Santiago to Rio gastronomy and culture holiday

Environment

Buildings- On this tour we predominantly stay in locally-owned and managed hostels, hotels and guesthouses that are chosen for their local character and ambience. This means that buildings that are tied to the cultural and history of each destination remain in use and do not suffer at the hands of large international hotel chains that may take business away from locally-owned small businesses.

Suppliers – We have built longstanding and successful relationships with suppliers and operators in South America, having been operating tours there for over 31 years. We are highly selective of local partners, and only approach those that share our commitment to promoting responsible travel practices. When sourcing new suppliers, we make sure that they are happy to have our products in their area, and we do not impose developments if they are unwanted.

Community

Local crafts and culture – On this tour we encourage our travellers to visit local craft markets in each destination on the itinerary, in order to help sustain jobs and cultural diversity by supporting local craft makers and artisans. For example, in Rio de Janeiro there is a market near Copacabana beach where locals sell their own paintings, thereby benefiting directly from the presence of travellers in the area. By visiting local wineries in Mendoza, we help contribute to the economic support of this important local tradition. We also help our travellers to visit the cultural attractions of the cities that we visit on this tour. For example, we can help our travellers to see the following cultural highlights on optional excursions: a traditional tango show in Buenos Aires, a Rafain dinner and dance show in Foz do Iguaçu and Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The economic support of these local cultural highlights directly benefits the sights and their conservation, sustaining the cultural diversity of the region.

Travelling with respect –On our website we provide our travellers with many tips to ensure that their presence on this tour will benefit the local communities and cultures, rather than upset them and their customs. To ensure that our travellers get the warmest welcome from locals, we recommend that our travellers research the culture, religion, traditions and local values of Chile, Argentina and Brazil in order to appreciate how the locals live there, and we recommend that they dress moderately when visiting places of spiritual significance, like the Catholic churches in Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. We also encourage our travellers to think of constructive ways to help the local communities that we visit, such as by supporting a local charitable organisation. Finally, we advise clients to include a percentage amount for tips when they are working out their budget for this tour, as tips are the main means of survival for many workers in the countries visited.