Wheelchair-accessible tours in Amazonia, the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu

SAFA has developed a systematic approach to evaluating potential tourist locations, starting with market research and a visit to the most emblematic sites and attractions at the destination. It then performs a disability check of the various locations (including hotels, restaurants, attractions, availability of accessible transport, etc.) and performs tests with off-road wheelchairs and other devices. Finally, they offer and promote the tour.
SAFA has adapted basic equipment (for example, an off-road wheelchair, a manual lift for swimming pools, etc.) such that travellers with wheelchairs can participate even in jungle walks. The company considers every detail of their clients’ physical limitations, and organizes their stay in the light of these. Furthermore, it helps to coordinate accessibility adaptations in some hotels and municipalities.

The programme began with the construction of an accessible Eco-Lodge in Amazonia, Ecuador, and extended to tours of the Galapagos Islands. Now SAFA has expanded to such places as Machu Picchu in Peru, the Iguazu waterfalls in Argentina and Brazil, and Ushuaya in Argentina. The increase in disabled tourism flows to such popular tourist attractions also helps to raise awareness in the public and private sectors of the importance of inclusion. Over the last three years approximately 320 wheelchair users from the European Union, the United States, and Israel have paid visits to Amazonia and the Galapagos Islands, and for the last past two years to sights in Peru as well.