OX GIVES BACK

Here at OX we partner with an incredible NGO called Los Patojos. At Los Patojos they educate over 250 children using the “El Patojismo” method placing an emphasis on nurturing and developing the children´s artistic, creative and sporting interests. We regularly offer English classes and also have workshops with the children teaching them some of the basics of camping and mountaineering. At the end of the school year we take them on a trip to Pacaya volcano so they can experience the magic of being in the mountains!

At OX we really believe in the “leave no trace” philosophy. As such we strived to be as sustainable as possible with our campsite on Acatenango. We are constantly trying to reduce our impact on the environment. Here are a few of the things we do:

1. Our guides always clear up our campsite before leaving and pick up rubbish on the way back down the volcano. Also if any clients help us picking up litter they get a free OX tank-top or T-shirt!
2. Our campsite was built where possible with sustainably harvested wood from Eco-madera.
3. During the rainy season we capture the rainfall at the campsite and filter it using Ecofilters. This has the double benefit of meaning you may not need to carry as much water up!
4. We are currently experimenting with a small nursery at campsite to try grow the native pine trees.
5. We recycle… at the end of your tour you will be asked to classify any trash you leave with us so it can be recycled.
6. At our office HQ in Antigua we have solar panels which generate more electricity than we use.
7. We have also partnered with Eco-Filtro and provide all our clients with free filtered water. We even re-use the plastic water bottles to further reduce waste.