Chile tour, Atacama to Paine and Easter Island

Planet

The epic landscapes of Chile are an incredible testament to the power of nature, and we expect all of our guides, drivers, tour leaders and staff to brief our customers on how to respect these fragile environments. The trip includes visits to two of Chile's most significant National Parks - Torres del Paine and Rapa Nui, as well as exploring the lunar landscapes around the Salar de Uyuni and giving travellers the opportunity to visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of Valparaiso.

The excursions on this trip are all taken on foot - for example hiking around the Osorno Volcano, at the Valle de la Lunar or in Torres del Paine. This offers a low-carbon way to get around, as well as getting us closer to the wild landscapes that are such a draw to the area. Our Chile excursions concentrate on the outdoors, and in each location the tour leaders and guides are trained to understand best practice in wildlife and nature protection. They will brief customers to keep all waste with them until back in the town, to walk only on designated paths and not to disturb the natural environments. Patagonia also has a good reputation for its drinking water, so we also encourage customers to fill up their reusable water bottles from the tap in Torres del Paine.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

We use a Chilean tour leader throughout this trip, and in addition to this they are supported by local guides in each location. They are trained and licensed to guide in the area, and are incredibly knowledgeable about the environment and the local communities that they work in. We make sure that our Tour Leaders and guides are working with a fair wage, in good working conditions, and that they are fit and well to work outdoors in what can be harsh conditions.

On our journey through pretty much the length of Chile, we’ll encounter a huge diversity of people and landscapes along our way. Our expert tour leaders will be able to introduce the history, culture and wildlife of the area and enable us to get closer to the local culture. Our staff direct customers to eat in local eateries as much as possible, encouraging our groups to discover the fantastic food and wine that Chile famous for.
We support local employment and communities in our choice of accommodation, tours, restaurants, etc, and we aim to promote interaction between real people throughout the trip, while always respecting the culture and customs of each community.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.