Jamaica highlights tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community. The average carbon footprint per person on this tour is 366 kilograms of CO?e.
In Jamaica, our groups consist of a maximum of 16 , which means using smaller vehicles instead of large tour buses for exploration. Whenever possible, we will explore on foot. During this tour, we stay at Hibiscus Lodge, renowned for its restaurant that champions local produce. We also stay at Lashings, who have implemented electric car chargers, established plastic recycling points, and undertaken tree-planting efforts, contributing to the promotion of eco-tourism in Jamaica.


ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

Our local Tour Leaders actively advocate for sustainable behaviours, and are well-versed in implementing our Leave No Trace policy, particularly crucial in delicate ecosystems such as the Blue Mountains, teeming with wildlife and ecological sensitivity. Every customer is briefed on adhering to local conservation regulations. During our journey, we stay at the Bay View Eco Resort & Spa. Formerly a coconut plantation, this site has been transformed into a sustainable haven, using reclaimed structures that preserve its heritage while reintroducing indigenous flora and fauna.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Our leaders are the heart of our tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community. Our Jamaica holiday is designed to get behind the scenes of the all inclusive reports and cruise ships it is often associated with, and get to know the local people, cultures and small towns. We choose to stay in locally-owned accommodations, and we encourage our customers to eat in local establishments and shop in locally owned businesses. One exciting part of our trip is visiting the Maroon community in western Jamaica. These villagers are some of the last to hold onto their heritage, but many are moving to cities for work. We'll have a local Tour Leader with us who knows the area well. They'll make sure our spending helps support the community. We only employ local guides and crew members, giving economic benefits to the regions we travel through. We prioritize family-run accommodations over all-inclusive chain resorts, which tend to have a much larger carbon footprint and use more imported foodstuffs. During our trip, we lodge at Merrils Beach Resorts, a Jamaican-owned and family-managed establishment. We also stay at Lashings Hotel, which employs over 60 local individuals, helping to contribute to the local economy.


EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

Our local partner in Jamaica only hires people from the surrounding community, and so all our service providers are Jamaican. They prioritise fair wages, and offer compensation above the minimum wage of Jamaica. All of our trips are female-led by our local Jamaican Tour Leader. She has a big character, and really shows our travellers the best that Jamaica has to offer! Through our visits to the Maroon community, we help ensure sustainable tourism practices aimed at preserving the rich Maroon heritage. By engaging with their village and immersing ourselves in their way of life, we contribute to the continuity of their cultural legacy. Additionally, in Treasure Beach, guests have the opportunity to participate in a cooking class led by a local chef, which helps support local enterprises and the broader Jamaican community. Lashings hotel shows our commitment to community empowerment. As it does away with the all-inclusive model, it encourages its customers to dine at local bars and restaurants instead, thereby supporting the wider community. Lashings also demonstrates a dedication to philanthropy by supporting local charities and showcasing Jamaican artists through an on-site art gallery. Notably, during the Covid-19 pandemic, they also mobilized resources and funds to aid regional hospitals.