Responsible travel Peru Tourism plays a powerful, positive role in international development. It creates jobs, stimulates economies, and funnels funds into the preservation of national treasures. Travel allows for intercultural exchange and encourages empathy and understanding across peoples from different walks of life. The United Nations recognizes this potential: it considers international travel key to global development. And with over one billion tourists taking journeys across the globe annually, the tourism industry has more influence now than ever. This September 27th marks the UN’s World Tourism Day 2015. The celebration, which this year takes place in Burkina Faso, highlights the myriad ways that responsible, sustainable travel enriches the lives of tourists and locals alike. Aracari’s tours in Peru, Bolivia and the Galapagos are underpinned by values of ethical and sustainable tourism practices. We actively seek out partners and collaborators that share our goals, who promote sustainable business practices while working with local communities.These local partners benefit from the business and inspire other companies to follow suit. The communities involved in these operations are economically empowered. Meanwhile, travellers have a more authentic experience and contribute to sustainability. Everyone—the operators, communities and travellers—has a better experience and makes a positive impact. In honor of #WTD2015, here are 5 organizations sustainable tourism in Peru initatives we love that support local communities through the power of tourism. 1. Tierra de los Yachaqs works with 8 communities in the Sacred Valley. The organization aims to preserve the history and traditions of local people. They enable communities to support their economy with authentic, high-quality tourism. Travellers visit the villages and take part in local customs, like textile demonstrations or hikes with llamas. Read our account of the visits in the following blog articles: La Tierra de los Yachaqs: Community based tourism in Peru’s Sacred Valley and Tierra de
Responsible travel Peru Tourism plays a powerful, positive role in international development. It creates jobs, stimulates economies, and funnels funds into the preservation of national treasures. Travel allows for intercultural exchange and encourages empathy and understanding across peoples from different walks of life. The United Nations recognizes this potential: it…
Machu Picchu is the most-visited attraction in Peru and one of the top destinations to visit in the world. Unsurprisingly, as a result it attracts crowds of camera-toting tourist all vying for the best vantage points to capture their postcard-worthy photos. Though you’ll never have the site entirely to yourself, there are some straightforward steps you can take to avoid feeling like you’re stuck trailing a tour group, to avoid the crowds at Machu Picchu and to appreciate the tranquility and wonder of this UNESCO World Heritage site during your Machu Picchu luxury travel adventure. Tips on How to Avoid The Crowds at Machu Picchu Timing: The Best time to visit Machu Picchu Timing is key to avoiding the crowds as much as possible at Machu Picchu--ensure you allow a few hours to visit the site without rushing. Whilst day trips are technically possible to and from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, they’re best avoided. The preferable approach to planning Machu Picchu luxury trips is to visit over two days, spending a night at Aguas Calientes. Morning and Afternoon Visiting Slots As of 2017, visitors to Machu Picchu must visit in either the morning or afternoon timed slots (you can visit in both if you buy two tickets, one for the morning and one for the afternoon). Taking a morning train to Machu Picchu on your first day will have you arrive when the tour groups are starting to disperse, as they all tend to arrive first thing in the morning. By mid-afternoon, many large groups and day-trippers have already left. The last bus back down to Aguas Calientes leaves at 5.30pm. The following day you can head up again for sunrise--before the day visitors arrive on the first train. Afterwards, you can continue exploring the parts that you didn’t visit
Machu Picchu is the most-visited attraction in Peru and one of the top destinations to visit in the world. Unsurprisingly, as a result it attracts crowds of camera-toting tourist all vying for the best vantage points to capture their postcard-worthy photos. Though you’ll never have the site entirely to yourself,…
The Inca Trail in Peru is one of, if not the most, famous treks in the world, taking in three major sets of Inca ruins en route to the mythical citadel Machu Picchu, traversing through cloud forest, puna grasslands and high altitude passes. However, bucket-list status can sometimes come at a price. With strictly limited trail permits for the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and its shorter one-day version, these can sell out well in advance, so here's our handpicked selection of the best alternative treks to the Inca trail. The Best Alternative Treks to the Inca Trail There's no reason to leave your hiking boots at home should you find there isn't space available on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. In fact, once your realise the breathtaking alternative treks to the Inca trail, you might even be glad you had the excuse to consider exploring the lesser-trodden paths of the Cusco region. The Inca Trail is just one part of a sprawling network of roads that the Incas built during their epoch and the area is home to plenty of impressive and rewarding trails - all of which can combine with a visit to Machu Picchu itself during a trip to Peru, so there's no risk of not making it to the UNESCO World heritage Site. From Peru treks to get your pulse racing with more demanding physical activity, to gentler family-friendly trekking adventures, here are some of the top altenerative treks to the Inca trail. Multi-Day Camping Treks Salkantay - varied scenery and vistas of Machu Picchu (4D/3N, Rigorous, 58 km (36 mi), Max. Altitude: 4,600m (15,091 ft)) Following an ancient trail close to Machu Picchu, the Salkantay trek includes mountain passes to descents into the high-altitude jungle. What you lack in Inca ruins you undoubtedly make up for in the variety of
The Inca Trail in Peru is one of, if not the most, famous treks in the world, taking in three major sets of Inca ruins en route to the mythical citadel Machu Picchu, traversing through cloud forest, puna grasslands and high altitude passes. However, bucket-list status can sometimes come at a price. With…
Tierra de Los Yachaqs is a rural community based tourism initiative that welcome visitors to their villages to learn about traditional life in the Andes. From learning to weave in the village of Amaru, to hiking in the Sacred Valley, this is an authentic way to understand rural lifestyles first-hand. Aracari's Founder Marisol Mosquera shares her experience walking the Route of the Achupalla and escaping mass tourism entirely. Traditional life with Tierra de los Yachaqs Everybody who heads to Machu Picchu visits the Sacred Valley and Cusco which sees crowds sticking to the main and more popular sights. While “ticking off” the major sights is must for most visitors, to get you closer to the real Andean Peru it is well worth getting off the gringo trail for a more authentic and tourist-free experience. Community-based tourism initiative Tierra de los Yachaqs achieves just that. Getting away from the crowds It takes relatively little effort to reach areas where traditional life is the norm, and where very few visitors go, by simply driving uphill a bit towards the majestic mountains that line the Urubamba valley. Despite being close to the 'core' Sacred Valley circuit - known for Incan ruins like Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, it is a world away. I recently visited with some friends and the result was a day full of the joy of true discovery. It was a close approach, which felt very and refreshingly authentic, to traditional rural life in the Andes. Andean Village Life Approximately 60 families live in the community of Janac Chuquibamba, near the village of Lamay, half an hour away on an unpaved road off of the main road from Cusco to Urubamba. These families, whose livelihood consists mainly of animal husbandry, subsistence agriculture and horticulture, have formed an association to run a community based tourism project in order to receive
Tierra de Los Yachaqs is a rural community based tourism initiative that welcome visitors to their villages to learn about traditional life in the Andes. From learning to weave in the village of Amaru, to hiking in the Sacred Valley, this is an authentic way to understand rural lifestyles first-hand….
Sustainable and ethical travel has transformed from a niche sector within the field of travel to an industry-wide priority and global movement, one which has been core to the ethos of Aracari since the company was founded in 1996. Peru boasts an array of eco-lodges and hotels with minimal environmental impact including luxury hotels that not only adhere to principles of sustainability but have been recognized for their efforts with international awards. The Posada Amazonas Lodge is one of such properties. It is owned by an indigenous community, the Ese-Eja, in Infierno, and managed in partnership with Rainforest Expeditions. The rainforest isn’t the only area where one can find environmentally-friendly accommodations: the luxury hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is one of our top choices in the Cusco region and has won various awards for sustainability, such as the award for Conservation at the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in 2012. In the Colca Canyon, home of the famous condor, the Colca Lodge is a romantic 5-star hotel by the river that offers thermal pools for guests to enjoy and has an ecologically sound floor-heating system, using geothermal energy to heat the rooms. We are always on the lookout for projects directed by local communities that have incomparable insights into the environment and culture. When we become involved with communities, projects and organizations, whether it's through donations, participating in events or sending guests to visit, it’s important to stay in touch and maintain a relationship in order to evaluate their ever-changing needs so that our support can be most effective. One of the organizations we work with is La Tierra de los Yachaqs. Located in the Sacred Valley, their mission is to preserve the history and traditions of local communities while enabling them to support their economy with responsible, authentic and high-quality tourism. This
Sustainable and ethical travel has transformed from a niche sector within the field of travel to an industry-wide priority and global movement, one which has been core to the ethos of Aracari since the company was founded in 1996. Peru boasts an array of eco-lodges and hotels with minimal environmental…
To all of the faithful Aracari Khipu blog followers, today I publish my last article as Aracari’s Marketing and Product Development Assistant. I have been in Lima working at Aracari for over a year and am now embarking on my next adventure (of course travel is inevitably involved). Fresh out of university, I moved to Peru after being hired by Aracari’s marketing department to work one year at their Lima-based office, learning about and experiencing Peruvian culture. While my family and friends were surprised by my decision to drop everything and move abroad, I was intrigued by the adventures I imagined were awaiting me in Peru, a country I knew little about apart from Machu Picchu and the Incas, the llamas and the iconic chullo hats that were always brought back as souvenirs from travelers. After speaking to many people about Lima, I had a rough idea of what to expect from the City of Kings, whose reputation was less than appealing. Many things I’d been told about Lima were true: its characteristic “panza de burro” (underbelly of the donkey) gray skies, the terrible traffic, the dust-coated buildings and the “neblina” (fog) that floats through the city in the mornings. However, having lived in Lima for over a year, I’ve found that its delights far outweigh its unsavory traits. One delight is the charming neighborhood of Barranco, the former beach escape of wealthy Limeños, which is now a bohemian haven with cultural gems in the form of art galleries and museums, cafés, restaurants, boutiques, hotels and the architecture of its mansions and homes—remnants of a bygone era in Peru. Another delight is wandering along the malecón (esplanade) that runs along the Costa Verde from Miraflores to Barranco overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The extension of the ocean that fades into a
To all of the faithful Aracari Khipu blog followers, today I publish my last article as Aracari’s Marketing and Product Development Assistant. I have been in Lima working at Aracari for over a year and am now embarking on my next adventure (of course travel is inevitably involved). Fresh out…