Argentina to Chile adventure tour

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CARBON REDUCTION

The itinerary does require domestic flights because of the enormous distances between Buenos Aires, Iguazú and Patagonia. There are no practical rail alternatives linking these destinations within a realistic vacation itinerary. However, once in Patagonia, the programme deliberately uses overland transport rather than additional internal flights: El Calafate–El Chaltén is by shared road transfer, El Chaltén–El Calafate is again shared, and El Calafate–Puerto Natales is by scheduled public bus. This reduces the number of avoidable flights while allowing the journey through Patagonia itself to be experienced at ground level.

We actively seek out accommodation providers that are making efforts to reduce energy. For example, in Buenos Aires, the hotel uses energy-efficient heating and cooling, low-energy lighting, an energy-conservation programme, recycling, food-waste reduction, refillable bathroom products, water-refill stations and water-saving measures. In El Calafate, the hotel has a Bronze Hoteles Más Verdes sustainability certification.This includes employing responsible water use, efficient energy use, waste reduction, recycling and prioritising local suppliers specifically to reduce emissions generated by transportation. In El Chaten, the hotel uses low-energy/LED lighting, separates recyclable and organic waste, uses refillable dispensers rather than individual plastic bottles, biodegradable toiletries and compostable bags for packed lunches. It also actively encourages guests to refill water bottles rather than buy disposable ones.

Some of the most memorable experiences in this itnerary — Iguazú, Fitz Roy country, Perito Moreno and Torres del Paine — are explored on foot rather than by vehicle, with hiking featuring as a significant part of the itinerary.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

We look for evidence of environmental management within the accommodation we use and encourage our local partners to favour properties taking practical steps to reduce their impact. There are some particularly good examples on this itinerary: In El Calafate, the hotel holds Bronze certification through Argentina's GSTC-recognised Hoteles Más Verdes programme. This goes considerably further than simply asking hotels to recycle. Its current sustainability standard covers environmental management alongside social, cultural and economic impacts, and the programme has been recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) since 2013. So, for instance, accredited accommodations must show how they monitor and reduce their energy consumption, improving efficiency, using LED/low-energy lighting and introducing renewable energy where possible. Certified hotels provide real examples such as solar hot-water systems and renewable electricity. They must show how they reduce water consumption, monitoring use and harvesting rainwater and reusing grey water for irrigation or toilets.

The Lodge in Puerto Natales uses energy-efficient lighting throughout 95% of the property, double glazing to reduce heat loss, three wastewater-treatment plants and environmentally responsible cleaning products, while food waste is passed to local growers. In Buenos Aires, the hotel operates energy and water conservation, recycling and food-waste reduction programmes, while in Iguazu, the Lodge occupies three hectares of Misiones rainforest and was developed to preserve the existing environment, including trees more than 400 years old and protected endangered tree species.

The trip also makes a direct financial contribution to protected areas through entrance fees. These include Iguazú National Park in Argentina, Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. These protected areas conserve internationally important rainforest, Patagonian steppe, forests, mountains and glacial ecosystems, and several days of the itinerary are specifically devoted to exploring them on foot with guides.

The itinerary also uses expert nature guides to accompany the principal nature experiences, including Iguazú, Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén and Torres del Paine. In Argentina's National Parks, guides are licensed by the National Parks Administration and must demonstrate appropriate training, knowledge, experience and competency. Throughout this itinerary, we use destination-based guides whose local knowledge adds to clients' understanding of the landscape, wildlife and conservation issues. At Iguazú, for example, the lodge can additionally arrange interpretive rainforest walks with local and native Guaraní guides.

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LOCAL ECONOMY

We select accommodations for this itinerary that are independent, boutique, regional or Argentine/Chilean hotel properties rather than large international hotel chains. In particular, the hotels / lodges in Buenos Aires, El Calafate and El Chata are under family or Argentine ownership/management, whilst the property in Puerto Natales is notable as a family-run property that began in the owners' own home.

Local economic benefit extends well beyond accommodation. The itinerary employs guides throughout Buenos Aires, Iguazú, El Calafate, El Chaltén, Torres del Paine and Santiago, including specialist nature and trekking guides. Guests experience local food on a walking gastronomic tour in Palermo, attend a locally produced tango show, use locally based drivers and excursion operators and spend several nights in smaller Patagonian communities such as El Chaltén and Puerto Natales. In Puerto Natales, the lodge also supports local producers and sells locally handmade products.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Our trips are operated by destination-based partners in Argentina and Chile, and the itinerary makes extensive use of locally based guides, drivers, hotel staff and excursion operators in Buenos Aires, Iguazú, El Calafate, El Chaltén, Puerto Natales and Santiago. This helps ensure that the tourism income generated from the trip remains within the destinations visited.

The trip supports locally based employment throughout, and there are opportunities to strengthen its benefit to groups that can be underrepresented in mainstream tourism. At Iguazú, for example, the rainforest experiences are led by indigenous Guaraní guides, creating an income-generating opportunity based on indigenous knowledge, culture and environmental interpretation.

Our ground operators and suppliers comply with national employment legislation, including statutory minimum-wage requirements. Argentina and Chile both have legally established minimum wages.

This itinerary is LGBTQ+ friendly and we welcome travelers regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Argentina and Chile both legally recognise same-sex marriage, and Argentina additionally has longstanding gender-identity protections. Buenos Aires in particular has a visible and well-established LGBTQ+ community and is widely accustomed to welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors. Our accommodation and local partners are expected to treat all customers equally and respectfully.