Peru on a shoestring holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

In a country the size of Peru, it's quite remarkable that this trip uses no internal flights whatsoever. We use a mixture of local buses and private transport on the tour, even making use of an overnight bus from Nazca to Arequipa, as well as a train journey to-and-from Machu Picchu. Whilst on Taquile Island, we travel by boat, and have the opportunity to travel on traditional reed boats, provided by the Uros people. City tours are done almost entirely on foot, which is not only a low impact way to travel but also gives us access to areas that coach touring wouldn't allow.

As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

Our local partner in Peru holds a 'Preferred by Nature' certification, which has required them to implement a set of policies and procedures that support the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage and the improvement of sustainable livelihoods for local communities. This will be regularly audited to retain the certification, and we're proud to work together with a partner that is dedicated to creating a positive impact in Peru.

On this trip we have a balance of time spent in the towns and cities and also out exploring the beautiful scenery on foot, such as at the Colca Canyon, or on the islands on Lake Titicaca. During our walks our Tour Leaders will explain about the local fauna and flora, and also village life and customs, and about the importance of safeguarding these for future generations. Of course, our tour culminates at the ancient site of Machu Picchu, which is one of the New Wonders of the World. Visits here are tightly regulated with one-way paths, and a daily restriction on visitor numbers. Permits for the site helps to fund ongoing conservation work at this important historical site.

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. All of our tour leaders are provided with a Water-to-Go bottle, allowing them to drink safe water from any source when it’s not possible to fill up from a tap.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

This tour passes through a diverse range of locations in Peru, from the cities of Arequipa and Cusco to the rural areas around Colca and Lake Titicaca, and includes a night in a simple village guesthouse on Taquile Island. While most tourists day trip to the islands around Lake Titicaca, the opportunity to stay overnight puts money directly into the pocket of a local family.

At every step of the way we encourage our customers to shop in local cafes and restaurants to make the most of the wonderful food that Peru has to offer, as well as visiting markets to purchase handmade crafts or regional food. For example, our city tour around Cusco includes a stop at the San Blas Market, where women sell juices from stalls piled high with fresh fruit - we include a juice as part of the trip, which is not just exciting for customers to choose from the range of items on offer (avocado and guanabana juice is a unique choice!) but also puts money directly in the pockets of these local women.
Our Tour Leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community. For example, in Cusco we use a family-run hotel in the heart of the old town instead of one of the city's international chains.


EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

100% of the staff on this tour, from the Tour Leader and local city guides, to the boat operators on Lake Titicaca, are Peruvian. The vast majority of them are directly local to the specific area in which they work (Puno or the Sacred Valley, for example). We're proud to work with a Peruvian partner who's values are aligned with ours; they not only run their own NGO operating in Peru, which aims to turn empower and develop local communities through tourism, but they also developed community-based tourism initiatives in the areas where they recruit their Inca Trail porters, ensuring that the women in those families are also able to contribute to the livelihoods and growth of the community. They pay their staff at least the minimum wage, and in many cases much more.