Argentina & Chile vacation, crossing the Andes

Planet

We use only certified local nature guides that are trained in ecology, conservation and animal protection. The guides and clients have to adhere to a zero footprint policy when entering national parks and protected areas.
During the course of this tour, you will visit Nahuel Huapi National Park, which is the oldest national park in Argentina, established in 1934. It surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes. Its landscapes represent the north Patagonian Andean Zone consisting of three types, namely, the Altoandino (with perpetual snow above an altitude of 1,600 metres), the Andino-Patagónico (in the lower reaches of the hills) and the Patagonian steppe. It also represents small parts of the Valdivian Rainforest.
National Park entrance fees during this tour are paid directly to the national park by the clients to ensure that they directly support the parks´ maintenance and preservation.
During our visit to the national parks, we ask our clients to keep all waste with them until back in the nearest town, to walk only on designated paths, and not to pick flowers or disturb the natural resources.
On different occasiones throughout this journey you’ll use buses & coaches to get around. Bus/coachtransport is not only just the best option by far from an environmental stand point; it also offers great opportunity for cultural interaction with your fellow bus travelers.
We also encourage clients to drink the high quality tap water that exists in this region rather than buy bottled water, to avoid excess waste of plastic bottles, a large proportion of which end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
All transport required use low carbon fuel.
In the office we have a minimum use paper policy whereby all travel itineraries, reservations and confirmations are sent to customers and maintained by us in PDF format. Any paper used is used double sided and any waste paper and cardboard in recycled. All ink and toner cartridges are refilled and reused.
All our furniture has previously been owned and was purchased at auctions.
We check the environmental credentials of all our suppliers and service providers before doing business with them.
Our staff in Buenos Aires walk, cycle or take the bus or tube to work instead of driving.

People

We employ and contract the services of local people throughout Argentina. We have a “study-time” vacation for employees who are undertaking any further education courses.
We have a “national first” policy whereby we give preference to local products. We use accommodation of small local suppliers and not multinational chains. We also encourage our clients to consume local handicrafts at local markets.
A percentage of all profits is donated to a charity that provides a “reinsertion program” for vulnerable adolescents that have dropped out of the formal education system.
We only use accommodation providers that comply with the law and have an active policy & procedure to eliminate child abuse, prostitution and people trafficking.
All our tours contribute to the local community by providing our clients access to their customs, products, music and language in each destination. We encourage our clients to visit small local restaurantes that comply with organic & healthy living best practice.