2019 solar eclipse tour in Chile

Planet

This trip is run entirely by our destination management company in Chile, and they share our environmental values. All our tour leaders are extremely passionate about responsible travel too, meaning our messaging is always consistent when it comes to explaining how to tackle environmental issues that might crop up.

Minimising waste is very important. Sadly, it’s nigh on impossible to reduce our waste production to zero, but we encourage our passengers to think carefully about the products they use. We always suggest bringing a reusable water bottle as this really helps cut down on plastic waste. The site we are using to view the eclipse will be for our own private use, we will ensure that we leave no waste and that the area we observe the eclipse from is left in the same state as it was before we arrived.

As a company we aim to contribute to the environmental preservation of the destinations we visit and to reduce any negative impacts our operations may have. This translates to actions such as using local transport where safe to do so in order to reduce emissions, observing all national and marine park visitor rules and operating a ‘take in, take back out’ waste management system, to name but a few examples. Through our inhouse foundation we also invest money into environmental initiatives that benefit the planet, including restoring kelp forests to help reverse the effects of global warming and protecting endangered species such as sea turtles and elephants.

People

This tour actively encourages guests to engage with local people, by visiting local cafes and bars, purchasing local produce, gifts and crafts and discovering what life is really like in this part of Chile. For example, on day one, we visit a local bar and restaurant in Santiago to enjoy typical Chilean food and drink in the company of locals. This will give you the chance to fully experience the social culture of this vibrant capital city. We do pay a lot of attention to travelling in such a way that it doesn’t cause disruption to local life too. We also encourage travellers to avoid giving gifts or succumbing to begging, as this can result in dependency.

We employ local leaders as much as is operationally possible. Guides are always local (e.g. the included guide in Bender Fortress is a local who studies tourism at Tiraspol) and they set their own rates. Leaders are always South American, and wages are standard salaries as found elsewhere in the tourism industry. This trip also uses private transport, the operators of which are always sourced locally.