Morten Ross review 8 Dec 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Amboro and Refugui log Volcanes. Noel Kempf National Park. Altiplano (Sajama and Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve).
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This holiday was in its entirety planned by me, so I guess my advice is to do your research well and plan accordingly.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It's unclear, as in Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve there were blocades and lock-outs, and even the Salar itself was closed after I left. All this is due to the locals strong opinion that their cut is just a drop in the ocean. Which in turn means that my fees in most part does not go to the people in the parks, but the park authorities and local government. I do feel that my trip to Noel Kempf National park did benefit the people of Florida, as 2 locals (the driver Enrique and the guide Ronald) were employed during my trip.
The same goes for the spectacularly well run Refugio los Volcanes - all employees with children are Bolivian, but I'm not certain that they are locals.
In Amboro/Chalalan my visit did benefit the local people as the entire establishment is owned and operated by them.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Awesome!
Read the operator's response here:
The itinery that we developed together with this client was not a classical roundtour but a very specific journey for nature photography and nature experience throughout the best national parks of Bolivia among others. We were very happy of course to hear that the expecations for his travel were met. We always work with and for the clients to be able to give the travel experience and services they are looking for. We have developed already a specialized photography and nature trip through Brasil and we will design the same for Peru & Colombia. We work as much as possible with local people, to support local hostels, refuges and services like we did in this tailor made itinerary so that the benefits go to the local communities in one way or another.
raphaelle kieffer review 9 Mar 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
El Salar De Uyuni.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't go during the rain season but around December, I think the weather is
better and the rain can begin so maybe there is also water in the Salar, but not
too much so that we can really visit it entirely.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
No because apart for some nights spent in people's house in small villages, we
went to big hotels and didn't go to see a lot of small communities..
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was really good.
Read the operator's response here:
It all depends where travelers wish to go on their roundtour if they can directly support local communities. We do offer excursions to local communities and accommodations that are operated fully by local indigenous communities of which the income stays within the community. Below this review we give three examples.
1) The Eco-Lodge San Miguel del Bala - Community Ecotourism was built at the initiative of the Tacana community of San Miguel for lovers of nature, adventure and indigenous culture. The tourism operation will help to conserve and maintain the culture Tacana. Tacana maintain the culture through the appreciation of history, such as crafts, dances, language, architecture, stories and music. San Miguel del Bala is located in the municipality of San Buenaventura, Abel Iturralde Province, Department of La Paz, Bolivia. It is in the catchment area of the Madidi National Park and within the TCO Tacana (The Tacana people`s territory).
2) Visit with a possible overnight stay at JATUN YAMPARA. Located 23 km from the city of Sucre, at 3100 mts. s.n.m. , Tarabuco route, is the Indian Core Jatun Yampara which is a new option for tourism, symbolizes the efforts of a tourism business in the city which claims that the benefits of this activity to reach the rural area and thus can community members to improve their standard of living. The visitor to this place, on a short hike, you can see native houses, their way of life, customs and have a small coexistence with residents from the community.
Background on Yamparas: - In the late sixteenth century, northern Chuquisaca characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups, various documents and testimonies agree Yamparas identify as the main group of people who inhabited this region of Chuquisaca, this group existed prior to Inca presence in the area ..
This culture belonged politically to 3 domains: The Lordship of Quila - Quila, the Yampara Jatun Manor (manor vanished which the exact location is unknown, but according to documentation is believed to have been between the pampas and Yotala Yampara) and the Lordship of Yotala, these domains have disappeared and only in the case of Quila - Quila and Yotala have been the name in the current population. They were devoted mainly to the development of tissues which are characterized by the originality and colorful designs and today have artisan and tourism value, it was a traditional practice in the beginning, only to meet the need of personal clothing, their current high value money can be utilized for the sale or barter for other goods, for which the Yamparas on Sundays to attend Tarabuco for the sale of tissues and / or stock up on supplies for the week.
The Quechua-speaking yamparas mostly owned much of what is now the province Oropeza, Chuquisaca Department, thus made a gift of some of their land to the Spanish crown to the founding of the Villa La Plata, now Sucre, so that the population was divided Yampara, surrounding the city and relegated to the end of two ethnic groups in northern ayllus above (J'alcas) and south ayllus below (Tarabucos) likewise kept the roots their music, their dances and customs. Jatun Yampara supports in different ways the operation of the small school community that welcomes 25 children.
3) The Tayka hotels in the Uyunyi saltflat area which can be visited on private 4x4 jeep tours are operated by local communities. Their mission is to contribute to improving the quality of life of indigenous Southwestern Potosi via a model of community tourism, by the inclusion of the communities in limited liability companies as fundamental dynamic actors and shareholders of hotel companies, produces a multiplier effect of economic and social benefits.
Jane Wright review 28 Oct 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The trip to San Miguel del Bala.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect the unexpected and go with the flow. if going to the Eco Lodge at Bal Tours, take a head torch, a padlock and crocs. Also be prepared to be bitten very badly by mosquitoes.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
More than some holidays, but I feel that many of my guides were paid little and work hard for their employers who take most of the money. There was a lot of litter around, much of which is dropped by tourists.
Read the operator's response here:
We always stimulate travelers to tip local guides when they are satisfied with the given services according to what they feel is appropriate. It is unfortunately the reality of working as a guide in general worldwide, that they have to earn an important part of their living by tips for maintaining their lives & families. Even the salaries of European tourguides, although relatively much higher in relation to their Latin American collegues, are far not enough for making a good living and not according to the management qualities requested. See also our remarks on this issue on our site under Responsible Travel. In office of the local touroperator you can always inform the employer that you are very satisfied with the services given (this protects their work) and by sending photos, dvds or presents to your guide later when you are home again, you can always express your gratitude for the special moments received.
