Peru small group highlights tour with added comfort

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

We predominantly travel by a small minibus, which allows us to access a greater amount of the country than a large coach would, and at some parts of the journey we use public boats, and two public trains. City tours are done almost entirely on foot, which is not only a low impact way to travel but it gets us into parts of the cities that coach touring can't access.

As part of the trip we stay at the El Mapi Hotel in Aguas Calientes and at the Reserva Amazonica in the jungle. These hotels are owned by a small Peruvian chain called Inkaterra - one of the forerunners of sustainable tourism in Peru. They have a science-based non-profit arm, which is investigating nature-based solutions to the biodiversity and climate crisis. For example, in Aguas Calientes their team are producing their own biofuel, which helps to power the El Mapi Hotel and has hugely reduced its carbon footprint. In the jungle, there is a generator which provides electricity but this is limited to twice a day.
In addition, the hotel that we use in Cusco (the Xima Cusco) pioneered the use of solar panels in the city, and gets most of its energy from the more than 200 solar panels that they have installed.

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.

In the Amazon Jungle, the Inkaterra Association is dedicated to supporting fieldwork, biodiversity research and conservation. 28 new plant and animal species have been discovered thanks to Inkaterra's work. Throughout their properties they are removing all single-use plastic, with no straws or plastic bottles available, and the lodge also has initiatives in place to reduce the reliance on natural resources - all water is boiled and filtered for drinking and on arrival you will receive a metal water bottle which can be used and refilled during your stay from the water dispenser outside the rooms.

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. 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. We have several of these local experiences built into this trip, for example prior to a cooking demonstration in Lima, where we learn to make a classic ceviche, we visit one of Lima's largest food markets. Our journey through the market will put money in the hands of vendors as our groups are introduced to fresh local ingredients, fruits and vegetables.

In the Amazon, the Inkaterra Association has set up a number of community development activities to benefit the populations local to the lodges and living within the Tambopata National Reserve. These include assistance programs on crop rotation, pest control and soil management, planting of tree nurseries and knowledge-sharing.

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 travelers 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.

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 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.

In the jungle, the guides all have a recognised national guiding qualification and the majority are from the local area. They have an amazing passion for nature and an outstanding knowledge of the flora and fauna in the surrounding Peruvian rainforest. During your stay they will help you explore the primary forest around the lodge, identify animals and plants, and learn about the biodiversity and local way of life.

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.