Somos Kallpa

We Are Kallpa

Who We Are

Kallpa Tour Operator is a pioneering and leading Travel Agency and DMC specialising in tailor-made travel in Argentina, for both independent travellers and special-interest groups. We design and operate trips with expertise in FIT, tour series, special groups, and tailor-made, cultural, adventure and premium products.

Since 1992 we have been creating programmes in the most attractive natural and cultural destinations of Argentina and its neighbouring countries, offering authentic experiences connected with nature, with care for environmental conservation and for the cultural identity of every place we visit.

We have two offices, in Buenos Aires and Salta, and members of our team work from Ushuaia and El Chaltén to provide personalised service in the most requested destinations.

Our team is trained in the destinations and committed to innovating, developing creative products and delivering quality, personalised service to our clients. Human support throughout the trip is central to what we offer: through our concierges and local assistance, travellers always have someone by their side whenever they need it.

The value of our proposition lies in understanding each client’s business model, bringing sound judgement about the destination, adapting to their needs, and supporting the operation with structure, closeness and responsibility. We seek to work as a team, respecting each client’s identity and acting as their operational and product support on the ground, combining local knowledge, adaptability and operational strength to design and operate trips aligned with their product and their travellers.

Purpose / Mission

We create authentic travel experiences that connect people with one another and with the places they visit, fostering meaningful encounters and contributing to human development through travel.

Business Vision

To build an international company that brings together an ecosystem of brands, stakeholders and experiences related to travel, creating value through knowledge, innovation and reliable execution, expanding into new businesses and generating positive socio-economic development in the communities and territories where it operates, with a future that extends beyond its founders.

Values

Closeness to the territory

We work from a genuine, living and respectful relationship with destinations, their stakeholders and their particularities.

Innovation with purpose

We look for new ways to create value in product, management and technology, always with meaning and depth.

Personalisation, reliability and support

We want clients and travellers to feel they can rely on us before, during and after their trip.

Humanity and respect

We understand travel as a human, cultural and relational experience, not merely a transaction.

Honesty and transparency

We build trust through seriousness, clarity and care for our relationships.

Sustainability

We promote a way of travelling and of doing business that protects territories, values communities and seeks to generate a positive long-term impact.

Ambition and continuous improvement

We want to grow, improve and build a company with a future, creating opportunities for our people and our communities.

Responsible tourism is at the core of our strategy for sustainable growth. This means maximising positive impacts on people and local areas while minimising negative effects across all areas of our operation, and investing in the professional and personal development of our staff as a central part of that growth.

This document, which includes our Sustainability Policies, sets out our commitments, guides our decisions and establishes the framework for product development, operations, supplier relationships, and communication with clients and partners. It is implemented by our Sustainability Coordinator and is reviewed annually every September.

Compliance and Commitment

We integrate sustainability principles into the way we operate. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Maintaining an accessible, written sustainability policy aimed at reducing the company’s negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts, including those affecting our staff.
  • Having sustainability guidelines and an assessment system in place to identify the sustainability performance of key suppliers and partners.
  • Having a sustainability action plan with clear objectives, actions, responsibilities and deadlines.
  • Upholding fair and respectful labour practices for all staff, including equal opportunities, non-discrimination, the prohibition of forced and child labour, and compliance with Argentine labour legislation (Employment Contract Law No. 20,744 — Ley de Contrato de Trabajo — and Collective Bargaining Agreement CCT 547/08).
  • Ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for all staff, in accordance with our Health and Safety Policy.

Driving Sustainability

We use our influence to promote sustainability throughout our operation and supply chain. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Providing regular guidance, training and information to all staff, tour leaders and guides on their roles and responsibilities regarding sustainable practices.
  • Designing itineraries that prioritise low-impact travel and cultural sensitivity.
  • Providing clients and travellers with information on how to travel responsibly and sustainably.
  • Applying sustainability criteria in the selection and ongoing assessment of destinations, avoiding or discouraging operations in areas where tourism causes significant negative impacts on communities or the environment.

Environmental Protection

We are committed to improving our environmental performance and conserving nature. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Measuring our carbon footprint and contributing to native reforestation projects.
  • Requiring suppliers to minimise their environmental impact through responsible use of resources, waste management and the reduction of single-use plastics, as set out in our Kallpa Service Agreement.
  • Implementing waste reduction practices in our offices, including paperless operations and responsible management of consumables.

Positive Impact

We are focused on reducing the negative effects of tourism and leaving a positive footprint. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Increasing our range of experiences centred on local communities.
  • Giving preference to qualified local guides and Tour Leaders in our recruitment process, recognising their role in sustaining local employment and the authentic destination knowledge they bring to our travellers.
  • Supporting local projects through staff volunteering and offering clients the opportunity to contribute through donations or volunteer tourism activities.

Empowering Partners and Colleagues

We work alongside our colleagues and partners to build a shared commitment to sustainability. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Sharing our sustainability progress at least once a year, both internally and publicly with clients and suppliers.
  • Providing sustainability guidelines and training to staff.
  • Recognising and promoting suppliers that hold sustainability certifications or demonstrate verifiable sustainable practices.

Promoting Sustainable Choices

We provide information on eco-friendly options to encourage clients to make responsible choices. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Informing clients about the sustainability level of the accommodation and services included in their itineraries.
  • Sharing with travellers a guide on how to travel more sustainably, through audiovisual content produced by Kallpa.
  • Promoting the use of public transport in urban areas.

Ethics and Integrity

We conduct all our business activities with honesty, transparency and full compliance with applicable law. Kallpa is committed to:

  • Prohibiting any form of bribery, corruption or improper payment in our business relationships, whether with public officials, suppliers, clients or any third party.
  • Expecting all staff, partners and representatives acting on behalf of Kallpa to uphold these standards without exception.
  • Maintaining clear reporting channels for any suspected violation, with guaranteed confidentiality and no retaliation for reports made in good faith.
  • Promoting fair competition and avoiding any conduct that could compromise the integrity or impartiality of our business decisions.

Service Quality

Kallpa Tour Operator has been delivering high-quality travel experiences for more than 30 years. We are committed to maintaining the service standards our clients expect and rely on.

  • Designing and operating itineraries that meet our clients’ needs while reflecting our values of authenticity and sustainability.
  • Gathering and acting on client feedback through systematic post-trip evaluation mechanisms, enabling the continuous improvement of our services.
  • Ensuring that all staff and partners involved in delivering our products are properly prepared and aligned with our operational and sustainability standards.

Ariel Fraia

Managing Partner, Kallpa Tour Operator S.R.L.

Rewilding Argentina-The Mass Restoration of damaged ecosystems

Every time we want to design itineraries for travelers who love to be surrounded by nature and at the same time learn about conservation, we can think about many places in Argentina. Argentina is blessed with a great diversity of Natural Environments, where different projects of conservation are arising. One of them is Rewilding Experience Argentina. Rincon del Socorro, Estancia Ibera and Posada Uguay are the jewels of this conservation trust and we are very happy to promote them between our clients.

“Rewilding means the mass restoration of damaged ecosystems. It involves letting trees return to places that have been denuded, allowing parts of the seabed to recover from trawling and dredging, permitting rivers to flow freely again. Above all, it means bringing back missing species.”George  Monbiot

Rewilding looks to recuperate the unique properties of ecosystems through the active management of its environments and native species, by accelerating the natural process of restoration, and even by reversing the extinction of key species. The objective of all their programs is to completely restore the ecosystems in protected areas located in the eco-regions of the Gran Chaco, the Patagonia steppe, the Sub-antarctic forest, the coast, the Paraná forest and the Yungas. They have a team of highly skilled and motivated people who have a wealth of experience acquired over more than fifteen years of continuous work in Argentina. Their restoration and conservation actions include the translocation of individual wild animals with the goal of reintroducing or supplementing the population of native species, managing grasslands through prescribed burns, the enrichment of degraded forests, removal of fences and the closing of unnecessary roads, control of exotic species and the removal of domestic livestock. Jaguars and pumas are the top large predators in Argentina, and both species have been persecuted by man. At Rewilding Argentina, they favor the recovery and conservation of both, while they understand that coexistence with humans depends on the development of alternative economies, like wildlife-viewing, as well as active management according to regional needs. 

Kallpa understands that through travel we are able to connect people with fragile natural areas and local communities, protecting nature and encouraging local crafts & customs. Responsible tourism can create & sustain local economies, ensuring the protection ofulture and avoiding the extinction of native species.

Oceano Patagonia- A Wild Coast Residence cares about sustainability

Oceano Patagonia: Wild Coast Residence cares about sustainability by balancing environmental care with support to local economies in Peninsula Valdés.

Its goal was to build the best boutique accommodation in the area, in terms of building design, service level and with the minimum impact on the environment. To make it possible, the hotel prioritizes the use of local resources & suppliers, the selection of construction materials used and national technology.

The Oceano Patagonia eco-suites are located on the beach in the heart of Península Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a sanctuary for many species of animals that live here throughout the year.“We stood on the beach looking at this deep blue bay and unique fauna and felt profoundly committed to doing our best to generate the least possible impact and transmit these values to our guests. ” says Marcelo Battilana, one of the developers of Oceano Patagonia Sharilyn Amy, the other founder of Ocean Patagonia, continues: “There is really no other place in the world like the Peninsula and we wanted to do everything possible to make decisions that would protect this oasis and address the main environmental problems of the area: Energy and Water.”To achieve these sustainable principles, Oceano Patagonia invested in technology to meet the challenges in the area, by installing:

 

  • Geothermal energy provides heating, air conditioning and hot water using only 5% of the energy of other systems.
  • Gray water system, reducing water and sewer consumption by 50%
  • LED lamps, reducing electricity consumption by 20%
  • Improve the building thermal isolation, by using specific masonry and carpentry.
  • Recycled wood for furniture, manufactured by artisanal carpenters, as a way to encourage small-scale Argentine producers.
  • Photovoltaic panels contribute to the generation of energy to compensate for the already low consumption of the building.

In addition, they have a strong commitment to supporting the local economy. Its policy was and is to work with local and Argentine suppliers: 90% of its materials were purchased in the province. Nowadays, they are buying all their food and body care products used in the Patagonia Ocean from local suppliers.

 “The challenge of sourcing local suppliers has opened up a lot of new relationships across the country,” explains Amy, “And it helped us start a broader conversation about our responsibility to the environment.”

 

The hotel founders are personally involved in making these environmental commitments possible with every operating decision they take.

Ocean Patagonia is one of the most eco-friendly buildings in Argentina … and one of its kind in the province of Chubut.

Rural Tourism Network in the Calchaqui Valleys, Salta

Over the last few years, we have learnt that a different, accessible and more responsible way to travel is much needed.

 

In Kallpa we understand that we can contribute to transform our industry by developing experiences that enhance this trait.

More travellers are looking to go beyond just visiting a new foreign country. 

They are starting to look for different ways to enrich their experience by

 learning  and experimenting with locals, sharing activities as well as getting knowledge of rural and native communities lifestyle. The cultural exchange and mutual respect between local people and visitors, provides real  growth for both parties and a true development opportunity.

Salta has been a leading destination in Argentina for rural community tourism. Twelve local communities from the Calchaquí Valley joined to create a cooperative organization that is self-managed by families of farmers and artisans who open their doors to share different activities and experiences with visitors from all around the world.The whole network contributes with part of their income for a common purpose decided by all families involved in the project. It can be providing solar panels to a specific area where there is no electricity available  or making the necessary infrastructure to get drinkable water.

These communities are open to visitors to experience rural tourism, taking part in daily farming activities, visiting artisans and doing outdoor strolls or horseback rides. Cook and taste the local typical dishes such as empanadas, locro (meat and vegetable stew) tamales and humitas.  Using a mud oven, sharing  local traditions, taking care of a flock of goats, learning about grapevine and artisanal winemaking, visiting archaeological sites, hiking through the hills, learning craftworks like pottery, using a loom or sharing a religious festivity, among others. Wine tasting is also available in certain communities.

A once in a lifetime experience to be a local for a few memorable moments and enhance the travel experience in a sustainable way.

NOTE

  • Available options: Half day experience, including an activity and lunch with local family. Full day experience including overnight at a local family home, full board and activities.
  • Travellers are assigned to Communities depending on their availability and the activity that the visitors would like to take part in.
  • It is important to book the experience in advance, so that the community families can be prepared for the visit, and also for the visitor to read the Ethical Code of Conduct that will be provided.