Mainland Ecuador highlights holiday, tailor made

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator to Ecuador, we take a considered approach to the social, environmental and economic impacts of the holidays we design. To us, this means much more than a simple donation to a charity for each client. We try to build long and constructive involvements with local guides, wildlife lodges and hotels, in the course of which we, and our clients, can make lasting wide-ranging contributions to the wonderful places and people we engage with. In this itinerary we have selected several hotels and lodges whose documented practices align with this approach.

Termas de Papallacta uses locally sourced materials in the construction of its buildings, which are designed in keeping with the surrounding Andean cloud-forest setting. Guest rooms are heated using geothermal thermal steam, while the property's thermal pools are supplied by naturally occurring mineral-rich thermal waters. The on-site restaurant uses ingredients sourced from local producers and serves trout from the property's own aquaculture operation.

Napo Wildlife Centre is located within Yasuní National Park and is managed in partnership with the Añangu Kichwa community. The lodge operates within an area of more than 21,400 hectares of rainforest associated with the community's territory. The Añangu community has changed traditional hunting and fishing practices as part of its approach to managing the surrounding natural environment. Tourism at the lodge forms part of the community's wider economic activities and supports programmes within the community.

People

We use local guides in all of our destinations. It is our experience that, with the right approach, local guides' detailed knowledge of their destinations makes them particularly well placed to guide our tours, while their local connections enable them to share their knowledge of the communities and places we visit. We also see employing local guides as a way of creating opportunities for people to build careers in their own communities rather than having to move elsewhere to find work.

The itinerary includes visits to several local markets, providing opportunities to purchase handicrafts, traditional arts, wood carvings and hand-knitted garments. Buying locally made products provides an opportunity for visitors to purchase directly from local producers and artisans and supports businesses and individuals involved in traditional craft production.

In Ecuador, we work with locally based ground handlers for transportation, guiding and other destination-based services. We also incorporate locally owned hotels, restaurants and other local businesses into our itineraries where appropriate. Using locally based suppliers means that expenditure associated with these services is paid to businesses and individuals operating in the destination, supporting local employment and tourism-related economic activity.

Napo Wildlife Centre is managed by the Indigenous Kichwa Añangu community, which is involved in the operation of the lodge and its tourism activities. The community's knowledge of the Amazon, cultural traditions and relationship with the surrounding area form an important part of the experiences offered to guests. Tourism at the lodge forms part of the Añangu community's wider economic activities, with revenue used to support community programmes including areas such as healthcare and education.