Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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We are committed to working in conjunction with the local community on this photographic tour. We only use services owned by local Rapa Nui people such as hotels, restaurants and transport, paying a fair price for those services. We use local Rapa Nui tour guides. We keep groups small (maximum 8) to minimise environmental impact. We buy fresh local produce for all of our treks from markets and small shops in each departure town. In preference we choose local over imported goods and use public transport whenever possible and feasible.
On all our tours we aim to minimize waste by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean. In the UK office we use recyclable and recycled materials when possible. We recycle what we can and attempt to keep waste to an absolute minimum. We promote paper saving by using email as much as possible and by keeping unwanted mail to a minimum. We use low-energy light bulbs, fair-trade and biodegradable products where possible. We are involved in on-going training of the staff we work with in the UK and in the Andes to ensure as high as possible standards of environmental care and responsible behaviour.
We have teamed up with Rainforest Concern to enable travellers to take meaningful action to compensate for their carbon footprint. Rainforest Concern has an excellent track record of protecting tropical rainforests and the indigenous peoples who live in them. It is a registered charity which uses funds donated by businesses and individuals to purchase and protect rainforests rich in biodiversity. Thirteen projects are currently ongoing across nine countries, primarily in South America. Work includes conserving habitats, reforesting logged areas and helping communities develop alternative ways of generating income. We encourage all clients to make a donation at the time of booking – suggested amounts being £5 per short haul flight and £20 for longer distances. We donate a percentage of our profits to the Huchuy Yachaq social project in Cusco and we also make a contribution for school equipment to our Porter's Project at Kallarayan.
The founder of this tour operator set up 14 years ago after working as a trek leader and writing guidebooks in South America. She decided to offer alternative trekking routes that no one else was doing, where you’re more likely to cross paths with local people. She maintains close personal relationships with her suppliers and is godmother to several of their children. Her small specialised team have really walked the walks and so know exactly what they’re talking about; they familiarise themselves with the hiking trails every year and believe the Andean way of life is well worth sharing.
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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!
