Finisterre Way walking vacations

Planet

We focus on selecting local suppliers who are committed to preserve the environment. The transport companies we hire use modern vehicles with low CO2 emissions. We also limit transport so we minimise the number of vehicles in use.

When sending our Information Packs to our clients, we use electronic format. Our paper use is restricted to the Pilgrim's credential which this is necessary for clients to collect stamps along the Camino as proof of their walk in order to be eligible to collect a Certificate of Completion.

Travelers are briefed on local environmental considerations including appropriate waste disposal and are asked to be considerate not only with the local customs and culture but with the Camino trail they will use.

We ask our clients to:
- Not waste running water
- Not to litter trails
- Dispose of waste in appropriate bins
- Pick up litter on the trails to help keep trails clean
- Use ecological re-usable bags in supermarket, not plastic bags, or to put items directly inside rucksacks when possible
- Reuse materials where possible
- Take a reusable bottle and fill it up at the fountains along the Camino
- Respect all animals
- Respect all flora and fauna
- Stay on the sign posted Camino path at all times.

To reduce international travel:
- We encourage clients to consider taking the train to get to the start of their Camino, when possible.
- We provide details of public transport options to clients for all our trips.
- We use family run accommodation providers and hire local guides.

People

Our business model supports suppliers at a local level so the majority of clients money goes directly towards helping local businesses and their families in the rural Galician region. We believe this is the best way to benefit the local economy. For example, we work primarily with small family run/owned hotels in these regions instead of large hotel chains.

When using transport, we work with local taxi drivers who are self employed and receive a fair price as regulated by the regional Government instead of large transport companies which tend to pay low wages to their drivers.

These type of hiking packages offer a greater contribution to the local economy and help create more jobs in the local community compared to traditional vacations packages that concentrate the money spent by tourists in one single location. According to researchers, 65% of your money as a hiker stays in the community on Hiking/Walking vacations compared to 15% for traditional beach-resort vacations.

In each town along the Camino route where clients stay overnight, we recommend three local restaurants so clients can enjoy the regional cuisine as well as benefiting the local community, avoiding large franchise restaurants. For example, in this package clients can dine in local restaurants in the town of Corcubiσn or the specialised seafood restaurants in Finisterre and Santiago.