Sacred Valley and the Lares trek holiday in Peru

Environment

Travel and tourism can have positive as well as negative consequences for the environment, the economy and the social and cultural structures of communities. Sustainable tourism -the travel trade’s principles of using tourism to benefit local communities, conserve natural resources, and bolster the survival of cultural heritage – lies close to our heart. Our love and passion for Latin America makes us strive to protect the destinations we take you to visit. As members of AITO, we’re committed to AITO’s Sustainable Tourism Guidelines, which means that we ensure that environmental and cultural demands are kept as low as possible.

We pride ourselves on delivering our clients truly authentic and memorable experiences in Latin America by helping them to immerse in the culture of the destinations we visit. We work with local foundations, including the LATA Foundation, which is a UK-based charity with social and environmental projects throughout the continent. To give an example, the LATA Foundation runs the Ecoan reforestation project in the Sacred Valley, one of the destinations we visit during this tour. This project aims to plant a million native trees in the Sacred Valley by 2020.

We carefully select our local partners, some we’ve worked with for over 25 years. They have a proven record in training guides to set a good example in their respect for the surroundings and the local communities. Throughout the tour, they make sure to pass on advice and encouragement to visitors on how to preserve the environment, including by refilling water bottles, disposing of rubbish in a responsible way and not disturbing the local flora and fauna.
Moreover, during this holiday you will spent some days hiking, can join optional hikes, as well as bike rides. You will also enjoy two rail journeys. These means of transport are the most sustainable ways of travelling.

Furthermore, the accommodation used on this holiday are built sensitive to the environment and blend harmoniously with the landscape in which they are sited. The El Mercado hotel in Cusco for example is built in an old market building and the lodges in the Lares Valley are small and purposely built. Finally, Inkaterra Machu Picchu resembles an Andean village with tiled stone cottages set amid lustrous grounds.

Community

We’ve developed strong relationships with local suppliers who all share our vision and agree to uphold a commitment to local communities and their development through fair employment policies and responsible energy use, and ensure that benefits from tourism filter down to local communities. In the Sacred Valley of the Incas for example you will stay at Lamay Lodge, which is operated by Peruvian firm Mountain Lodges of Peru, in conjunction with the local community.

Furthermore, we promote interaction with local communities and want our clients to have unforgettable experiences. On this holiday you really can get under the skin of Peruvian culture and set foot on wild landscapes little trodden by visitors. Enjoy a chocolate, coffee and pisco tasting tour, visit local and artisan markets in for example Pisac and Lares, explore archaeological sites on for example the Inca Weaver’s Trail and learn more about the local communities in the villages you visit.