Intrepid Travel - Latin America

Tread carefully,
Responsible travel
Nowadays, most of us are familiar with all things green, and
realise that most things we do affect the environment. So as
a travel company with a large global network, running our
business and travelling responsibly is top of the list.
We are committed to creating trips that benefit the local
people and environment. We take public transport whenever
possible, stay and eat in small, locally owned establishments,
travel in small groups and tread lightly wherever we go.
It's not always easy. After all, plane travel is the largest carbon
component of any trip! But the option to offset flights is now
available on every flight we sell. Then, once on the road, you
can relax in the knowledge that the most carbon intensive
components of your trip - transport, accommodation and
waste - have been measured and offset on your behalf.
However, we do ask that you consider a few basic guidelines:
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER TIPS
Like they say in boy scouts - be prepared. Researching
things like religion, customs and dress standards is a
great way to prepare for any culture shocks.
Hola! Ni hao! Guten tag! Greeting someone in their
own language is the best way to start a conversation.
Happy snaps of locals in their own environment make
amazing travel mementos, but it's important to be
respectful. Always ask before taking someone's picture.
A lot of effort goes into providing running water in some
places - so try not to be wasteful. Also, travelling with a
carry bag is a great way to avoid using plastic bags.
A good water bottle is invaluable. In most places
you can refill with purified water instead of buying
disposable plastic bottles.
Places we visit belong as much to the local wildlife as
they do to the residents. If you see an animal mistreated,
give the activity a wide berth and tell your leader.
Enjoying fresh produce is part of the experience, so try
to support local economies by purchasing their home-
grown products and food.
leave nothing behind.
Climate change is perhaps the
greatest challenge the world has ever faced.
We believe that as a travel company, it is time
for us to become part of the solution, rather
than just part of the problem.
- Darrell Wade, Co-founder, 2006
After Darrell's epiphany back in 2006, we've come a long way
in our mission to reduce the Intrepid Travel footprint. The
launch of our Carbon Management Project, which includes
all our global offices, trips and passenger flights, led to us
becoming carbon neutral in 2010.
In May 2011 our sustainability practices, including our
advancements in carbon management, were recognised
by the World Travel and Tourism Council, which announced
Intrepid as the winner of their Tourism for Tomorrow, Global
Tourism Business Award. This was a fantastic achievement, and
a just reward for the team who work so tirelessly to help us to
operate responsibly and reach the carbon neutral milestone.
But this doesn't mean we can put our feet up! Our Carbon
Management Project is still very much a work in progress
that undergoes regular reviews. We continue to put a lot of
effort into reducing our direct footprint on a global scale by
establishing long-term, sustainable practices.
All trips have been assessed for greenhouse gas emissions,
stemming from accommodation, transport and waste. We then
built a carbon offset into each trip and offset our emissions by
purchasing carbon credits from accredited renewable energy
projects, which meet strict international standards.
So you see, becoming carbon neutral is just the beginning!
To learn more, please visit our website:
intrepidtravel.com