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Community
As a part of our continued commitment to responsible tourism, we operate this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local communities. Costa Rica with its abundant natural diversity has a world-renowned tradition of conservation. On this trip we visit national and private parks, including the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in the country. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is dedicated to conservation and the upgrading of the local education. It is administered by the local Santa Elena High School which benefits from the tourist income generated. We will also visit a typical rural school in southern Costa Rica, meet the children and deliver a gift of educational supplies. (This donation is included in the price of the trip). We visit several National Parks, where the entrance fees are directly put back into conservation and management of the parks.
We have had a long-term relationship with our operator so helping to stabilise income generation and creating a more sustainable future. We have worked with our operator to help train staff and this has included Responsible Tourism training. Our local operator is a leading member of the Rainforest Alliance and has been awarded a "4 Leaf" award from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute for their sustainable tourism practice, and is constantly seeking ways to improve their standards. We stay at family-owned lodges on some nights. This contributes directly to the local communities as local staff are employed and locally produced and sourced goods are bought so helping to benefit the wider community. Maximum group size is restricted to 16 in order to reduce the social and environmental impacts of visiting the smaller communities.
Environment
We have at our offices worked to reduce our carbon footprint through a reduction of energy use and energy conservation measures. We also actively reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism.
Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference by reducing the carbon dioxide that is produced when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit!
This tour operator was the first to get access to China over 30 years ago and the first to take a truck to Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side. They have since expanded into 91 countries. Their product is driven by their clients because they listen to feedback and have to constantly evolve to provide a greater experience and better value. The exclusive centres they use have been grown organically and are often owned by ex-leaders. The holidays remain innovative, though you will now be travelling in a Mercedes 16-seater sprinter coach rather than a rusty old Bedford overland truck.
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We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
