Why Travel with EcoCircuitos on your next trip to Panama?

Traveling with EcoCircuitos Panama is the best way to know our amazing country.  We are able to negotiate much better rates at hotels and in off season we offer amazing discounts.  Also, we are a local team of enthusiasts that have the best inside knowledge of the top places, lodges, and adventures while in Panama.   We want you to have a real transformative and authentic experience, not just a tour!

Our company was founded in 1999 by a passionate Panamanian woman that love her country and her people and has been committed to the development of sustainable tourism, providing distinct responsible travel options throughout the Republic of Panama. Our team is comprised of multi-lingual travel experts and enthusiasts that ensure our clients are provided with high-quality services and memorable custom made adventures.

We pride ourselves on our reputation for delivering exceptional travel experiences and we have compiled an 8 simple list of reasons why you should choose us on your next vacation to Panama.

1. Value for Money:  From the moment of your booking request to your departure, every single step of your journey is attended by local specialists to ensure an authentic travel experience.
2. Tailor made for you:  Our team of Panama experts designs your itinerary personalized for you and depending on your preferences and the time and budget you want to spend.
3. IN-depth insights: Gain a holistic understanding of culture, architecture, history, nature, and wildlife with our specialist local guides who are experts in the field.
4. Local passion: We are Panamanians and travel enthusiasts.  Our vacation programs are designed base upon our own discoveries and favorite places.  We believe in offering authentic experiences by local’s experts.  We want you to experience the real Panama!
5. Responsible Traveling: Our philosophy is to approach each destination carefully, considering the impact that our tours will have on the environment and the local communities.
6. Safety & Trust: EcoCircuitos has a Health and Safety policy in place, which is communicated to all staff members, guides, drivers, and subcontractors.   All our vehicles meet all local safety/maintenance standards.  Also, we go beyond and carry a liability insurance of 500K.
7. Flexibility and Logistics: Using EcoCircuitos give you the flexibility to enjoy fully your vacation.  We will deal with all communications, logistics and will take away all the hassle from you.  You only get to sit back and enjoy Panama.
8. Unique Destinations: We love exploring unusual places away from common tourist paths:  lush rainforest, archeological sites, beautiful islands and amazing local communities.  You will experience always something new!

EcoCircuitos on the top 25 of Responsible Travel companies for Latin America

Travelers Against Plastic

Supporting local communities

Working with local indigenous guides

Carrying capacity in trails and national parks

Cultural tours

Kayaking the Gatun Lake

On 15 February 2016 EcoCircuitos Panama was selected as one of the top 25 responsible tourism agencies in Latin America on Viajero Responsable It was highlighted that all the selected agencies have a common philosophy and implement tourism practices in a responsible manner with the environment, communities and with the tourists they receive. EcoCircuitos Panama is honored to have received this recognition. For more information visit: Viajero Responsable America Latina and at EcoCircuitos Panama.

10 Ways to be a Greener Traveler

We all enjoy traveling and discovering new cultures, meeting new people and trying new food.  But we do forget about the impact that our travels and adventures can leave to the world.  Take a look of our 10 recommendations to be a greener traveler, so you can explore the world and keep it for the future generations.

Hiking in marked trails

local gastronomy

non-stop flights

explore the city by bike

Walking tours

Locally owned lodges

Local hotels

1.  Bring your own water bottle:  instead of purchasing plastic bottles of water, bring your own bottle.  Panama’s water from the tap is good to drink, you will also can fill the water at the hotel, restaurant or tour company.   Check TAP (Travelers Against Plastic).
2. Use e-tickets instead of printing vouchers: From flights, vouchers, itineraries,  online confirmations, and e-tickets.  You can have it in your phone when traveling (less consumption of paper and more trees) by choosing e-tickets.
3. Conserve water and energy: Be mindful of the local communities water needs and energy costs by keeping showers short and reusing linens and towels in a hotel, hang your laundry to dry, brush your teeth, and do dishes without running the water.  And also, turn off the lights and TV when you leave the room.
4.  Use biodegradable products instead of plastics: If a product is biodegradable, it simply means it can be broken down in the natural world into raw materials.
5. Use local business and buy local products:  Tourism support local economies and alleviate poverty. But only if you’re actually spending the money locally.  Do your research ahead of time, and find nice locally-run business and hotels instead of big chains.
6. Stay away from animals in captivity:  If you see an attraction or a hotel that advertises interaction with wild animals, be very wary.   We suggest to avoid any attraction based around animals in captivity.  Explore our national parks and try seeing them in the wild.
7. Hike marked trails:  Don´t go off marked trails when hiking and maintain a safe distance from any animals you encounter.  Take your trash with you when you leave the trail.
8. Recycle your Trash:  Make sure to ask the hotel and your tour operator about their recycling program.  If traveling to San Blas Islands make sure to bring the trash with you.
9. Book non-stop flights whenever possible:   A significant percentage of a plane’s carbon emission come from takeoff and landing.
10. Book a biking or walking tour:  those are low impact and help you get to know the area in a better way.  A good option is our walking tour Casco Antiguo and Cinta Costera.

EcoCircuitos Business Objectives

By Annie Young J.

A while ago I heard the quote by Mahatma Gandhi, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”.

This quote really hit home for me and since I have heard it has become one of my mottos in life. Before returning home from a study abroad program where I volunteered with a conservation organization I went on a backpacking trip that inspired me to create EcoCircuitos Panama (1999). After this trip I realized that I wanted to share my passion for Panama with the rest of the world in a different way.

As a dreamer, I felt that we could connect conservation, social development and tourism. This has been my goal since I began EcoCircuitos Panama. It has not been easy… sometimes promoting responsible travel is more difficult that the classical approach, but we believe that it can be done.

The EcoCircuitos Panama team including myself has evolved since the company began. I have learned from many different people that have worked with me all these years that in today’s world you have to give something back… not just take.

Today we are a team of local enthusiasts about Panama. On a daily basis we learn from each other sharing, our dreams for sustainable development. It is important to me to motivate each member of my team to create, innovate and collaborate in an environment where it is not only my vision that is followed.

Our objectives as a company are very clear to us:

– Create low-impact tours and experiences that are appealing to our clients.

– Increase the level of awareness amongst travelers and turning them in effective agents for conservation.

– Channel a portion of our revenues towards supporting the conservation and sustainable use of Panama´s biodiversity.

– Reduce poverty through environmental conscious income generation activities and employment, which effectively decrease the threat to biodiversity in our local communities.

– Encourage active participation and involvement of local communities in the development, operation and monitoring of tourism activities.

This is our responsibility as a tour operator and DMC in Panama, and we are a happy team that is following a beautiful dream.

Tour in a local community

Fabio Trujillo in one of our tours.

Eco Team having a day off

Cultural tours

Kayaking the Gatun Lake

INCENTIVES AND MEETINGS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE

Incentive travel is a reward or recognition to the staff of an organization that fulfill their goals.  This type of travel it is used also by companies to change the behavior, to improve productivity and to motivate the team to become more successful and engage with the organization philosophy.

EcoCircuitos Incentives is committed to making Panama a better place through tourism.  As we are true believers that any type of travel can include the sustainable component, we work with our clients, partners and staff to develop incentives programs that are authentic, fun and responsible.

SUSTAINABLE PARTNERS

We encourage our clients to incorporate sustainable and responsible practices into their planned meetings and incentives travel to Panama.  Our company will source the best locations and venues that share this commitment of responsibility while we take active actions to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste generated by the events and activities.

EcoCircuitos Incentives offers innovative Meetings, Incentives and Events for clients who demand only the best.  Our experiences are unique and specifically designed to inspire our travelers.  All of our incentives are fully customizable to ensure the best possible experience for our clientele and organize in different areas of Panama that offers cultural, folklore and diversity.

Our company is committed to responsible travel and sustainable tourism development. We believe that travelers are agents of change and we aim preserve the travel experience for generations to come by educating travelers on the diversity & cultural wealth of the places they visit.  We aim to provide adventures in Panama with minimal negative impact on the environment or on the local cultures of the places we operate.

EcoCircuitos Incentives is the choice for all travelers who want conscientious travel with style. A percentage of all our profits are donated to local organizations that support sustainable development and conservation. Ask our team for a list of partner’s organizations.

For more information contact us!

http://www.ecocircuitos.com/incentive

Rum Tasting

Clean drinking Water in Panama

” In a land of abundant rain, nobody should be dying for a drink of water”
Joe Bass

Today is UN World Water Day, which was established to bring global attention to the importance of fresh water and to advocate sustainable management of water resources.

Panama knows the importance of this: There are still many regions in the country where access to clean water cannot be taken for granted.  This means that the development of water supplies and the responsible use of the water we have is a top priority for us.

In acknowledgement of this, EcoCircuitos is involved in the National Geographic “go blue” Geotourism campaign. This project is a cooperation with the USAID Regional Program for The Management of Aquatic Resources an Economic Alternatives and the Inter-American Development Bank, and offers advice to travelers who visit regions with sensitive water supplies.

It is sometimes difficult for travelers to understand at the first glance how scarce water resources in a region can be, and it is our goal to sensitize each of our visitors to the importance of sensible water management. What you as a tourist can do? There are various options:

1.    Save water

Ask about the water supplies at your hotel, and if water is scarce, make sure not to use more than necessary. Run tap water only when you really need it, make your showers short, and only do laundry if necessary. Re-use your towels and bed sheets, and let the hotel know when you want them changed, instead of having them changed everyday.

2.    Be responsible with drinking water

Before you travel, ask about drinking water supplies. Maybe it makes sense if you bring your own bottled water? Maybe you can even help donate water to the local community?

Do not waste drinking water while you are in a sensitive destination, use it only for drinking or cooking!

3.    Be informed

Ask before you go! Ask us about the water situation in the place where you are going, and what you can do to help. We are happy to give you all the information you need to become a water-sensitive traveler in Panama

4.    Volunteer

There are various campaigns around Panama that can use volunteers or donations to improve water supplies to local communities. A good example is  the “go blue” featured campaign Operation Safe Drinking Water in Bocas del Toro, where volunteers spend one single day each to help supply local schools with clean drinking water. Ask us about charities and projects you can support.

Tourism as Direct Trade: Some thoughts on Responsible Travel

“When you travel, you have choices around how to spend your money. You can go to the foreign owned Hilton, or you can seize your vacation as an opportunity to exercise a small form of social justice. You can eat at local restaurants, stay at hotels owned by locals, and go on tours run by people who are in and of the place you’re visiting.”

This paragraph, an excerpt from the very thoughtful article Tourism as Direct Trade, could barely be expressed any better.

Using local resources when you travel is one of the key essentials of responsible tourism. It not only helps local communities sustain themselves, it can also encourage them to value their traditions more – after all, the tradition is a big part of what we come to see.

And, most importantly, if you truly want to get to know a country, a people, a community, the only way to go is to meet the locals. So stay with the locals, take a local guide (he knows all the secret spots your travel agent at home has never heard of), and try the local food.

Who would be better to show you a country than the people who live there, who love it, and who care about its preservation, because they know their children will grow up there? And who would be better off to take your tourist dollars than the people whose land you walk on, whose hospitality you enjoy?

Choose EcoCircuitos Panama on your next trip to this Central America destination and discover why sustainable tourism is the way of the adventure now.  We want to offer unique authentic experience by a local team of Panamanians.  Contact us today!  http://www.ecocircuitos.com