Peru small group holiday, Inca Trail & Lake Titicaca

Planet

As a global operator, we take our role in the tourism industry very seriously. We recognise the impact that tourism has on local communities and the environment, and we plan and operate all our tours with this front of our minds. We believe that every tour operator must be responsible in the way they conduct their business, to ensure the welfare of all people and the conservation of the environment.

We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travellers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip. In addition, we expect our staff and travellers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel - respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.

As company our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$3 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002, from health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and in environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travellers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.

We have two projects within Peru that we support. Firstly Living Heart, which is an organisation that aims to improve the lives of Andean women and children in the Sacred Valley area, near Cusco. This programme combines educational strategies, nutritional and health advice, including family planning support, and conservation education, with the purpose of promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life for the Andean people. This work is particularly aimed at benefiting the lives of disadvantaged children. Secondly Escuela Wiñaypaq which offers free primary education in Quechua and Spanish to needy local children. Its aims are to improve the children’s education in disadvantaged rural areas and to strengthen the Andean culture and traditional values such as respect and harmony, to raise the children's self-confidence and to make them feel proud of their cultural heritage.

People

We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when travelling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. This tour will take you on a journey through modern cities and ancient worlds where you will be immersed in Peruvian culture.

We take care to use local transport throughout, including buses, boats and canoes. We also stay in small, locally owned hotels and guesthouses which is a great way to put money back into the local economy. This trip includes a variety of unique and responsible accommodation including a homestay within the Colca community and a community island on Lake Titicaca and eco-friendly lodges which combines low-impact architecture with traditional native style in the Amazon Jungle. The homestays provide you with a great opportunity to interact with the locals by assisting your host with their daily activities such as planting, collecting water, peeling potatoes or preparing the family meal. A game of soccer is also a great way to make local friends. We source produce locally throughout the trip, eat at local restaurants and encourage our travellers to purchase souvenirs from local artisans and villages as we pass through.

Recruitment of our ground team comes from the local community. This not only gives a fantastic insight into the country and a snap shot of day to day life, but it also puts valuable financial resources back into the local economy, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.