Guatemala and Honduras holidays, tailor made

We operate a carbon neutral office and offers guests the option of making their tour carbon neutral for an additional cost of $1 per person per day which includes covering internal flights. We have started a recycling program and encourages all suppliers and visitors to take part in the recycling program. We recycle paper, plastic, glass & aluminium. We are a partner with Rainforest Alliance and are the #1 Sustainable Tourism provider in Guatemala (2007) with the highest level of certification. For every visitor on this itinerary a donation is made to the foundation which then donates money to various grass roots organizations working in poverty alleviation, conservation & cultural protection. The foundation is our company foundation and we donate a set amount of money per person per day of their tour into the fund and also collect funds from other company clients and suppliers. We then distribute the money to a selection of grass roots charities that we have selected in the areas of education, poverty relief, micro credit and conservation.

All of the tours in this itinerary involve local people from the surrounding communities in each area visited. We use local guides in different areas of the country so that people from all areas can benefit from tourism not just guides from the capital or main towns. Where possible we include visits to local community tourism programs and craft cooperatives so that guests can impact in a positive way on the lives of the local communities. Entrance fees to Mayan sites and National Parks contribute towards their conservation & development. Everywhere you travel on this trip a large amount of the costs involved in the trip will remain in that area with the local people. All profits from this trip stay within Guatemala, Belize or Honduras. The local operator offering this trip is a top sustainable tourism certified operator with commitment to sustainable / responsible travel who works with all their suppliers to encourage & train them in responsible tourism best practice at all times on a tour. Travelers on this trip will be advised by literature in the welcome pack and also by their guides on how to reduce their impact on the environment and encouraged to use local services and buy local products from small local providers and cooperatives. We will collect all water bottles and other materials from tours to go into the recycling program. We welcome feedback from travelers on how we can continually improve our sustainable policies and actions.

This tour uses hotels with a proven track record of sustainability and responsible and ethical operations. For example:

Nitun
All staff are local and are given training by the lodge owners and are encouraged to participate in sustainable tourism practices. Lodge is Guatemalan owned and all gross profits remain in the country. Owners policy is to buy local produce from small local producers and provide local dishes to guests. Water use is monitored and there is a plan to minimize pollution and waste including – re-use of grey water, tap aerators, towel & sheet reuse, rainwater collection and an on site water treatment system via septic tanks. Energy use is monitored & there is a plan to minimize use. Owners employ solar heat to dry laundry, only use natural lighting during the day, have more than 50% energy star electric equipment and use fans instead of air conditioning. The lodge recycles paper, batteries, soap, shampoo, glass, plastic, aluminium and compost their organic waste. Bulk dispensers are used for soap and shampoo & these are biodegradable. Lodge has all local endemic species in its grounds and supports environmental conservation initiatives in the local community. They are members of local conservation groups and are hugely active in this area. The lodge owns and manages a substantial area of protected rainforest in the area which they have registered as a private reserve. Supported local community both in time and financial assistance to protect and keep their land.

Panza Verde
The hotel hires over 90% staff locally offering skills training and also training on recycling and offer work placements to students. They are a member of Fundesa, an organization focusing on the training & development of the local workforce. Over 50% of its gross revenues remain in the country. They have a specific policy of buying local products both for the restaurant and other areas of the hotel focusing on small local providers. All soaps are hand made, natural & biodegradable. The hotel focuses on water and energy usage minimization and they have begun a recycling campaign for soap, shampoo, glass, plastic and aluminum with other materials to follow shortly. The hotel helps to promote local contemporary artists through exhibitions in their Art Gallery and help support any projects regarding the arts which different organizations such as the Alianza Francesa, El Sitio Cultural coordinate. Staff at the hotel promote visits to local community tours and small locally operated businesses and shops. The hotel supports local infrastructure programs and regularly meets with the local community to ensure nothing they are doing is adversely affecting the local community. They donate to local charities – In 2008, so far they have helped support the International Hospital for Children, the Life School in Panajachel and are jointly organising an Art Auction with Las Manos de Christine in October which will both promote local artists while raising funding for their English for Everyone project in Guatemala City.

Bambu Lodge
Working with Rainforest Alliance & Alianza Verde on Sustainable Best Practices. Don’t use chemicals in their gardens & protect national species within the garden. Have a policy of saving water including reducing loses and monitoring how they water the gardens and deal with the swimming pool water. All staff are from the local indigenous T’zutujil Maya community. All vegetables and basic supplies are bought from the local community.

Camino Real (Westin)
Over 90% of staff are Guatemalan and 75% live within 20km of the hotel. The hotel regularly trains staff and involves them in their sustainability policies. The hotel is locally owned and over 50% of gross profits stay in the country. The hotel provides examples of local cuisine on their menu and sources produce from local producers. They monitor water / energy use and have a policy to reduce water / energy consumption including low flow toilets and towel / sheet re-use, low energy light bulbs, produce 50-75% energy through alternative / renewable means. They are members of conservation groups and support initiatives in the local community to improve infrastructure.

Hacienda San Lucas
The lodge itself is in a lovely restored 100 year old authentic Spanish hacienda that preserves the cultural aspects of that time including a traditional open fire kitchen. It was restored to its original design using only local materials, techniques and labor. The lodge is situated on 300 acres of pristine tropical forest / protected land which includes a small archaeology site, "los Sapos". Most of the staff is from small neighboring villages. They have been trained in the service industry providing them with steady work which in turn allows them to have better living conditions and get an education. Initially, the lodge was powered by solar electricity alone but now has a minimum input of regular electric power giving great consideration to the ecological balance of the area. The Cueva family, owners, are committed to sustainable tourism creating local awareness and promoting the concept for an important sustainable tourism destination. Meals are cooked with seasonal local ingredients using ancient traditional local technique. They have also planted 4,600 native trees to help prevent erosion, provide natural habitat for wildlife and to help with carbon offsetting. They also work with local farmers to educate them about the value of forests and to get them to help with reforestation programs. Their mission is: To provide their guests with a unique and unforgettable experience based on a spiritual commitment to share our family's patrimony of an authentic rural hacienda that is helping the development of neighboring communities. This responsibility includes the care and preservation of the nature and archaeology as well as personal attention to each visitor.

Palmetto Bay
Since the resort’s founding, Palmetto’s owners have looked to set their business as a prime example on how to offer simple island elegance and deluxe accommodations without overlooking its responsibility to the human and natural environment. Lodge built with responsible use of local hardwoods. The lodge was designed and built dedicating large areas of the property to Tropical Forest Preserves, Bird Sanctuaries and Beach Reserves. Extensive planting of tropical vegetation was established. The villas and other buildings respect a 180-foot setback from the water’s edge to minimize the visual impact of man-made structures when viewed from the beach and sea. Villas are designed for excellent ventilation so that AC is not needed. Low wattage fluorescent lights are used wherever possible; butane is used for stoves, hot water heaters and clothes dryers. As a result, electrical usage at Palmetto Bay Plantation is minimal. When lethal yellowing started killing coconut trees throughout the Caribbean, Palmetto Bay Plantation undertook an extensive program of inoculations and replanting. As a result, the area has one of the largest groves of coconuts trees remaining on Roatan. After Hurricane Mitch, the developers of Palmetto Bay Plantation raised over $12,000 in financial donations from its homeowners and others to assist the nearby community of Craw Fish Rock, which suffered extensive damage. Food was distributed, four homes were rebuilt and several others restored. With the exception of managing partner, Gary Chamer, all of Palmetto Bay Plantation’s permanent employees are Honduran. Many came without skills or prior work experience for the jobs they now hold. They now enjoy positions as bookkeeper, carpenters, housekeepers, cooks and receptionist. The developers of Palmetto Bay Plantation recognize responsibility to the ever-growing work force on Roatan, and train for the future as well as employ.

For couples wanting to get more involved via donations or volunteer work we have the following ideas in this area:

learning about Global Healing's efforts to improve the pediatrics clinic in the hospital (visiting the clinic)

learning about the clinic "La Esperanza" and visiting the project on the Sandy Bay Road

learning about the efforts Canaturh is doing with their Education Committee and potentially committing to visiting a school to giving speeches.

"guided walk" through Palmetto grounds and the coconut mangrove with a tour guide who understands about the local ecosystem;

a class about the coral reef system and the efforts that are being done to expand the protected areas of the reef

Pico Bonitio
The lodge donates a potion of the accommodation costs to “La Fundaciondel Parque Nacional Pico Bonito” a not for profit organization that works to preserve the Pico Bonito park. They work with Adelante Foundation who offer micro-credit loans to local women and offer tours for guests to go and visit a local community and learn about this worthy program.