Colombia slow travel holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Using a slow travel approach, we encourage our guests to spend longer discovering their destination and avoiding flights where travel by land is possible.

This itinerary for example, there are multiple opportunities to enjoy the tours without the need to use any kind of motorised vehicles. In Yopal, guests will explore the region on horseback, learning about the ways in which the local communities work the ranch, often in traditional ways that have been used for centuries, without the introduction of heavy machinery or other carbon heavy methods. Boat trips are available, and the option to row rather than motor is available for those conscious (but also) fit enough!

Later in the itinerary in both the Coffee Region and Cartagena, optional biking rather than travelling between areas by vehicle is also offered as an option for all guest who are capable and would like to reduce their carbon footprint.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Our partners in Colombia take zero waste / leave no trace very seriously. Guest are presented with a refillable water bottle on arrival, and all hotels we work with have agreed to provide free drinking water for guests to fill up so they have no reason to buy plastic water bottles at all throughout their trip.

Before departing our pre-departure guides have information specific to Colombia that recommend ways in which they can personally make small decisions which will have a positive impact on the environment, for example, reusing towels, saving water and power, this is particularly important in areas with limited resources where the impact of tourism not only effects the environment, but also ensuring harmony between local communities and tourism to ensure that the scares resources are shared as it’s everybody’s responsibility.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All of our itineraries aim to ensure that as much tourism currency finds its way into the pockets of the local communities as possible, however this itinerary represents that more than most. Yopal – also known as Cowboy Country is solely represented by small families and communities, showcasing their traditional ways of living, working, eating and socialising. All of the experiences here have been curated in conjunction with local guides and inhabitants and we work directly with them, so almost all of the money spent here, whether it’s on tours, in local restaurants, buying souvenirs and gifts, or staying in locally run hotels or homestays, goes back into these communities where they benefit from the tourism in a positive way.

The same can be said for the other areas in this trip. In Pasto local artisans, all carefully hand selected welcome guests into their workshops, we use local operators in Cartagena and local boat operators to run our tours there. I

n the cities, on every tour our guests will interact with a local from the city, each with a different story to tell. Depending on personal preference and taste, we always recommend the best local spots for food, whether it’s a “must-try” street empanada, or a 10 course tasting menu of Amazonian cuisine, we endeavour to create memorable experiences with genuine interactions between our guests and locals, wherever it may be.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

People are at the heart of all of our itineraries. In each location, city and region, you will have the chance to interact with locals, often from poorer upbringings, marginalised groups, or those who have lived colourful lives but have used their experience as ammunition to turn their lives around. Colombia is one of the most prevalent examples of this in all of Latin America. For example, until as recently as 2002, areas of Medellin were no-go zones. They had civil war with paramilitaries, prolific crime rates, some of the highest in the world, and there were little opportunities for locals. When visiting Comuna 13 on our transformational tour, you’ll meet guides as young as 30 who remember those times and can talk about their experience, whether they knew people, or are related to those involved. Now their stories are of hope, change, prosperity and a future.

Similarly in the coffee region, jobs have been created for farmers who can now harvest coffee, bananas, beans and cacao, where 25 years ago, the drug trade was the only reliable source of income. Colombia is a country of transformation and growth and we want to share this with our guests.