Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
We promote responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, respecting and benefiting local people. We believe that sustainable, sensitive tourism is an invaluable help to developing the communities and preserving the environments of Peru. Our aim to encourage more people to visit Peru by promoting supremely enjoyable and informative trips whilst maximising the benefits these generate for the local economies, environments and host communities in Peru.
Environment
We have a zero litter tolerance. On our treks all rubbish and waste material is carried out and disposed of in suitable facilities in the main towns and cities. The waste is divided into organic (green bags) and inorganic (black bags). We never bury waste along the route of the trail and certainly never dump rubbish behind a hedge.
Environmental degradation, landfill, and scarce water resource are all very important issues faced by most of the countries in the world. Instead of feeling powerless in the face of these problems we prefer to focus on what we can do. We use biodegradable cleaning products (soap, detergent) – the passengers must use these products. They may be a little more expensive but we will be using river water that is up to now still very clean and we want it to stay that way.
Community
Our porters have been carefully selected from three communities in the mountain villages around Cusco. We employ about 40 permanent porters. Two porter groups come from the village of Pampallaqta which is high up in the mountains about a 2-hour walk from Pisac. One porter group is from the Willoq community 3 hours walking from Ollantaytambo.
We value and respect diversity when hiring, and believe in participative management, fair payment policies, professional development, good conditions and safety at work, personal and family development and good treatment of subcontracted personnel. We employ professionals local and native staff with many years experience and pay our trekking staff such as cooks and porters well above average wages, on time and just after finalize the trip, they are not overburdened, and we are organized enough to ensure a safe pace along the trail.
We aim to work with providers who share our social responsibility philosophy of offering our clients the highest quality while respecting our communities and the environment.
We promote the participation of the communities in which we operate by contracting local guides, drivers, and executives. We are currently working on a pilot program in a small Andean community that we hope to replicate throughout the Andean region.
Keeping all group sizes small (max 10 people) to prevent our holidays becoming too intrusive on local communities. This has the added benefit that all customers are able to benefit from the knowledge of our local tour guides
We are recognised as honestly paying taxes (19%) to the State and recognized by all Peruvian Tourism Institutions SUNAT. When an overseas tour company sends the money to a Peruvian tour company who will actually operate your trip, this payment is exempt from tax (basically so you don't end up paying sales tax twice). That means that if you buy a trek or tour with a tour company outside of Peru you are not contributing towards the Peruvian economy in the form of sales taxes.
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!
