Our CAS Trip Leaders bring our destinations to life. These experts—naturalists, historians, artists, mountaineers—ensure smooth trips while sharing their knowledge and inspiring young people. We’re excited to introduce more of the team transforming our trips into unforgettable journeys and fulfilling the CAS Trips mission.
Born in Pelileo, Ecuador, Geovanny Sarigu exudes the same vibrant energy as the landscapes of his homeland. With an Italian father and an indigenous mother, Geovanny moved to San Cristobal at the age of twelve, where his passion for sustainable tourism and social work began to take root. With twenty years of experience in these fields, he is a certified Surf Guide by the Galapagos National Park and has received extensive vocational training in project management, sustainable tourism, and outdoor education.
A dedicated member of a Galapagos conservation and community project, Geo is also a passionate guide for our students when visiting the Galapagos. Combining positivity, natural leadership, and a strategic vision, he is deeply committed to preserving the fragile ecosystem of his beloved home. We sat down with him to learn more about his inspiring journey and his role with CAS Trips.
How did your journey lead you to your current role and involvement with CAS Trips?
Together with my business partner, David Essoyan, we started an agricultural and conservation project twenty years ago with a vision to demonstrate sustainable land use to local people and visitors. Our guiding belief, “Nature is not protected with words or promises, but with acts. It’s time to act, not to watch,” embodies our commitment to sustainable practices.
That’s a powerful mission statement. Can you tell us more about the project?
We invite everyone to experience life at a slower pace and explore our multifaceted project. We offer various activities, including farming, endemic species reforestation, invasive species control, endangered Petrel seabird research, Scalesia tree preservation, grass-fed cattle ranching, and climate change monitoring in partnership with the Galapagos Science Center. We welcome volunteers to join our efforts in conserving our island’s unique ecosystem.
Our goal is to preserve this land for future generations by maintaining a balance between agricultural production and conservation. We use agroecology to protect the soil and collect rainwater. Different zones within our 121 acres are dedicated to various purposes, such as organic gardening, cattle ranching, reforestation, and research. Our partnership with the Galapagos Science Center helps us understand the impact of climate change through valuable data collected at our meteorological stations. Additionally, we focus on preserving endangered birds like the Galapagos Petrels.
What an ambitious and fascinating organization! How do you involve both the local community and your visitors in achieving your goals?
It’s crucial to involve local and visiting kids in these projects, as they are the future caretakers of this fragile ecosystem.
We aim to prove that sustainability is achievable using local resources. Initially, it was challenging to obtain permits, but our partnership with scientific organizations has helped to validate our approach. My background as a guide and our ongoing learning process, informed by science, drive our efforts. It’s crucial to involve local and visiting kids in these projects, as they are the future caretakers of this fragile ecosystem. We want visitors to see that sustainable living is possible and to inspire them to contribute positively to their communities.
How does your experience growing up in the Galapagos inform how you share your knowledge with student visitors?
Growing up here, I learned the importance of caring for this place for future generations. I fell in love with this island the moment I saw it, and I want to pass on that wonder and desire to protect it to others. We teach students about sustainability through hands-on activities and outdoor classrooms, helping them appreciate both the wonder of this place and what they have back home. By visiting local entrepreneurs, students see the impact of sustainability on their lives and learn valuable lessons they can apply wherever they go.
The Galapagos is such a unique environment. How do you demonstrate to students that their learning can also be employed in their usual surroundings?
Sustainability is affordable and efficient, even with the resources you have back home. For example, we encourage students to think about their consumption — it’s the little behaviors like keeping a pair of shoes for a year instead of buying a new pair each month that ultimately add up. This teaches them the value of making things last.
When they are here, they also learn skills that can serve them well into the future. If they do gardening at home, they can learn about local plants and how to care for them, just like we do here. It’s all about using what you have wisely and understanding the impact of your choices on the environment.
What do you enjoy most about facilitating the CAS Trips program?
One of the things I enjoy most is seeing students fully immerse themselves in our way of life. They stay at the camp and with local families, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges we face in this fragile ecosystem and how they can contribute. They engage in activities like controlling invasive species, reforestation, and expanding the forest on our farm.
They also learn practical skills like producing their own food, from milking cows to collecting eggs and preparing meals. Cooking and eating together is not only fun but also teaches them to appreciate the hard work that goes into producing food. It’s extraordinary to see them learn and grow, understanding the value of sustainability and the effort behind it.
It sounds like a very rewarding experience! What have been some of the most profound moments you’ve witnessed?
Some of the most profound moments come from seeing the students interact with local kids during our environmental leadership classes. They learn and share experiences, bridging cultural gaps and creating meaningful connections. It’s powerful to see a group from another place interact so closely with the locals, understanding their challenges and contributing to their solutions.
Witnessing students gain new skills and confidence as they face global issues, such as climate change, is incredibly rewarding.
Additionally, witnessing students gain new skills and confidence as they face global issues, such as climate change, is incredibly rewarding. We discuss climate change before engaging in activities, opening up conversations that make them realize how every action has an impact. For instance, while people in New York might simply turn on the heat or air conditioning, here, our main partner is the weather. They learn that when prices rise at places like Starbucks or Costco, it’s often because of climate change impacting production in developing countries like ours, leading to heavy rains, droughts, and reduced productivity.
How do you unpack the urgency and wide-ranging implications of climate change without overwhelming young people who might feel helpless to contribute to solving it?
We offer tangible proof and data. By taking students to our meteorological stations, we show them how weather patterns impact productivity, such as how climate stress affects coffee plants. Kids today are smart and tech-savvy; they understand the need for data. We demonstrate how climate stress on plants is similar to stress on humans, making it relatable. Activities that simulate plant stress help them empathize with nature, making the learning experience impactful and personal.
What do you hope to see for the future of educational travel, and how do you plan to continue shaping your mission and interaction with students?
As someone who grew up on the mainland of Ecuador and fell in love with the ocean when I moved to the islands, I want to share my passion for protecting these unique environments. I hope to see educational travel continue to inspire young people to take care of their own communities. I love that CAS Trips is designed to both create lasting memories and instill a sense of responsibility in visitors.
I want to lead by example.
My goal is to show all young people, including my three children, the importance of caring for our planet. They need to make their own decisions, but I want to lead by example. By supporting local projects and sustainable practices, we can leave a positive legacy. It’s about more than just happy memories—it’s about knowing that our actions have contributed to meaningful projects and a better future.
A huge thank you to Geovanny Sarigu for his incredible work in the Galapagos and for helping bring our CAS Trips mission to life. Explore our full Galapagos itinerary.
