We believe that travel is inherently a force for good. At its best, it creates confidence, open-mindedness, curiosity, fresh perspectives and new connections which enrich our lives enormously.
Pura Aventura holidays are all about sharing the parts of Spain, Portugal and Latin America which have moved us. Some of these are well-known, many are not but all are places we know intimately. Because of this, we know exactly what we want to share and how – from the places you eat to the guides who meet you and the walks you take. The only way for us to achieve the level of tailoring we demand is, in large part, by going direct.
Going direct also ensures that the money you spend benefits mainly the people you meet along the way, creating a simple economic imperative for the preservation of the communities, landscapes and environments you are visiting.
Because we believe in the importance of personal connections when you travel, we love you to stay in owner-run hotels and lodges.
There are lots of great and special places to sleep which aren’t owner run – ships to Antarctica, boats in the Galapagos, Amazon Lodges - but by ensuring we use a majority of smaller hotels, we believe that it is easier for you to connect to your destination.
Pura Aventura is committed to actively sell fewer holidays in order to maintain the quality of your experience. We stop selling trips when we consider a place to be ‘full’. In the case of our Inn to Inn walks, full is just you - we only allow one party to start each day. In remote Patagonia, full is when you overlap by more than a couple of nights with anyone else travelling with us. The care we take shows in the feedback we receive.
Whilst Pura Aventura’s unique way of working makes great holidays which protect and benefit the places you visit, people are flying across the world to get there. In doing so, we are responsible for significant damage to our planet in the form of carbon emissions.
Given the climate emergency, we have no choice but to take decisive action to mitigate this damage. Since 1st July 2019 we have been calculating every kilometre travelled by our team and clients on our holidays plus every flight taken to get there. Whether or not we book your flights to get there (we usually don’t) is irrelevant, we take responsibility for the carbon generated anyway.
However, simply balancing the scales isn't enough to claim that we are Travel Positive. Besides, we're bound to have missed some stuff, like some people flying business class. In fact, we go much further, 160% to be precise, and carbon balance every kilometre travelled by a mile instead of a kilometre.
For the carbon mitigation Pura Aventura works with a best in class Nicaraguan scheme based on reforestation of subsistence farms with long-term community involvement.
Although we are acting decisively, we are not claiming perfection, we continue to listen and to learn. Carbon mitigation (aka: offset) is controversial, it is not absolution but it is an action we can take now. Ultimately, we must fly less often but when we do, we must be sure to stay a while, and Travel Positive.
Visit Pura-Aventura.com to learn more about our tailor-made holidays to Spain, Portugal & Latin America.
