Responsible Tourism

How you can be a more responsible traveller:
As a visitor to a developing country like Peru you have a responsibility to do all you can to ensure that your vacation has a positive impact on the country in terms of the economy, the environment and social issues.

Below we offer a few simple suggestions to help you make your time in Peru more culturally and environmentally sensitive and of greater benefit to the local economy, as well as more enjoyable!!

Learn about the country you will be visiting:

1. Before leaving home try to learn a little about the country you will be visiting. As a company we pride ourselves on the detailed information supplied by our website and our ability to answer all your questions before departure, but if you read a little (including local literature) you will have a greater understanding of Peru upon arrival.
2.  Although we are always on hand during your time in Peru, if you learn a few words of Spanish this will greatly enhance your interaction with local people.

The cost of your vacation:

By travelling with a Peruvian-owned company like ours, or with one of the overseas agents whose tours we operate, you are ensuring that most of your money remains in the local economy. All of our staff members are Peruvian – from the office staff to porters. We operate all our own services, meaning that we are fully responsible for our level of service. In addition, we pay 19% Peruvian sales tax on all our income, as well as 30% corporate tax. This is a significant contribution to Peru’s economy which is not paid by overseas companies.

You can also help the local economy by buying local products – including beers, wines, foodstuffs or souvenirs – rather than international brands. These products are often of a higher quality than their international counterparts.

Reduce the environmental impact of your trip:

1. Be aware of what happens to your garbage. Pack biodegradable soaps and shampoos. Remember that in some areas supplies of water and electricity are under stress and try to be economical with these resources.
2. Help protect local flora and fauna by sticking to regulations (remaining on footpaths, not disturbing wildlife, not buying products made from endangered species, etc).
3. There is very little recycling in Peru; try to reduce your consumption of plastic packaged foods and drinks (you might choose to bring a water bottle filter with you).
4. Use rechargeable batteries.

Photography:

One way in which we are often insensitive to local cultures when we travel is through photography. Remember not to treat local people as part of the scenery and that they may not want their photo taken. Always ask permission and if the situation is clearly inappropriate, then don’t take the picture. In local markets, for example, it may be a good idea to buy something from a stallholder (fruit, etc) before asking to photograph them. Don’t give sweets or candy to children in exchange for photos; it encourages begging and is bad for their health anyway! Remember that flash photography can damage works of art.