Walking in Andalucia, Spain

Planet

Wherever possible we use fruit and vegetables sourced locally. Where we buy food we use local markets, which only stock locally grown produce in season, thus supporting the local agricultural community. Evening meals are taken locally in typical Spanish restaurants serving regional dishes.

We have the greatest respect for the local people and their customs and are anxious to share our knowledge of Andalucia with our guests. We take our clients to local fairs, processions and celebrations when they coincide with a vacation, and we explain the background. We also provide people with a history of Torrox and the surrounding villages during our walks. We encourage our guests to speak to the local people in the village, if only to say hello.

We work in partnership with local businesses and we generate new business and work in the local economy. Guests have an opportunity to visit the local olive oil co-operative and purchase locally produced olive oil, local wine and other goods. We encourage clients to buy home-made products such as dried figs, raisins, honey, almonds and wine.

Our cleaners and extra drivers are local people. Our guests stay in local village hotels, which have been restored by local workmen and we have been careful to ensure that these hotels have retained their unique Moorish character whilst providing all necessary comforts. This helps the Pueblo retain its immense charm and encourages sustainable tourism, which is necessary for the growth of a healthy local economy.

During our walks our guests are encouraged to behave in an environmentally responsible manner. We stay on well marked paths and we always take our litter home with us. We do not encourage the picking of wild flowers and plants.We do not leave any type of fruit peel along the way.

People

Our community is very important to us and we respect and like them enormously. Our food is cooked by local chefs, the hotels cleaned and maintained by tradesmen and ladies from the village. Our guides have lived in the area for many years and are known and respected by the villagers.We use the local petrol station for refuelling, limit the use of unnecessary transport thus keeping the traffic from building in the winding streets.