Code of Conduct for Our Guests

Environmental Responsibility

• Tread lightly – choose activities & transportation options with a reduced environmental impact.
• Don't collect or disturb flora or fauna, or their habitat.
• Don't feed wildlife; it can harm their health & encourage problematic behavior.
• Minimize noise to avoid disturbing wildlife & the quality of the experience for others.
• Reduce waste – from food to paper, remember to take only what & as much as you need, and bring reusable items, e.g. water bottle, coffee cup, shopping bag.
• Dispose of waste responsibly & use local recycling facilities where available.
• Before entering sensitive environments, clean your footwear to prevent the spread of invasive species.
• Remain on designated paths / trails.
• Respect fire restrictions; if campfires are permitted, ask us about how & where.
• Be waterwise – your participation shouldn't place additional stress on water-scarce environments.
• Save energy to reduce your carbon footprint & your impact on local supply challenges.
• Support climate change action, e.g., offset or regeneration programmes.

Cultural Sensitivity

• Be informed and ask questions – learn a bit about local nature, history & culture beforehand to enrich your experience. Your local guides will happily share their knowledge.
• Be respectful of privacy; obtain permission before taking photos / videos of people or sensitive sites.
• Be sensitive to the inequalities of our world and avoid displays of wealth, particularly in less privileged areas.
• Buy from local, small, or community-owned businesses, especially if they feature local nature or culture.
• Respect the routines of schools or other care facilities visited; avoid disrupting them.
• Respect customary tipping & trading practices – such as bartering – and pay fair prices.
• If you are taking part in a group tour or group excursion, behave appropriately and empathetically.
• Treat everyone with respect and refrain from any kind of insults, verbal or digital.

Ethical Considerations

• Be cautious about buying from children – you could unknowingly be supporting their exploitation.
• We discourage visits to orphanages; these vulnerable children are not a tourist attraction.
• If you want to give, ask us how to do so responsibly; offering sweets or money to individuals, for example, can often do more harm than good.

Souvenirs

List of illegal souvenirs:

• Animal Products: Items made from endangered animal species, including jaguar skins, caiman skins, turtle shells, and other animal pelts.
• Live Wildlife: Exotic animals, such as monkeys, parrots, and other wild birds, which are often sold as pets illegally.
• Animal Parts: Feathers, teeth, claws, bones, or any part of endangered animals, particularly those from jaguars, parrots, or dolphins.
• Coral Products: Objects made from corals, such as jewelry or sculptures, especially from endangered or protected marine species.
• Illegal Timber: Products made from illegally harvested or protected Amazonian woods, such as rosewood, mahogany, or Brazilian ebony, often used in crafts and furniture.
• Traditional Medicines: Items made from endangered species, such as jaguar teeth, believed to have medicinal properties.
• Artifacts or Antiques: Historical and cultural artifacts, such as indigenous relics, offered as souvenirs.
• Orchids and Other Protected Plants: Certain species of orchids and plants taken from their natural habitats without permits.
• Brazilian Fossils and Minerals: Fossils, stones, and minerals (like amethysts or quartz) that have been illegally extracted without authorization.
• Sea Turtle Eggs or Shell Products: Eggs or products made from the shells of endangered sea turtles, particularly common along the coast.