Trekking and regeneration in the Andes

The Andes is a special place for community-based sustainable tourism, not only for its impressive mountains and pristine landscapes, but also for its people and their coexistence for thousands of years. If you have visited them, you may agree that Andean people are humble, strong, and hardworking, probably due to the extreme weather conditions and the harsh historical events they have experienced. It is when you get to know them a bit more that their friendliness and festive spirit shine through!

Community-Based Sustainable Tourism in the Andes

Historically, Andean people have organised their social and economic affairs as communities. Some communities are now exploring new businesses that can create job opportunities and support the development of family and community incomes, while retaining the aspects of their culture they value most. This approach has become an important example of community-based sustainable tourism in the Peruvian Andes.

Ausangate, a sacred mountain since the time of the Incas, is one of those landscapes where two communities, Chillca and Josefina, have taken the lead to support the development of a tourism business. They have overcome natural apprehension and uncertainty and, more than 10 years later, are now partners and operators of Andean Lodges, the best “lodge to lodge hike” in the Southern Peruvian Andes.

Carbon Neutral Tourism and Environmental Commitment

Andean Lodges demonstrates how community-based sustainable tourism can generate local income while protecting cultural and natural heritage. Apart from being a successful, growing venture, Andean Lodges has sought to deliver positive social and environmental impacts from the very beginning, creating jobs and livelihoods while preserving Peru’s natural and cultural heritage. Aware that Nature tourism and travel do not only have local impacts, but also contribute to global climate change, Andean Lodges has been a member of Regenera since 2017. Regenera is a network of organisations, local people and allies dedicated to managing their carbon footprint, conserving and restoring ecosystems in Peru, such as regenerating wild Nature, and combating climate change. By doing so, they join a growing group of Nature stewards in Peru who connect with Regenera to connect with Communities and other forest holders in the Amazon and support them financially to directly conserve and restore natural forests. As of the start of 2018, Andean Lodges has measured, reduced, and compensated for its Greenhouse Gas emissions and operates at 100% carbon neutrality.

Local Communities Leading Sustainable Tourism

Andean Lodges has shown that entrepreneurship and innovation can happen in rural areas with the active participation of local people. At the same time, it’s a great example of how different people can join forces, despite cultural and geographical distances, to do their part in solving the common challenge we’re all facing with climate change.