Colombia holiday, San Agustin and the Amazon

Environment

We realise that travel and tourism can benefit as well as harm the environment, the economy and the social and cultural structures of communities. The concept of sustainable tourism - the travel trade’s principles of using tourism to benefit local communities, conserve natural resources, and bolster the survival of cultural heritage – lies close to our heart. Our love and passion for Latin America encourages us to do everything in our power to protect the destinations we take you to. As members of AITO, we are committed to AITO’s Sustainable Tourism Guidelines, which means that we ensure that environmental and cultural demands are kept as low as possible.
Furthermore, we’ve developed strong relationships with local suppliers who all share our vision and agree to uphold a commitment to the safekeeping of the environment and local communities. We will always encourage you to keep a few basic things in mind, including refilling your water bottle, disposing of rubbish in a responsible way and not touching the archaeological remains when it’s prohibited.
When selecting accommodation, our preference goes out to hotels and lodges which have a verifiable commitment to eco-friendly practices. In the Amazon for example you stay at Calanoa Lodge. The lodge is an initative by Marlene and Diego Samper that aims to contribute to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon region by providing a setting that integrates art, design architecture, scientific research, communication, community education, and sustainable and respectful tourism. The building itself has been a laboratory for natural and sustainable architecture, research into traditional techniques, local materials, wood and natural fibres, raw earth and ceramic. They also use alternative energy resources and water resources, and implement a responsible forest management approach.
Moreover, we strive to use accommodation that reflect the environment they are set in and respect their local surroundings and history. In San Agustín you stay at Monasterio San Agustin Boutique Hotel, which is built in a traditional, Spanish colonial style, including heavy tiled roofs, russet coloured walls, wooden balconies and rafters. In harmony with this, the rooms and suites are furnished in a traditional style with shuttered windows and polished wooden floors. Moreover, in Popayán you stay at Hotel La Plazuela, an attractive building in the colonial centre with white stucco walls and inner courtyards. It has maintained a rigorous attachment to its original shape and colonial style.
During this trip you visit the archaeological park of San Agustín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic statues in South America. The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) implements a management plan for the World Heritage Site that includes short, medium and long term programs designed to increase their protection through research, conservation public outreach, environmental management and administrative infrastructure improvements.

Community

We pride ourselves on delivering our clients truly authentic and unforgettable experiences in Latin America which connect travellers with the people whose country they visit. On this holiday you spend a few days in the Colombian Amazon, where you have the wonderful opportunity to visit indigenous villages on request. There are 22 autonomous communities on the river banks near Leticia, who manage their affairs according to long held traditions: for example, they don’t believe in private property and land is held communally. Some enterprising Mocaguan residents have opened family restaurants in their homes, where you may enjoy lunch. Local guides will inform you about individual families who will welcome you into their homes, so you have the privilege of a real community experience. In addition, the local guides are on hand to provide advice on the best way to communicate with the local community, what and what not to buy, as well as explaining the importance of giving gifts responsibly, and acting in a respectful way while taking photographs.