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Responsible Tourism
Cusco Journeys & Adventure is deeply committed to responsible tourism, recognizing the urgent need to protect our fragile environment while ensuring that our rich history, culture, and landscapes are preserved for future generations. We are dedicated to offering a trekking and climbing service that is not only caring, friendly, and professional, but also safe and priced fairly for our clients.
Operating in the spectacular regions of the Inca Trail, Vilcabamba Trek, Salkantay Glacier Trek, Ausangate Glacier, and Choquequirao Treks, we are acutely aware of the precious and delicate nature of these areas. From rapidly receding glaciers to water scarcity and the pressures on mountain ecosystems, we understand that the environment is under threat, and we have a responsibility to help protect it. As such, we embrace Responsible Tourism as a core principle of our business.
We also recognize that our success as a business directly impacts the local communities we work with. Over the years, we’ve created valuable employment opportunities for many people, including qualified guides, cooks, porters, and the drivers and assistants of donkeys and llamas from small mountain villages. We feel a strong obligation not only to provide stable work but also to support the preservation of the mountain environment they call home. This means actively working to protect these areas for future generations.
At Cusco Journeys & Adventure, we have developed both a Responsible Tourism Policy and an Environmental Care Policy, and we are slowly implementing these guidelines within our team and local communities. While change can be slow and met with resistance, especially in areas where traditional practices have been entrenched for generations, we remain hopeful that our actions will inspire positive change over time.
As one of the few agencies in Cusco that has taken serious steps to implement an Environmental Care Code with our trekking staff, we are proud to lead by example. Moreover, we are the only agency that operates a Community Project Program, ensuring that a portion of the profits from our business is reinvested into local communities, helping to improve the quality of life for those who live in the areas we explore.
Our Commitment to Responsible Tourism and You is more than just a slogan; it’s our guiding principle. Through careful, respectful practices, we aim to create a sustainable future for the people and landscapes that make Peru such a special destination.
Cusco Journeys & Adventure is a locally owned trekking and climbing company based in Cusco, with a dedicated team of Peruvian staff. All of our guides, cooks, porters, and arrieros come from the Cusco region and the surrounding highland villages, ensuring that our operations are deeply connected to the local community. Since our founding, Cusco Journeys & Adventure has committed to social responsibility through the creation of a Community Projects Fund. Each year, we contribute a portion of our trekking profits to support local initiatives. This fund is used to provide essential resources such as school supplies, equipment, and clothing for underprivileged communities along the trekking routes in the Cordillera Vilcanota and Cordillera Vilcabamba regions. In addition to this, we are actively collaborating with local communities to improve basic sanitation and waste management. We are working to establish toilet facilities and waste disposal systems at campsites in remote areas where such infrastructure is lacking. While progress is slow and we face challenges and resistance, our long-term goal is to provide sanitation solutions in key areas within the next 2 to 5 years. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of the regions we operate in, ensuring that both the environment and local communities benefit from responsible tourism practices. At Cusco Journeys & Adventure, we are committed to employing local staff and paying them a fair, above-average wage, ensuring that the income generated from our treks directly supports the local economy. All of our trekking staff are paid promptly at the end of each trek, reflecting our dedication to fair and responsible business practices. We treat our employees with the respect they deserve, and we expect the same from our office staff and guides toward the rest of the trek crew. We value open communication and listen to any feedback or concerns from our team. Over the years, we have taken action to maintain a positive and respectful work environment, including dismissing cooks and guides who did not uphold our standards of respect for both staff and clients. We work hard to create the best possible working conditions for our trek staff. To ensure the safety and well-being of our porters, we limit their load to a maximum of 14kg, well within recommended guidelines. We also provide our porters and donkey drivers with waterproof tents and a variety of nutritious meals. Importantly, all trek staff are given the same food as our clients, ensuring they are well-fed and cared for throughout their journey. Rubbish Management We also encourage our staff to collect any waste left behind at campsites by other groups, whenever space allows in our trek equipment. While it is not feasible to clean every campsite during every trek, our small efforts collectively contribute to long-term environmental preservation. Toilet Facilities Water Pollution Prevention We provide small laundry bowls for washing and encourage you to use them for personal hygiene, shampooing, or washing clothes. Please refrain from putting soap or shampoo directly into the rivers or lakes. After using the bowls, dispose of the water at least 50 meters away from any water source. Our crews follow the same practices: they wash dishes and cooking equipment in large wash bowls, disposing of any detergent water well away from water sources. Additionally, we offer annual pre-season training for our staff, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge to follow safe and environmentally responsible practices throughout the treks. Caring for Plants and Animals Our donkey drivers are committed to the well-being of their animals. We ensure that donkeys and horses are well-fed, in good condition, and well cared for throughout the journey. The maximum load a donkey is allowed to carry is 40kg, evenly distributed to ensure their comfort and safety. If you observe any of our staff not following these policies, we encourage you to inform the guide and notify us upon your return to Cusco. It is essential to protect this special part of the world so that future generations can enjoy its pristine beauty.
At Cusco Journeys & Adventure, we have a strict zero-litter policy. We carefully separate rubbish into organic and inorganic categories. All inorganic waste is transported back to our base in Cusco for proper disposal at the local council facility. Whenever possible, organic waste is donated to local families for animal feed.
In campsites without public toilet facilities, we use a toilet tent and properly dispose of human waste by burying it. Where possible, we dig toilet holes at least 50 meters away from water sources. Our guides or a designated team member carry a small shovel or trowel for this purpose. If you need to make a toilet stop during the day, please ask for assistance, and make sure to bury your waste and paper in a small hole, away from water sources.
We are highly aware of the environmental impact caused by water pollution from soaps and detergents entering river systems and lakes. While this practice is common in the mountains, we strive to minimize its impact by controlling our own actions.
We treat all plants, birds, and animals with respect, understanding that many of them are rare and unique to this region.