Trans South America, Colombia to Brazil and Guianas

Planet

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Arajuno Lodge and Forest Reserve, located on the Arajuno River in the eastern Amazon Basin hosts our groups during their stay in Ecuador. The owner has set up a small foundation to fund various projects including one to increase the biodiversity of the river which has been negatively affected by the illegal practice of fishing with dynamite, as well improve conditions for current species such as the endangered Southern River Otter. The project is researching alternative income avenues including the development of small-scale fishponds in remote indigenous villages and is recording the current and ongoing levels of dynamite fishing.

During our stay at Arajuno Lodge, our clients are taken out on foot and by canoe to explore the rainforest habitat. The lodge employs local Quichua people as guides who have in depth knowledge of the flora and fauna of their environment.

On our route through southern Chile, weather allowing, we visit Queulat National Park. Our entrance fee payments of approximately £10 per person contribute to protecting the beautiful landscape of evergreen forests, glaciers and peat bog and the wildlife that calls it home from the four-eyed toad and black woodpecker to the puma and condor.

As responsible travelers, we recognize the need to reduce our plastic consumption and provide sustainable alternatives to our customers. That's why we've partnered with Water to Go to offer a fantastic solution.

Water to Go is a company on a mission to tackle the issue of plastic pollution by providing travelers with reusable filter bottles. These bottles are not your average water containers. They are designed with advanced filtration technology that allows you to safely refill your bottle from natural water sources, taps, and even in places where tap water is not typically considered safe to drink.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
The vast majority of accommodation we use are small locally owned hotels, hostels and campsites and our crew pay the owners directly which saves them unnecessary and expensive bank charges. We occasionally stay in homestays, for instance in Peru we stay with Uros Indian families in their homes on either Amantani or Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca. This not only creates an opportunity for our travellers to learn about their culture but also provides our hosts with an additional source of income.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
As our trips cover such a large area, we use the knowledge and expertise of local guides at the different sites we visit. The majority of these are from the local community, for example Sandro and Pedro, who guide our travellers in the Pantanal, grew up in the surrounding area. Luiz is a Carioca (a Rio de Janeiro inhabitant) and has, for many years, arranged all the activities that are on offer in his city for our travellers.