Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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The Maquipucuna Foundation was founded in 1988 as a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the Ecuador's biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resourses. The foundation promotes the participation of local communities in its programs, and 90% of what the traveller pays us goes to the foundation.
Objectives and activities include: Establishment and management of private and governmental nature reserves, scientific, social and archaological research to achieve ecological restoration and cultural preservation, implementiation of ecotourism programs for generating local economic opportunities, environmental education and training of rural communities to promote sustainable use of natural resources, development of community-based resource management programs, and promotion of inter-institutional cooperation.
Accommodation is provided in a small but modern lodge built in accordance with its natural surroundings. The open-air design allows intimate contact with nature and the sounds of the rushing Umachaca River. The lodge is staffed with guides and staff almost entirely from the local communities.
Meals are prepared using local ingredients including fresh vegetables grown in the organic garden. Organic waste is fed to pigs or composted for use on the farm and inorganic waste is taken to Quito for treatment.
The reserve also has a research station with facilities which may accommodate up to 18 researchers. Maquipucuna shelters 4% of bird species on the planet and is considered by scientists to be a "global priority zone" for bird life conservation.
We are also now supporting the UK registered chairty Amantani. As this charity is very much in keeping with our ethos of small scale, targetted help which is educational & sustainabale. HuchuyYachaq is the other main Peruvian charity we support by paying a for a full time teacher. A % of all our income goes to support those projects.
The founder of this tour operator set up 12 years ago after working as a trek leader and writing guidebooks in South America. She decided to offer alternative track routes that no one else was doing, where you’re more likely to cross paths with local people. She maintains close personal relationships with her suppliers and is godmother to several of their children. Her small specialised team have really walked the walks and so know exactly what they’re talking about; they familiarise themselves with the hiking trails every year and believe the Andean way of life is well worth sharing.
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We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
