COMMITMENT WITH NATURE

Good News from the Directors desk

Causana Viajes has always believed in sharing profits with conservation projects, has obtained important land donations for local ONG’s, and at our initial years even helped form a local ONG that works protecting, researching and education about the Patagonian coastal orcas. Through our 13 years of existence we have employed as many local people as possible, formed guides and tour leaders. This is one of the principles of Ecotourism, or sustainable tourism we have been able to fulfill. I am happy to announce that in 2009 we decided that the funds obtained in the year 2008 for this purpose would have a new destination. The idea is EDUCATION. To educate travelers and locals equally by publishing books, pocket fieldguides and even our new blog.

Today I am pleased to announce the book DINOSAURIOS, Relatos y sueños de un Guardafauana by Carlos A. Passera. The first part of the book is stories about the Passera’s family experiences at Punta Tombo and the years Carlos was a “guardafauna” (Park Ranger) at this immense penguin colony. The second part is about Carlos’s dreams of what he would like to happen to the Nature Reserve of the province of Chubut in the near future. His goal with this book is to create debates and forums of discussion and why not waken some of the dormant authorities. This province was a pioneer in conservation in Latin America in the 1960’s and we wish it would remain that way so Carlos is trying to shake us all and waken us while we read his second part of the book. The Fundación Patagonia Natural (FPN), The Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA), the Instituto de Enseñanaza Superior (IDES) and Causana Viajes recommend the reading of DINOSAURIOS . The author of the book ilustrations is Juan Carlos De Souza, a young voluntier from Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, and now an Agronomist Engineer. The title of the book comes from a conversation Carlos’s had with a colleague many years ago while they were on assignment writing an article for a BA magazine. His Friend “the Negro Acosta” said to Carlos: - “ You are a dinosaur”, - What? – Carlos asked. - “Yes, you and the “fat guy of the whales”, and so many others that look for the last pure corners of the Earth, are DINOSAURS. You are condemned to extinction because you dream about an ideal world that languishes. Practice your Spanish so you friends, who care about nature like we do, can read this book and participate in the debate. Carol Mackie de Passera

PUNTA TOMBO - Magellanic Penguin’s Kingdom

The call of Life

Early penguins arriving to the colony

“The sunset would delay itself among purple clouds a minute more each day. The upland-geese crossed the skies, escaping from the warm but deadly fields of the north. The green grass, grown tall with rains, was turning gold over the hills. A special excitement seized every living creature. The last week of August, announces the arrival of September – change, new life.Attentive to the rhythm of this natural watch, certain creature –half bird, half fish- reached earth by following their instinct. The wobbly steps of the first males on the beach, marks the beginning of a new season for the Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). In successive waves, a living tide would begin to occupy their places, their territory, disposing themselves to perpetuate their species. The sacred ceremony of every living thing of being one more each time…” (Extracted from “Fight for Life” Adventures in the Penguin metropoli – by Carlos A. Passera)

Fights, hugs & mate

Punta Tombo –located South of Peninsula Valdes in Patagonia- is the biggest continental colony of Magellanic Penguins in the world. Except for Antarctica or the South Atlantic islands, there are no other places in the planet in which you can walk amongst them. Be surrounded by thousands of these funny creatures. After six months in the ocean, most of the penguins are faithfull to their colony. Once they breed, they often return each year to the same nest site. From September to mid April they are busy following their instinct: mate, lay their eggs, breed their chicks, molt their feathers and return to the ocean.

Adult & Chicks

Since the early 80’s the population has declined 22%. Oil spills, overfishing, and climate warming conspire against their survival. Nevertheless more than 200.000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins await you, to enrich your life.

Close encounter

Punta Tombo is a very strong wildlife experience. Penguins, wildlife, they only ask for respect and your commitment to help protect their environment.

Antarctica

Antarctica, a land of extremes

All crisis offer opportunities…Today travelers can take advantage of them. The Antarctic Expeditions offer, in these special moments, rates and incentives worth while considering. Consult us; your dream to explore one of the last pristine corners of the Earth can become true. Our travel experience to this natural sanctuary will help you enhance your travel experience…

ANTARCTICA is not a place… (From “Momentos” by Carlos A. Passera) “… Antarctica is –like the steppe- something that goes beyond comprehension. It resembles a sensation more than a place. It is not strong – like a swig of aquavit that invades burning- but it intoxicates with gradual intensity. By when you are about to articulate a word of astonishment, it is too late. Without escape you are “drunk” with Antarctica. And it does not go away. The “hang over” lasts but it is pleasant. It does not hurt or bother, and on the contrary, it makes a feeling of gratitude towards life flourish. You wish to share this feeling with those you love.

It happens to a few privileged – according to those who have experienced the same- the spirit of Antarctica, its magic; install’s itself in the soul. And you feel it, although without an acute description, you feel it. That instant –if a sort of comparison exists- could resemble a state of profound meditation. To that moment when the energy climbs potent by the column, it expands and it allows the spirit to wander without limits. And it happened to me. Since that first time and during 10 years – sometimes more than one trip per year- that communion with Antarctica repeated itself with the same intensity. Each voyage leaves its imprint…

When in the chaos of daily life, a word, a phrase read in the newspaper, news seen on television, mentions her no matter where we are. From any corner of the planet, those who stepped on Antarctica, will feel that only one cardinal point rules their compass and will not -nor will be able to- avoid the spirit to escape free and wild to join the colossal score of voices, sounds, shapes and colors in that remote Antarctic last frontier. ..”