Patagonia, Atacama and Rapa Nui all possess a great treasure: the people who live there. We are committed to actively promoting the well-being and development of these local communities and our commitment can be seen on all of our Patagonia, Atacama and Rapa Nui travel vacations.
For us, social action is part of our effort to be a part of the local community, to learn about its desires and contribute as much as possible to making them come true.
At Atacama our guides teach English throughout the year to children at schools in the neighboring towns of Camar, Talabre, Socaire and Río Grande. We have also invited the children to stay at the hotel, take part in our explorations and learn about astronomy in our observatory.
Travelers who are interested in sharing and supporting the schools can talk to our Explorations Manager to coordinate a visit.
At San Pedro de Atacama we also support disabled children at the Fundación Juriques, by inviting them to come for breakfast at the lodge twice a month and contributing to their kinesiology treatment at the Puritama thermal springs. We also try to promote physical activity by organizing explorations with the children of the town, including treks, coordinated with the local medical center, where the majority of the children go with their parents. These explorations usually end with lunch at the lodge.
In Patagonia we support institutions in Puerto Natales which help elderly people and disabled children who are at risk. Every year on Children's Day our guides take children from the “Madre Teresa de Calcuta” children's home to explore Torres del Paine national park.
On Rapa Nui, we donate prizes for activities organized by schools and organizations that support children and the elderly. Periodically we organize lunch with the “Centro del Adulto Mayor” retirement home and sponsor a range of activities, many of them sporting. We have sponsored certain Rapa Nui surfing, boating and handball tournaments, both at the pan-American and international level.
