Bolivia highlights tour

Planet

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
• By traveling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
• We visit the ASUR an indigenous art museum which supports the local communities close to Sucre by helping to keep traditional weaving techniques alive.
• We visit the Eduardo Avaroa National Park and fees collected fund conservation initiatives.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

People

Meals:
When food is provided, ingredients used are locally sourced and produced wherever possible. Our local guides will always encourage and recommend clients to try local restaurants. Bolivian cuisine typically consists of meat with a staple of corn, quinoa or potatoes. Popular main dishes include ‘pique a lo macho’ (a kind of beef stir-fry, served with chunky chips), ‘sagta de pollo’ (spicy chicken) and ‘Salteñas’ (a sort of pasty).

Local craft and Culture:
With our visits to various local markets, we have plenty of opportunities to support local craft especially in Uyuni, La Paz and Copacabana. Our local guides will advise clients on what to buy and what to avoid – for example, there are some musical instruments such as the charango that are made of quirquincho’s shell, which is an endangered species and must be avoided. During our city tours in Sucre, Potosi and La Paz, we will visit plenty of sites such as El Fuerte, Amboro National Park and various museums and churches where our entrance fees goes to support the maintenance, restoration and upkeep of these sites.

During our city tour of Sucre clients will visit the museum of indigenous art where there is a weaving demonstration producing traditional textiles with complex patterns and vivid colours. This is a good chance for clients to engage in cultural interaction.

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. A number of the hotels used are family owned.