Peru cycling vacation

Planet

Accommodation and Meals:
We will spend most nights in hotels, a night in an Alpaca hacienda and another night in a homestay. Where possible we try to use small businesses or family-run hotels rather than large chains or resorts. We spend one night at Pacomarca the sustainable alpaca network who provide support for the sustainable development of alpaca raising. It seeks to generate benefits for all those involved in the alpaca production chain, and especially for the thousands of rural families who make a living from this resource in the harsh conditions of the Peruvian highlands. We also stay at the Llachon Homestay on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It is situated in Llachon at the end of the peninsular from the bustling city of Puno where it seldom benefits from tourism as a result, making our groups and business a vital source of income. All breakfasts are included and where possible the ingredients and produce is purchased from local suppliers and farmers.

Activity:
As a cycling vacation, this trip has very limited detrimental impact upon the environment and communities in the regions we visit within Peru. The use of the bikes allows us to cover fairly large distances while offering very little adverse impact, like pollution and threat to wildlife. Additionally, cycling also allows for easy access to the local population, shops and restaurants, which facilitates cultural exploration. By operating with a strict ‘leave no trace’ policy, we are able to raise awareness for a kind of tourism which puts environment and community before financial gain.

UK office:
It all starts at home where we work towards reducing our carbon footprint in our offices through engergy conservation measures, recycling policies and the promotion of cycling and walking as a means for our staff to commute. Our head office has become a plastic-free zone with the use of plastic bottles being banned in our head office and we distributed reusable water bottles and tote bags to every staff member. We also support a large number of community and environmental projects in different parts of the world and try to give something back to the places we visit.

People

Local Craft & Culture:
There are several chances to support craftsmanship on the tour, especially our visit to local markets like the artisan Andean market where local communities sell produce and various handmade souvenirs. By buying something we are providing an avenue of income for these people. The tour also visits the Sacred Valley where we eat a traditional meal in a local village and have the opportunity to buy handicrafts. Our local guides are able to advise which products to buy and which to avoid- for example, walking sticks made of wood are one to avoid as they are potentially a product of harmful deforestation activity, and any pre-Inca or Inca relics are prohibited for sale.

A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise that they are paid and treated fairly. The leaders will give a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit.