Patagonia 11 day tour, best of Patagonia

Planet

We use only certified local nature guides that are trained in ecology, conservation and animal protection. The guides and clients have to adhere to a zero footprint policy when entering national parks and protected areas.

We support and have contributed to the Glacier Protection campaign against global warming which threatens the very existence of the earth's last advancing glacier. Our guides are trained on Glacier Protection and ensure all clients comply with its requisites when visiting the Glaciers. Clients will be informed on the glaciology of the region and the effects of global warming on the glaciers.

In 1978, Torres del Paine National park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. UNESCO maintains Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development. National Park entrance fees are paid directly to the national parks by the clients to ensure that they directly support the parks´ maintenance and preservation.

During this tour we visit a number of national parks. We ask our clients to keep all waste with them until back in the nearest town, to walk only on designated paths, and not to pick flowers or disturb the natural resources. We also encourage clients to drink the high quality tap water rather than buy bottled water, to avoid excess waste of plastic.

All transport required use low carbon fuel and in the office we further look at our footprint and have a minimum use paper policy whereby all travel itineraries, reservations and confirmations are sent to customers and maintained by us in PDF format. Any paper used is used double sided and any waste paper and cardboard in recycled. All ink and toner cartridges are refilled and reused. All our furniture has previously been owned and was purchased at auctions.

We check the environmental credentials of all our suppliers and service providers before doing business with them. All our staff in Buenos Aires walk, cycle or take the bus or tube to work instead of driving.

People

We employ and contract the services of local people throughout Argentina and we have a “study-time” holiday for employees who are undertaking any further education courses.

We have a “national first” policy whereby we give preference to local products. We use accommodation of small local suppliers and not multinational chains and we also encourage our clients to consume local handicrafts at local markets for example. We only use accommodation providers that comply with the law and have an active policy & procedure to eliminate child abuse, prostitution and people trafficking.

A percentage of all profits is donated to a charity that provides a “reinsertion program” for vulnerable adolescents that have dropped out of the formal education system.

All our tours contribute to the local community by providing our clients access to their customs, products, music and language in each destination. We encourage our clients to visit small local restaurantes that comply with organic & healthy living best practice. We encorage our clients to buy local crafts by taking them to local markets at each destination where possible.