Nicaragua & El Salvador tour

Planet

We must always keep the environment at the forefront of our minds and take all litter with us, disposing of it responsibly in big cities and towns. Bringing a reusable water bottle is a great idea and if purchasing any snacks, avoid excess packaging. We travel through some beautiful natural environments on this tour and visit various wildlife refuges and a biological reserve. It is important that we respect these environments and leave them how we found them. If we see any rubbish anywhere, we will always pick it up when possible.

Visiting wildlife refuges and reserves means we are playing a vital part of the rescue, rehabilitation and conservation processes that go in these places, both by learning and being able to promote awareness, and also through our entrance fees and donations. We even participate in a conservation project that captures and releases turtles. Working with biologists, we will assist in weighing and measuring the turtles, in an effort to assist in their long term survival.

Also, in El Salvador, we hike through the rainforest with an ex-guerilla soldier as our guide, to hear personal stories from the time of the Salvadoran Civil War. The fees we pay will not only help the community but will go towards the conservation of the ecological park we walk through.

People

Keeping money in local economies and supporting community projects is extremely important. We spend time with local communities, taking the time to learn about their culture, traditions and way of life, helping to keep old traditions alive and making sure that small communities benefit from tourism. Speaking Spanish, or at least learning a few phrases, will surely bring a smile to local people's faces and they will appreciate that we are making an effort.

We also show support of the community by learning about the history of the countries we are visiting and of the people that live there. In El Salvador, we support a grass-roots tourism project and hike through the rainforest with an ex-guerilla soldier as our guide, to hear personal stories from the time of the Salvadoran Civil War.

Using local guides also ensures money stays within local economies and means we will be treated to such valuable, in-depth and honest knowledge which you perhaps wouldn’t get from a western guide. It also means we are keeping carbon emissions down.

Most people like to take photos on their travels, and it’s sometimes easy to forget that the photogenic person in front of you may not want their picture taken. We always ask if it’s okay, and respect their wishes if they say no.