Peru and Galapagos holiday

Tourism to Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands has boomed over the past few decades. For this reason there is even greater emphasis for holidays to be carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Environment
On our Peru and Galapagos holiday we have picked hotels specifically with this in mind: for example our beautifully located lodge just outside the Machu Picchu ruins is part of the eponymous Inkaterra hotel group, a leader in sustainable tourism in Peru. It is their mission to provide luxury vacations to diverse exotic destinations in Peru, in a responsible manner that respects the culture and people who live here, in addition to preserving the environment. The wooden cottages are planned in a highly sensitive manner decorated in Inca designs and beds laid with traditional Peruvian blankets, all sourced locally.

The hotel is famed for its vast number of rare orchids, receiving a prestigious award from the American Orchid Society; in fact the hotel has the largest number of native orchid species in their natural habitat in private facility open to the public. Within the grounds is also the presence of the endangered species of Spectacled Bear and on request guests are taken to the unique rescue and conservation centre monitored by Inkaterra Association (ITA-NGO) and INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources of Peru) and sponsored by INKATERRA and the Bear Rescue Foundation (UK). Catching a glimpse of a bear in its natural habitat is a rare and thrilling experience.

The cruise in the Galapagos is on the Coral, a boat that has a history of strictly upholding the Galapagos Park rules which are designed to protect the natural resources and animals within the park. These include the prohibition of taking any flora from the islands, touching the animals and staying within carefully planned viewing areas and designated pathways. Before you set off on the cruise, the specialist guides will cover these aspects in detail and throughout the trip the passengers are sensitively reminded of these. The team on board also provides and recycles plastic bottles so that nothing need be disposed or left on the islands.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) carries out scientific research and complementary actions with collaboration from local, national and international partners to conserve the Galápagos. Their focal point is the Charles Darwin Research Centre (CDRC) at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. We will visit this centre as part of the tour and learn from the carefully laid out resources. It is possible to view and support the conservation and breeding of the unique species of Galápagos Tortoise, as well as learning in depth about Foundation’s work in conserving the island’s fragile natural resources.

Community
Experienced guides, including a resident biologist, are from the region itself and provide a range of carefully planned excursions to the surrounding area rich in various forms of wildlife.

Your tour leader, who is either from or spent a considerable amount of time living in Peru, will encourage interaction with the local communities at every stage. This includes trips to local markets in Cusco and the Sacred Valley and also out to the Uros Islands in Lake Titicaca, where a selection of remote, traditional communities have turned to tourism to diversify their livelihoods and welcome visitors to their extraordinary islands, entirely made of the local totora reed. A wonderful opportunity to experience the fascinating indigenous way of life.