Community and Environment

We are socially and culturally committed to the community and adapt our business strategies to preserve the environment.

At Sodadetour, we are passionately committed to ethical and sustainable tourism in Cape Verde. Our Responsible Travel Policy, described on this page, reflects our dedication to providing enriching experiences that respect the environment and culture. We believe in designing tours that are not only stimulating for our guests, but also beneficial for the environment and local communities.

In line with our commitment, we have implemented a Sustainable Management System based on sustainable tourism criteria. Our aim is to offer our guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience, immersing them in the diversity of cultures and the beauty of Cape Verde’s landscapes in an engaging, safe and responsible way.

Ready to embark on a journey that transcends tourism? Join Sodadetour to experience the wonders of our country responsibly. Explore our Responsible Travel Policy and find out how you can be part of a meaningful and sustainable adventure.

Here’s a look at our core beliefs.

An appreciation of foreign culture is arguably the most important thing you can take away from a trip, and this understanding serves most effectively as a gateway to that kind of appreciation. So it doesn’t hurt to return the favour of making us honoured guests in the place you visit. The memory of your holiday is directly proportional to the value you place on the local culture.

We promote knowledge of the regional traditions that people follow, because we respect those traditions. We believe that the best way to do this is to share this knowledge with our clients. We want them to respect and understand the respectable traditions of all the regions we have the pleasure of working in.

We prevent people from taking offence while helping our customers celebrate the variety of cultures around the world. This not only adds more layers to the travelling experience, but also makes the locations we visit more interesting and fun.

We go to great lengths to ensure that all the businesses that benefit from our tours are locally operated. For this reason, we book our meals in local, quiet restaurants. We choose local people to act as our guides. Our guides will be happy to show you the best of Cape Verde, such as the local flora and fauna, as well as local stories and experiences.

As a company, we are environmentally conscious and therefore endeavour to reduce emissions of all kinds of gases. And we do this by recycling. Sodadetour believes that the path to national development lies in recognising the existence of a balanced environment, both from a natural and urban point of view.

The policy in question lists all the practices we endeavour to adopt. It provides comprehensive information on the actions that are underway and those that we still intend to carry out. It is a policy that is constantly being revised and improved. The opinion of those who are affected by it and those who relate to it (i.e. anyone who provides us with feedback) is valued by us.

We only use products, suppliers and services offered by local companies because we believe this is an extremely ethical action. Even if this means paying different prices, we have no problem with this because we benefit the local economy. We employ local citizens to run our operations.

We encourage our customers to buy locally produced products. We also advise them to buy handicrafts and other gifts in local shops.

We encourage residential tourism so that local residents can earn an income.

Environmental sustainability

Along with economic responsibility, we also focus on environmental responsibilities. We have several suggestions for supporting and preserving the environment and natural habitat. In addition, our guides speak more than one language. However, they can also provide detailed information on all national issues. 

1. We use cleaning substances such as soap and biodegradable detergent and we expect our clients to use the same. 

2. We ensure that the means of transport we use suit the region and meet the needs of our travellers. We regularly inspect and maintain these vehicles so that they operate at full efficiency, limiting the formation of carbon emissions while ensuring the safety and comfort of our customers.

3. In regions where we use animals for transport, we only hire operators who treat them well. We consider animal welfare essential and do not support people who do not comply.

4. Cleanliness is our most important attribute, we don’t throw rubbish anywhere and we dispose of waste properly in appropriate places.

5. We advise our customers to use the toilets to do their business and not outdoors. 

6. Dispose of batteries in cities and not in any remote location.

7. Don’t waste resources such as water and electricity. You can contribute by switching off lights and equipment that are not in use.

8. Only use existing camping sites.

9. Don’t damage or disturb vegetation.

10. Try not to use soaps containing phosphates. Also, don’t wash when swimming to keep the water unpolluted.

11. Respect others and avoid making unnecessary noise.

12. Don’t do anything to damage the environment. 

13. Don’t remove herbs and plants. Avoid creating new trails or paths. Just use the existing ones.

14. Also, bury the toilet paper or burn it. If the customer wants, they can transport it to a suitable disposal point.

15. You will be asked to stay at least 30 metres away from any water source.

16. Take your rubbish with you or dispose of it properly. Make sure you don’t leave any cans, bottles or plastic behind.

17. Recycle whenever possible.

18. Is it safe and appropriate to light a fire? Is the area dry or are there other associated risks?

19. Are you using fuel from a renewable resource? If it’s wood, only collect it from the ground and don’t cut down trees or break branches. If it’s coal, switch to another option.

20. Burning plastic emits toxic gases, so don’t throw bags, packaging and cigarette ends into the fire.

21. When you no longer need the fire, bury it well and make sure you don’t leave any dirty stains on the ground.

Social sustainability

Sodadetours’ mission is to promote responsible travel. We include social duties at the heart of our company in order to deliver more significant benefits to humanity while preserving the environment.

Our clients

We know that relaxation is essential on every holiday, but we must respect our fellow human beings. As such, we want our clients to have a positive impact on their destinations. We offer detailed notes highlighting the cultural sensitivities of each tour and we hope you will read them. After clients arrive, our tour guides also brief them on the tour.

We have created a Travellers’ Code. These guidelines are comprehensive in a general sense and provide guidance on all the basics such as preserving sources, conserving the environment, distributing gifts and tips, and so on.

We also consider ethics to be an essential part of our research. We value feedback on our policies, so we ask our clients to comment on our responsible practices and make suggestions.

We also have national experts who are encouraged and help us improve our travel initiatives.

Employees

We consider diversity throughout the employment process. We believe in fair pay regulations, participative management, workplace safety, personal growth and favourable working circumstances. We want to expand and share our social responsibilities with our employees and customers.

We hire industry experts from local regions and spend several years in the field. The salaries of our trekking staff, drivers, guides and cooks are in line with market averages on a daily basis. In addition, we never overload our employees with their duties and we guarantee their safety throughout their work.

Our office operates in a safe and secure environment. We strive to conserve energy, create recycling programmes and take environmental responsibility.

Suppliers and Local Operators

We want to work with suppliers who share our commitment to social responsibility and who, like us, provide their clients with the best possible service while respecting the community and protecting the environment.

Sodadetour has been running tours in Cape Verde for eight years. We have built long and successful relationships with our partners. We believe that our continued success is due to the fact that we support the local communities that host us. We are committed to supporting their businesses and enabling these operators to thrive. It increases their confidence and leads to the development of their services and products.

Whenever we design a new route, we consult and seek advice from various local communities to make sure that we are putting together realistic proposals. When selecting these companies, we only receive help from those who have a positive outlook and plan to work in the long term. We are always transparent about how our products can influence local communities and we never impose them where they are not welcome.

From the outset we have relied on local companies, agents and guides. Almost all the specialists we hire are from the area. Ensuring that we have qualified and motivated workers, good customer service and the continuation of local traditions.

We are closely linked to local agencies, which allows us to contribute to the local economy. It also allows our clients to gain a deeper insight into the local culture and traditions followed in these areas when they collaborate with our locally hired staff. 

Sodadetour ensures that locally hired employees work under fair conditions, receive fair wages and are provided with adequate support by our tourism team. 

Local Accommodation

We give our clients the opportunity to stay with a host family, no matter where they are. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved and allows for a cultural exchange that benefits everyone. Our guests experience the local lifestyle while the localities benefit from it in terms of economy and society.

When our guests visit Santo Antao Island, they stay in the homes of local residents. Thus, both consumers and local communities benefit from coexistence.

Local food and restaurants

On all our tours, we encourage our clients to consume food from local inns rather than dine at multinational brands, which they can do at home. It gives customers the genuine flavour of traditional food. Helps local communities adhere to their culinary traditions and recipes.

It guarantees cultural longevity, an asset in areas where these rituals are in danger of being lost.

There are some Adventure Tours where we offer food to our clients. We buy fresh, tasty and quality items from reputable local markets in areas where this is possible. Our commitment to supporting them ensures that these businesses continue to thrive and develop.