Amazon Nature Tours helps fund local environmental education

For new bookings made for the company’s six-day expedition cruises, Dec. 7-13 and Dec. 21-27, Amazon Nature Tours will donate 10% of the proceeds to an environmental education project that directly supports study of the tropical forest.

Community-based effort

The Projeto Escolar Natureza! is a small-scale, community-based effort in Brazil’s Amazonas state that is managed by Amazon Nature Tours. It provides materials and curricular support for education about the environment and Amazon biology to small schools deep in the Amazon.

Travelers on these departures will be able to visit a community and observe the benefit of this contribution.

‘Our mission for the past 30 years that we’ve been in business is to do what we can to encourage a deeper understanding of the beauties of the tropical rain forest and the fundamental need to preserve this wild forest,’ said Mark Baker, president of Amazon Nature Tours.

Sailings unaffected by fires

‘While our sailings are unaffected by the fires in the Brazilian Amazon and are located nearly 600 miles away, we are critically aware of the need to not just protect this unique region, but also to raise awareness of it around the world.’

Amazon Nature Tours operates four- and six-day sailings that explore the least inhabited major river in the Amazon basin, the Río Negro. These expedition cruises are led by trained naturalists and include kayak and launch excursions into the ‘flooded forests,’ hikes, visits to native villages, fishing for piranhas and beach outings.

Solar energy harnessed on board

Passengers sail on the 18-passenger Tucano, that has been completely refitted to make it one of the most sustainable vessels in the region. A significant portion of the energy used on board is generated by solar panels. Solar energy is used to heat water for showers, refrigeration in the galley, to make ice, and to power the ship's launches.

Single-use plastic has been eliminated on board and all staff, food and linens are sourced locally. For these efforts, the company received the Latin American Travel Association Sustainability Achievement Award as most sustainable tour operator.

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