Latin America proves yet again that it is a leader in the global fight for conservation and environmental protection. Even when traditional tourism funds dried up during the pandemic, these initiatives continued their work in protecting and restoring wildlife, nature, and culture. Explore five Latin America conservation projects we're passionate about below.

Andean Condor Huasi Project, Ecuador 

Through its esteemed Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation, Hacienda Zuleta is internationally regarded as one of the leaders in condor conservation and has spent the past 20 years attempting to produce condor chicks in captivity and release them into the wild. This is no easy feat, as condors are known to mate for life, do not reach reproductive status until seven or eight years old, and only produce one egg every one to three years. The Condor Huasi Project has seven condors, which includes two sets of breeding pairs and three juveniles. After several years and setbacks, both condor pairs have successfully hatched and raised chicks this past year. To have two breeding pairs is a huge blessing and encouragement for the Condor Huasi Project and the survival of the Andean condor.  

Sol y Luna Foundation, Peru 

Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley is lauded worldwide for its style, hospitality, and setting. However, what makes the hotel truly special is that 100% of the hotel’s profits are funneled directly into the Sol y Luna Foundation, an institution dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children in the Sacred Valley. The Sol y Luna Home provides education and a stable and loving environment for 20 children from troubled backgrounds. Pre-pandemic, their funding came from bookings at Hotel Sol y Luna and donations from guests. These, of course, dried up during the pandemic, but they were still able to keep the children safe and secure, even when the property closed.  

Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador

In January, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso signed a declaration to expand the boundaries of the renowned Galapagos Marine Reserve by 23,000 square miles. The Galapagos Marine Reserve has one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet. It’s home to a wide range of species, including green sea turtles and Galapagos penguins. With the expansion, the total area of protected marine habitat increased to 76,448 square miles. This is a huge step in ensuring the protection of migration routes of many endangered species that stretch from the Galapagos archipelago to Costa Rica, including hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks. Additionally, with the joint effort by Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia to expand their marine protected areas, the Galapagos Marine Reserve now connects to the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, one of the largest protected marine areas in the world.

Patagonia National Park, Chile  

The opening of Explora Patagonia in December 2021 has given luxury travelers a new reason to visit the “once in a lifetime” destination. The 10-bedroom lodge enjoys a favored location within Chile’s Patagonia National Park, which is part of the Patagonia National Parks Network. The network of parks was formed by land donated to the Chilean state by the Tompkins Conservation Foundation (established by Douglas and Kristine Tompkins) and covers more than 750,000 acres (about the area of Yosemite National Park). The park has been internationally recognized as an example of grassland conservation after successfully reverting centuries of over-grazing and reintroduction of key plant and animal species. Through careful curation of guest activities and respect for the unique geography, Explora will be able to continue the conservation and rewilding work started by the Tompkins Conservation Foundation.  

Explore Latin America Conservation Projects with Ker & Downey

Whether you want to explore one of these Latin America conservation projects on your next journey, or simple donate, Ker & Downey is here to help. Contact a designer to start discussing your next adventure or explore our giving back partners.