Self drive Patagonia vacation including Mapuche culture

Planet

This is a tailor-made, independent trip; groups are very small, normally comprised of 2 to 4 people, helping to minimise the negative environmental and social impact.

This is a journey through the Chilean Patagonia. Much of the trip is spent in pristine nature, including four beautiful National parks. Our travelers are briefed by local guides as to how to minimise their impact on the environment. Advise includes staying on marked tracks, only picnicking on designated areas and disposing of all waste responsibly.

Travelers will experience the extraordinary beauty of this natural environment: millennial native rainforests, snow-capped volcanoes, waterfalls and lakes. Useful tips on how to travel responsibly, as well as information on local flora and fauna can also be found in the road book we provide to our travelers.
On this tour, we work with authentic lodging run by people aware of their environmental responsibilities. Most of the accommodation consists of traditional constructions, often built using local materials such as native woods.

On the Island of Chiloe, travelers will meet a group local fishermen who have created an association for the protection and development of their natural heritage. Aware of the negative impact of fishing on biodiversity, they are using tourism as a new source of income. Travelers will learn about local marine life including penguins, sea lions, sea otters and pelicans among other animals.

People

We want local populations to benefit from the resources generated by tourism, by putting as much as possible back into the local communities. We support local employment and communities in our choice of accommodation, tours, restaurants, etc. We always take into consideration the feedback we receive from the local population to try to improve the quality of services in the best way possible.

During this trip, travelers will have a chance to familiarize with customs and traditions of Mapuche rural families. A truly authentic opportunity to participate in the ceremonial and cultural activities of these small communities, while at the same time supporting local businesses. Three nights spent at Carlos and Marta ‘s Ruka, an excellent example of Mapuche architecture, locally sourced and biodegradable.

All travelers are provided with detailed guidelines as to how to travel responsibly. We provide our travelers with a road book with useful information on local culture and customs.

We donate 3% of the total price of this trip to co-fund micro-projects implemented by local schools, associations and ONGs. These are community projects based on education and conservation activities, especially addressed to young people.