Highlights of Brazil and Peru vacation

Planet

In order to ensure we protect the environment and minimise our ecological footprint we always recommend overland travel using local transportation as opposed to short domestic flights where possible, however due to the vast distances covered during this trip flying is unavoidable. To put it into perspective the bus journey from Lima to Cusco takes nearly 2 days, which is why we then recommend spending at least a week exploring Cusco and Machu Picchu.

In our UK offices we have a recycling scheme and use recycled ink cartridges. We minimise our waste by limiting the number of vacation brochures we print. Instead, we refer customers to our online resources and send most of our vacation information via email. We also provide pre-departure information including environmentally responsible travel advice, such as carrying reusable drinks bottles, as plastics are hard to recycle in remote areas and have a negative impact on natural environments.

On all of our trips we include national park entrance fees. This money goes directly towards protecting and sustaining the parks. In Iguazu we work with environmentally responsible hotels where possible, in particular hotels with green spaces or nature reserves, including the San Martin, while provides a safe environment for tourists to admire and respect the local wildlife.

People

In order to ensure we have a positive impact on local economies and provide socially responsible vacations we only use local suppliers, which helps keep the money generated through tourism within local communities through employment of local guides, drivers and reps.

We always recommend locally-owned restaurants and hotels where possible, aiming to support local communities and give customers the opportunity to ‘travel like a local’. We also provide customers with a list of recommended restaurants tailor-made to their destination and dietary requirements but with a focus on family-run restaurants.

We recommend historical hotels where possible, for example, the Rumi Punku in Cusco is situated within an original Inca building, which is restored and cared for using income generated from tourism.

We only use tour operators with similar ethical beliefs. As a member of Sustainable Travel International, a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting awareness, we have an appreciation and respect for local people and the environment through education and outreach programmes. We encourage our guides to promote responsible purchasing of handmade items and genuine local crafts, rather than buying imported good, especially in places like Cusco and Machu Picchu where competition between market sellers is high.

This trip can be tailor-made to include a range of cultural activities aimed at supporting local economies and preserving local cultures, including: homestays with local families on Lake Titicaca, and visiting community projects in the Sacred Valley.

For all of our guests we provide pre-departure information on social and cultural issues in each location, including language guides, and advice on how to travel responsibly and respectfully.