Pantanal self drive vacation, Brazil

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
Our commitment to offering vacations with a positive impact is exemplified through our innovative approach and our groundbreaking carbon scoring system, a world-first initiative enabling us to meticulously evaluate the environmental footprint of each tailor-made trip. Actively engaging with our suppliers, we encourage their participation in our carbon-scoring survey, fostering collaboration that yields valuable insights into unique carbon scores and identifies areas for sustainability excellence and improvement.

Transparency is paramount, and we extend it to our customers by individually assessing each trip, providing a personalised carbon score for your tailor-made vacation. This empowers you to make informed choices aligned with your values.

Our dedication to sustainability goes beyond scoring systems, influencing every aspect of your travel experience. We choose lodges for their own sustainability policies and on this trip small, family run establishments. Refugio da Ilha in the Pantanal purchases food, vegetables and supplies from producers in nearby Miranda, thus integrating their lodge into the local economy. In addition, they produce some vegetables, herbs and seasonings on site at the lodge. Both the Pousada Olha d’Agua and Refugio da Ilha can cater for vegetarians and vegans.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Ahead of your departure, we ensure you are well-prepared through our pre-travel online 'travel pack.' This comprehensive, paper-free resource acts as your guide, providing essential details and valuable insights for the upcoming adventure. Practical guidelines on mindful packing are included to minimise luggage and reduce overall weight, contributing to lower fuel consumption.

Pousada Olho d'Água is involved in a restoration project of the riverside forest inlcuding natural regeneration and planting of seedlings. At Refugio da Ilha the tour groups are a controlled number of guests and maximum 6 people. Keeping a small group favours a quieter environment, which is turn is less disturbing to the wildlife, increasing viewing opportunities.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Our commitment is to offer travel experiences that our customers enjoy and actively contribute to the well-being of the regions they explore. Our partners in Brazil are the only Travelife certified company in Brazil to have achieved this status. Their ‘green team’ conducts regular inspections and surveys to monitor and evaluate the commitment our suppliers to sustainable tourism.

Both lodges source products from nearby cities and towns, with family run Pousada da Ilha also growing produce on-site. This ensures a positive impact on both the environment and local communities.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
The small lodges take pride in employing locals from the region – Pantanal people or the Bodoquena mountain range – coming from cities such as Corumbá, Aquidauana, Miranda and Bodoquena, also from indigenous villages in the region of the Terena ethnic group. Most food products are sourced from these communities, integrating them into the supply chain and providing a reliable source of income.