where our limitations are.
Throughout all of our operations, we believe and practice fair trade as far as possible, from start to end, as well as we always keep a high standard of honesty and ethics. We are not just a business offering a product, we truly believe, we truly show and we truly sell what the Angelito is, and what the Angelito can offer, being honest in where our limitations are.
Local Development:
As a local business based on Santa Cruz Island, founded and operated by two Galapagos born and raised brothers, we try to make sure that most of the benefits remain locally and so create positive local impacts. By supporting our providers, new entrepreneurship, and local alternatives, we encourage the empowerment of regional identity, well-being, and future.
The Environment and Protection of the Galapagos’ nature and employees:
Not only because the National Park entity continually inspects us, but our commitment is to achieve the environmental management standards they demand because we believe it’s the right thing we all should do! We also are regularly inspected by the Galapagos Navy authorities, as well as labor inspections, security inspections, insurance inspections, social security inspections, and many more!
Our employees have regularized contracts and so, also social security.
We are proud always to surpass the expectations because it’s our essence to take and fulfill all these things very seriously.