Wellness Retreats: A Deep Dive Into Holistic Healing in Latin America
A growing number of travelers today are trading in conventional vacations for experiences that nourish […]
Responsible Travel
At Rebecca Adventure Travel, giving back isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into every tour through our Huella Positiva (positive footprint) approach. This initiative empowers travelers to leave a meaningful impact by supporting the people, places, and ecosystems they encounter along the way. Whether it’s protecting biodiversity, uplifting local communities, or contributing to regenerative efforts, every traveler receives a personalized certificate that reflects their positive impact. The options are as diverse as our destinations, from reforestation projects to educational outreach. Below, find curated opportunities to turn your trip into a force for good, because travel should give as much as it takes.
Our Commitment to Responsible Travel
Our Method
Our Responsible Travel Objectives encompass social, ecological, and economic responsibility. This commitment not only serves the best interests of our valued guests but also underscores our dedication to making a constructive contribution to the countries we engage with. To achieve these goals, we collaborate closely with local family-owned hotels and transportation services, fostering economic growth and promoting intercultural learning when tourists immerse themselves in the beauty of South America. Notably, beyond the Amazon and Andes, the Galapagos Islands stand as a coveted destination, celebrated for their pristine magnificence.
Responsible Travel Aims
Our Responsible Travel Objectives encompass facilitating intercultural learning between local communities and travelers and minimizing the environmental impact of travel through partnerships with eco-friendly suppliers. To achieve these aims, a series of initiatives is diligently followed by providers, employees, and guests, focusing on addressing three primary impact areas: Environmental, Economic, and Social.
Environmental Impact
- Implement paper reuse practices.
- Utilize energy-efficient laptops.
- Transition to online administrative processes.
- Choose organic food for team lunches.
- Employ biodegradable cleaning supplies.
- Embrace second-hand furnishings.
- Collaborate with eco-friendly hotels.
- Practice office-wide waste separation for effective recycling.
- Install water tanks on tour buses to replace individual bottled water on shared day tours.
Economic Impact
- Sponsor local initiatives.
- Collaborate exclusively with local guides, many of whom support their own families.
- Distribute canvas bags at the start of trips to reduce plastic waste.
- Incorporate locally sourced welcome packages.
- Prefer eco-friendly accommodations.
Social Impact
- Engage Rebecca Adventure Travel staff as volunteers at local foundations.
- Offer Amazon tours to promote awareness of nature and cultural conservation.
To ensure consistent quality and service throughout the entire customer journey, Rebecca Adventure Travel conducts thorough audits with our providers. These assessments provide recommendations for improvements, including water and paper conservation, appropriate behavior and responsibilities within National Parks, and more. Audit reports are available upon request through our CRM system.
The Organizations We Collaborate With
In alignment with our responsible travel commitments and guiding principles, Rebecca Adventure Travel actively supports several noteworthy foundations that are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of local communities and the environment. Discover our engagement in fostering the talents of Ecuadorian youths. Additionally, explore our partnership with a local primary and secondary school situated in the Isinlivi community, a four-hour drive south of Quito. Here, regular contributions are channeled to benefit around 250 students. As you consider embarking on a journey with Rebecca Adventure Travel, we encourage you to explore opportunities to contribute to local schools and families. Your generosity has the potential to make a profound impact on those in need. If you have a foundation in mind that you believe deserves our support and engagement, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Your suggestions are valuable in expanding our philanthropic reach.
Antonio de Ulloa School
Our commitment to responsible tourism is deeply rooted in uplifting communities. In June 2022, we joined the Sponsor a School program, supporting Puembo’s Antonio de Ulloa School. Just two months later, a transformative remodeling project improved facilities for 300 students. In November, a Christmas celebration brought joy to the kids. 2023 saw us continue the path to elevate education by inaugurating a library on Children’s Day. We closed the year by reprising the Christmas event, and gifting educational toys to nurture talents. Children’s Day 2024 brought lessons on Galapagos animal conservation. Discover more about each initiative in this blog.
Charles Darwin Foundation
The Charles Darwin Foundation is a pillar of science and conservation in the Galapagos Islands. Since 1959, this globally respected nonprofit has led scientific research and wildlife conservation across the archipelago. From restoring giant tortoise populations and safeguarding the critically endangered Mangrove Finch, to protecting sea turtles and rare plants, their work is both far-reaching and deeply focused. Through research, conservation, habitat restoration, education, and policy guidance, the Foundation tackles threats like invasive species while empowering future generations to protect the Galapagos. We’re proud to share their mission and amplify the reach of their science-driven approach to island conservation.
Local Dreamers
Local Dreamers, a foundation we endorse, supports Ecuadorian children and teenagers aged 6 to 16. They foster talent through self-sustaining projects, sports, language learning, creative pursuits, and intercultural communication. Partnered with Rebecca Adventure Travel, they make a lasting impact. Due to COVID-19, many workers turned to street vending. Collaborating with Local Dreamers, Plato Para Todos, and Banco de Alimentos Quito, we provide essential food packages. Donations can be made to IBAN NL49 TRIO 0254484379, under Stg. Local Dreamers, with ‘food package’ specified. Your support is invaluable.
Lucy in the Andes
Lucy in the Andes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and educating rural women in the Andes. They provide tools and courage to help them control their bodies and lives, despite the challenges of rural, patriarchal communities. Our programs include sex education on topics like preventing unwanted pregnancies and family planning, health advice on menstrual cycles, hygiene, and pregnancies, and guidance on healthy relationships. They also offer legal advice, informing women of their rights and options, including alimony.
Hucha
Hucha is a social enterprise focused on sustainable human development through innovation and solidarity. They connect people, organizations, and companies for the common good with transparent aid management. Through them, we support Naiara Delgado Mero and her community in Las Tunas de Puerto López, Ecuador. Naiara teaches respect for nature through music and dance, preserving cultural traditions, and promoting art among children and youth. This initiative helps them develop their skills, ensuring growth and stability while raising environmental awareness.
Tierra del Volcan
This Ecuadorian travel company preserves the local Chagra (Andean cowboy) culture through adventures that respect the environment. Through their Páramo Foundation, they also restore the Andean high-altitude grasslands in the Cotopaxi National Park area. Working from their flagship property, Hacienda El Porvenir, they lead reforestation efforts that protect water sources, biodiversity, and the rural communities that depend on them. We’re proud to support this project, where every native tree planted not only heals the land but also helps preserve the cultural and ecological balance of the high Andes.
Rebecca Adventure Travel’s engagement with Local Dreamers and other organizations goes beyond financial support, encompassing regular donations of essential goods. If you intend to contribute goods for Local Dreamers, the school, or the communities, please notify us in advance so that we can provide you with the necessary details. Personally delivering these contributions during your journey is a gratifying experience, enabling you to directly witness the positive impact on the recipients.
Taking the First Step
We will start you off on the sustainability effort with our welcome kits. Each traveler gets a reusable bag made of fabric, containing a metal water bottle, guayusa tea bag, organic Andean chocolate, Andean snacks, and a welcome card. The bag and bottle will serve you throughout your trip and prevent waste and overuse of plastic. To take this a step further, we also include a garbage bag so you can use it to pick up trash throughout your trip, helping clean up Ecuador’s wondrous landscapes as you explore them! Navigating this one-of-a-kind journey with finesse and embracing mindful travel practices is key. We’ve put together some simple tips to show respect for local communities and the environment.
Explore Latin America Responsibly
Ways to Contribute
We believe in giving back to the communities we visit. When you travel with us, you become a part of something greater. You have the power to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. How? There are three incredible ways you can contribute: funding, donating, and volunteering.
Fund Rural Schools
Through the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education’s Sponsor a School Program, we’ve been able to improve facilities at Antonio de Ulloa School in Puembo for two years and counting. We also hold annual celebrations on Children’s Day and Christmas. If you would like to help, consider contributing to our year-long crowdfunding campaign, which raised over USD 5,000 in 2023, or to our separate children’s Christmas celebrations campaign.
Donate Supplies for Children
Ecuador boasts immense natural, cultural, and historical riches, yet faces challenges like poverty and limited opportunities. Donations are not just charitable contributions; they are investments in the communities we visit. You can help us support hundreds of children in Puembo and Isinlivi by bringing developmental resources or purchasing classroom and basic hygiene materials when you arrive (we can take you shopping).
Plant Trees in the Cotopaxi Area
Support Andean reforestation through flexible donation options, each linked to a specific number of native trees planted. If you’re staying at Hacienda El Porvenir, you can also take part in the planting yourself, guided by an English-speaking local expert who’ll share the story behind the project and its impact. Depending on your interest, we’ll guide you through the options to root your journey in purpose and long-term impact.
Adopt a Species in Galapagos
Support conservation with a meaningful gesture: adopt a Galapagos species through the Charles Darwin Foundation. Your donation directly funds vital research and protection efforts for iconic plant and animal species. Adoptions come with a personalized certificate and informative guide, and can be made easily online with flexible giving levels. Prefer long-term impact? Join the Foundation’s Wild Club as a monthly donor, or fundraise for them in your own way, from birthday drives to creative events. However you contribute, you’re helping protect Galapagos for generations to come.
Volunteer in The Andean Countryside
Add a short volunteering program to your itinerary! By staying at the farms and homes of local families, you can experience their way of life firsthand and make a positive impact on their daily struggles. These can last anywhere from a few hours to a bunch of weeks. Together, we can leave a lasting legacy in the places we explore.
Sigsipamba
This hidden treasure in Pifo promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you with cherished memories of rural Quito. From half-day visits to extended three-month homestays, this rural farming community beckons travelers to experience the authentic charm of a rural parish. As you take part in traditional farming practices, don’t miss the opportunity to savor the delectable Pambamesa during lunch or dinner with your local host family.
Yunguilla
Nestled within the Andean Chocó Bioregion, just an hour northwest of Quito in Calacalí, the Yunguilla Conservation and Sustainable Use Area pioneered the concept of community-based tourism in the late 90s. With a small museum showcasing traditional rural life, a cheese factory, a marmalade factory, and a trail for spotting the elusive Andean bears, visitors get an authentic experience of the local culture. Today, around 25 families offer homestays.
La Calera
This hidden gem is tucked away in the Andean countryside of Cotacachi and invites you to experience community-based travel like no other. Stay with Kichwa families and immerse yourself in their Indigenous lifestyle. Participate in ancient ceremonies with traditional healers, learn native crafts from skilled artisans, and explore museums showcasing pre-modern life. Embrace the serenity of tech-free farm life and reconnect with nature.
Sustainability and Responsible Travel
Traveling is a remarkable experience that holds the potential to reshape your perspectives and outlook. It allows you to delve into new cultures and forge connections with unfamiliar faces. Yet, when we travel, we must do so with a sense of responsibility to preserve the innate beauty of our destinations. If you’re keen on understanding all about responsible travel and contributing positively to the communities you visit, explore the following blogs for comprehensive insights:
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ‘Huella Positiva’ approach?
The ‘Huella Positiva,’ or ‘Positive Footprint,’ approach is Rebecca Adventure Travel’s initiative to ensure their tours leave a positive impact on local people, places, and ecosystems by supporting communities, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable practices.
How does Rebecca Adventure Travel support local communities?
The company supports local communities by collaborating with local, family-owned businesses, hiring local guides, offering locally sourced welcome packages, and sponsoring local foundations and initiatives, such as the Antonio de Ulloa School and Local Dreamers.
What is the company’s commitment to environmental protection?
To protect the environment, the company uses energy-efficient technology, biodegradable cleaning supplies, and eco-friendly hotels. They also work to reduce waste by reusing paper and installing water tanks on tour buses to minimize the use of bottled water.
How does Rebecca Adventure Travel support wildlife conservation?
The company supports wildlife conservation by collaborating with organizations like the Charles Darwin Foundation, which funds scientific research in the Galapagos Islands. They also offer travelers opportunities to get involved, such as adopting a Galapagos species.
How can travelers contribute to responsible tourism with Rebecca Adventure Travel?
Travelers can contribute by participating in activities like planting trees in the Cotopaxi area or donating to foundations that the company supports. They also support local economies by purchasing locally sourced products.
