Patagonia trekking holiday, Fitzroy and Paine

Planet

Activity:
Few holidays have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a trekking trip. When hiking, we stick to narrow marked trails to reduce our impact on the local environment and we camp in the designated ground regulated by the National Park authorities. At campgrounds (and throughout the trip) we employ a ‘leave no trace’ policy in regard to litter - everything taken into the park is taken out to preserve the local environment and we recycle wherever possible on the trip. Entrance fees are included for Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Parks which go towards supporting conservation efforts in the area.

Water:
Water is a really important when we are trekking and whilst we must stay hydrated, it is also vital that we have a system for providing clean water without causing lots of waste with plastic bottles. We suggest that instead of repeatedly buying bottled water, guests should re-fill a singular bottle. In Patagonia, the water in the springs along our trail is clean, fresh and safe to drink so this is what we tend to use.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
We will spend 6 nights in hotels , 3 nights in Refugios (dormitories), 1 nights camping and 2 nights will be in an estancia (shared rooms). We visit some remote regions within Fitzroy and Torres del Paine and surrounding areas, where businesses are very much reliant on the income which tourism generates. We only use locally owned and run accommodation as a means of supporting local communities and employment levels. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet-style with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible and your guide will be able to recommend authentic restaurants and cafes in the area where meals are not provided. Patagonia is known for its traditional ‘asados’ (BBQs) and outstanding wine so why not give them a try.

A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise that they are paid and treated fairly. We also employ local drivers and use local services wherever possible as this is better for the community. All of our leaders are heavily invested in protecting nature and will give clients a briefing on responsible tourism issues. This helps to maximise our benefits to the community and to reduce our environmental impact.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.