Classic Colombia country tour

Planet

Carbon reduction -

One significant aspect of this trip that has been designed to be as eco-friendly as possible is transport. This trip primarily features journeys by shared vehicle, with much of the day-to-day explorations and tours of sites being done on foot. Though this trip does contain one internal flight, reaching the distant locations visited on this trip would be impossible without it. We strongly believe the benefits of our responsible tourism in these locations outweigh the negative environmental impact of the flights. Similarly, this trip features primarily small hotels and haciendas. The environmental benefits of small accommodations over large hotels are numerous, and this is a factor we consider on all of our tours across all destinations.

Environment and wildlife -

This trip supports the Cocora Valley National Park and a UNESCO listed section of the Central Andes Mountain Range. The status of these locations ensures the protection of the expansive and important natural landscapes found there, and monetary support for these locations works towards ensuring their continued protection and maintenance.

Finally, to you, our travellers, we ask you to be vigilant about disposing of your waste and recycle where possible. During your trip you will be asked if you have any waste to dispose of when it is a suitable time in the itinerary. This ensures we make it as easy as possible for our travellers to be eco-friendly whilst traveling. We strongly advise all travellers to bring a reusable water bottle - this is an easy way to save plastic waste and is detailed in our ‘What to Bring’ trip notes for all trips to all destinations. Your guide will remind you where and when you can fill up your re-usable water bottle. We also encourage general sustainability whenever possible – limited use of air-conditioning and electricity for instance. This is something we care about strongly as an organisation, and something we try to pass on to our travellers.

People

Local economy, people and diversity -

As regular travellers, one thing that never ceases to amaze and inspire us is the kindness and generosity of local people, often people who have very little to their name. We firmly believe that they are who make these places special and that they should benefit from our visit. Therefore, as first preference, we use local guides and drivers offered fair working conditions and pay, use locally-sourced supplies, and visit locally-owned lodges, shops and eateries. We do our best to ensure that the benefits of our tours reach as widely as possible into the communities where they operate. We believe these things are of particular importance when travelling in small communities, and we are proud to benefit these communities in any way possible, whether it be through economic growth or any other means.

This trip features many sources of support, for individuals, businesses, communities and Colombia’s culture as a whole. During this trip, our travellers visit museums, historical sites, churches, handicraft shops, the famous Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and many other cultural and historic sites. Visiting these sites directly supports the preservation and exhibition of Colombia’s rich history and proud culture, as well as all those who are involved with it.
Other unique and beneficial aspects of this tour include a visit to the San Alberto Coffee plantation and visits to the villages of Filandia and Guatapé. In the case of the plantation, it is a business at the heart of its local economy and community, and one which employs many local people. As for the villages, in small locations such as these, tourism can be a powerful tool, and even a small amount of income can be hugely significant.