Supporting local businesses is at the soul of responsible tourism. Our holidays visit local business, restaurants and accommodations to help spread tourism's benefits.

But, we want to go a little further. Viva Expeditions has partnered with Kiva to provide micro-financing for small businesses operated by women in poorer countries across Latin America. We do this by donating $5 on every paperless booking made through Viva Expeditions. 

Why have we chosen to support female-owned businesses?

The Viva Expeditions logo is a symbol of our identity and values. We're a travel company born from a love of South America, a passion for its people and culture. Our logo features a cholita; a woman that you'll likely see on your adventures in Latin America, often dressed in traditional clothes, bowler hat and a thickly layered skirt.

To us, a cholita is a tough woman - somebody that works hard, often in high altitudes and in tough climates. Our aim is to help to support and empower the cholitas and women of Latin America through micro-financing projects. 

The microfinance schemes we support will help create an infrastructure, grow businesses and empower women to improve their lives. Schemes can launch retail businesses, buy ingredients and purchase construction materials. 

The wonderful thing about microfinancing is that each dollar can touch many lives. We provide the loan, it gets repaid and then the same dollars fund another loan.

Lend, grow, repay - the virtuous cycle goes on...