Ecotourism in Peru
As individuals become more interested and concerned about the impact that they have on the land when they travel, eco-tourism is a term that is becoming more and more popular. Many avid travelers – and those who don’t travel so much – now pay close attention to their carbon footprint and strive to practice responsible and sustainable tourism, especially in a land like Peru where eco-systems like the Amazon Basin are so very fragile.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) dubs responsible travel as that which preserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people. Recognizing that for many poor and developing countries tourism is a major source of foreign exchange, TIES and other similar organizations try to encourage travelers not only to choose excursions that provide minimal impact but also trips that allow one to get involved with activities that can inspire cultural awareness and tolerance of others. Most of these trips take participants to less touristy areas, allowing them to see those hidden gems that most others do not.
There are numerous tour companies within the U.S. that offer eco-travel packages that include the top eco destinations in Peru. The Amazon River region, of course, sits at the top of that list. Many of these trips head to the Tambopata National Reserve, where visitors can explore one of the most species-rich habitats on the planet and perhaps even get involved in certain conservation activities. Lodging here includes accommodations that are also eco-friendly, built from materials that have little or no negative impact on the rivers, flora, and fauna or the Amazon Basin. Some are quite luxurious but still kind to the environment. Many are owned by conservation groups or local farmers.
Many eco-tourists also choose to hike the Inca Trail and to explore Machu Picchu, all the while learning how to lessen their impact on this historic area, which is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. Other sustainable tourism occurs in the Andes Mountains as travelers hike up into these impressive peaks and explore the flora and fauna there.
In the last several years, eco-tourism has taken on
another look as well. Many eco-tourists have opted to participate in
“volunteer” vacations, which give them the opportunity to work with other
volunteers, or with locals, in bettering the community. For example, one
tour company places volunteers in a school for impoverished children in
Cuzco, where these travelers help by painting or doing other maintenance,
building vegetable gardens, or interacting with the children and staff.
Others might include the opportunity to build hospitals or first aid
centers, install identifying signs in the rain forest, construct community
centers, and much more. Volunteers generally stay in dormitory rooms or
other modern accommodations and have the opportunity for leisure travel a
well. Most say this kind of eco-tourism is among the most rewarding and note
that they would do it again and again.
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