Ecuador vacation, small group tour

Planet

Environment:

"In Ecuador you will be accompanied by our local staff, which is the best way to learn about the local culture and customs, as well as generating local employment through our business. In 2009 our Ecuadorian Tour Leader Diego Torres was crowned overall best tour leader at the prestigious “Wanderlust Paul Morrison Guide Awards”, thanks to his encyclopaedic knowledge, great empathy with his groups and his passionate concern for developing tourism in Ecuador in a sustainable and responsible way. Diego donated his £5,000 bursary prize to the charity Proyecto DCR that gives vulnerable street kids in the capital Quito the chance to get an education. Diego is still a big supporter of this charity: “It’s such a worthwhile project because it gives the children the potential to take charge of their futures. Instead of having to beg on the streets they can have a life with more dignity”, and during your tours to Ecuador he'll tell you about their latest initiatives.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

Throughout Ecuador, we strive to work with hotels that are responsibly operated. The lodge that we use in the Misahualli section of the Amazon jungle is a great example of this. They only use biodegradable products and low-energy lightbulbs, and save rainwater for use. They employ local people in the communities and purchase all food and building items locally. "