Safety in Ecotourism: How to Choose a Reliable Tour Agency
By MaresiasTur · · Updated on · 4 min read
Quick answer
Safety in ecotourism starts with choosing the right agency: check its Cadastur registration, licensed guides, a licensed boat captain and safety gear on boats, insurance on adventure activities, and clear weather cancellation rules. In Maresias, also ask for a briefing before rappelling.
Safety in ecotourism doesn't come down to luck: it comes down to the agency you choose. Rappelling, hiking and boat tours are unforgettable experiences when done with a team that takes technique, equipment and planning seriously. Before booking, it's worth checking a few points that set a professional agency apart from an improvised tour.
This checklist applies to any destination, with examples of how tours work in Maresias and on the South Coast of São Sebastião.
How do you know if a tour agency is properly registered?
Cadastur is the registry of tourism service providers kept by Brazil's Ministry of Tourism. Registered agencies can be looked up on the official Cadastur website. It's a first sign that the company operates formally.
Also check whether the agency lists its legal name, tax ID (CNPJ) and physical address, and whether its booking, payment and cancellation rules are published before you pay, not just explained through a message.
Does the guide need to be licensed?
On hikes and adventure activities, the guide needs to know the technique, the terrain and the emergency procedures. Ask whether the guides are licensed and who stays with the group throughout the activity.
This matters even more in protected areas. The São Sebastião unit of the Serra do Mar State Park covers about 70% of the municipality and works with prior scheduling for visits, according to the São Paulo State Government's Protected Areas Guide. On the Cachoeira das 7 Quedas waterfall hike, for example, MaresiasTur works with a licensed ecotourism guide, and the route passes through a conservation unit.
Is rappelling safe? What to ask before booking
Done with a prepared team, rappelling is an activity that's easy to learn. The right questions to ask before booking:
- Who leads it? On the Calhetas Rappelling tour, 96 meters, the descent is led by licensed adventure tourism guides.
- Is the gear included? Helmet, harness, ropes and carabiners should be provided and checked by the team. On MaresiasTur's rappelling tours, all gear is included.
- Is there insurance? Adventure activities should include insurance for participants. Check the tour description.
- Is there a briefing? Before the descent, you should get instructions on gear, commands and precautions. Use it to share any health condition.
First-timers can start with Lookout Rappelling, 10 meters, and read rappelling for the first time.
What to check before a boat or speedboat tour?
- A licensed captain at the helm.
- Safety gear for every passenger on board.
- Respected capacity: MaresiasTur's boats on the South Coast routes carry up to 14 passengers.
- Decisions based on sea conditions: the agency needs to cancel when the sea isn't safe. The Brazilian Navy publishes severe weather warnings, including storm surges and strong winds.
The South Coast islands sit within the APA Marinha do Litoral Norte, and State Decree 66,823/2022, which approves the area's rules, requires navigation to follow the Brazilian Navy's safety regulations. If anyone tends to get seasick, see the tips on seasickness on boat tours.
What should a cancellation policy say?
A serious agency cancels when conditions aren't safe and clearly states what happens to your money. Read the policy before paying. As a reference, MaresiasTur's policy provides for:
- Cancellation within 7 days of a purchase made outside the agency, before the tour date, with a full refund.
- Outside that window, a 100% refund up to 72 hours before, 50% up to 24 hours before, and no refund with less than 24 hours' notice or in case of a no-show.
- If weather, maritime safety or an operational issue cancels the departure, the customer chooses between rescheduling at no cost or getting a full refund.
- Recommended arrival 30 minutes early.
In Brazil, the ABNT NBR ISO 21101 standard covers safety management systems for adventure tourism and is a good reference on industry best practices.
What phone numbers should you note before a tour?
- 192: SAMU (emergency medical service).
- 193: Fire Department.
- 190: Military Police.
- 199: Civil Defense.
- 185: Navy maritime emergencies (Salvamar), 24 hours, toll-free.
These numbers are listed on the São Sebastião City Hall's emergency phone page, on SP Sempre Alerta, from the São Paulo state government, and on the Navy's website. On the South Coast, the reference 24-hour emergency room is at Hospital de Clínicas de São Sebastião – Costa Sul, in Boiçucanga. More details in emergencies and health care in Maresias.
How MaresiasTur operates
- Agency registered with Cadastur: MaresiasTur Receptivo & Ecoturismo LTDA, tax ID (CNPJ) 35.417.415/0001-40, at Av. Francisco Loup, 500, in Maresias.
- Licensed guides on hikes and adventure activities.
- Licensed boat captains and safety gear on every boat tour.
- Individual insurance included on rappelling tours, the Adventure Package and try-scuba-diving.
- Rescheduling or a full refund whenever weather or safety concerns cancel a tour.
Learn more about the company on the About us page and in the history of MaresiasTur.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you know if a tour agency is properly registered?
- Check Cadastur, the registry of tourism service providers kept by Brazil's Ministry of Tourism, and see whether the agency lists its tax ID (CNPJ), address and cancellation policy.
- Does a rappelling tour need to have insurance?
- Adventure activities should include insurance for participants. On MaresiasTur's rappelling tours, individual insurance and all gear are included.
- What should I check before a boat tour?
- Whether there's a licensed captain, safety gear for everyone, respected capacity, and a clear cancellation rule for when the sea isn't safe.
- What happens if the tour is canceled due to weather?
- At MaresiasTur, you can choose between rescheduling at no cost or getting a full refund.
- What's the emergency phone number at sea?
- 185 reaches the Navy's maritime emergency service (Salvamar), 24 hours a day and toll-free. On land, call 192 for SAMU and 193 for the Fire Department.
