Sustainability at Swoop Patagonia

Swoop has always tried to ensure that our actions match our belief in the power of travelling for good. When we became a certified B Corp, we created the Swoop Conservation Fund to further extend the positive impacts of our travels.

We currently donate 1% of Swoop’s revenues to non-profit organisations making significant positive impacts in the destinations we visit – and encourage all our travellers to consider supporting its work.

In Patagonia, the Swoop Conservation Fund has financially supported the following: 

• Legado Chile Working on habitat restoration, rewilding and community education in the urban wetlands of Llanquihue in Los Lagos province.
• Rewilding Chile Supporting the creation of a new national park at Cabo Froward, with an important mix of terrestrial and marine habitats, and a rare population of huemul deer.
• Fundación Reforestemos Support the creation of a large scale lenga tree nursery within Torres del Paine, for the purpose of reforestation in the national park.
• Banco de Bosques Conserving Perito Moreno National park and associated educational programmes in Argentina's Santa Cruz province.
• Agenda Antartica Capacity building with Argentina's main Antarctic NGO to strengthen environmental advocacy through science-policy dialogue and regionally grounded leadership.

Our trips adhere to the Leave No Trace principles of travel:

1. Plan ahead and prepare Visit in small groups where possible and always be prepared for changing weather conditions, hazards and emergencies. Pack to minimise waste.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces Use existing trails and campsites where possible, sticking to paths to avoid impact the environment. Camp away from water sources.

3. Dispose of waste properly Carry out all your rubbish and food. Use biodegradable soap and wash away from water sources. Bury and cover any solid human waste away from water sources, campsites and trails, and pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.

4. Leave what you find Don’t touch or remove cultural or historic artefacts, and leave plants and natural objects in their places. Don’t build structures, rock cairns or dig trenches. Avoid transporting non-native species.

5. Minimise campfire impacts Obey rules where campfires are forbidden. Where allowed, keep fires small using only loose sticks that can be broken by hand. Scatter the cold ashes after the fire has burned down.

6. Respect wildlife Observe wildlife from a distance. Never feed wild animals or behave in any way that makes them alter their natural behaviour.

7. Be considerate of other visitors Respect and be courteous to other visitors. Yield to others on the trail and let the sound of nature prevail to protect the quality of everyone's experience.