Alpaca Expeditions: We Travel with Respect, Connecting with the Heart of the Andes
Our Commitment to People, Culture and Nature
At Alpaca Expeditions, we believe tourism should leave far more than unforgettable memories. It should create opportunities for people, respect the cultures that welcome us, and protect the landscapes that make the Andes an extraordinary place.
We are a local company with roots in Cusco, Peru. Our story is deeply connected to the mountains, the Andean communities and the people who make every adventure possible. That is why we understand that offering exceptional experiences to our travelers also means caring for our team, contributing to the wellbeing of local families and taking responsibility for protecting our natural and cultural heritage.
Our commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism is reflected in concrete actions: the wellbeing of our porters, job opportunities for men and women of the region, our social and community projects, and the environmental conservation initiatives we carry out along the routes we travel.
For us, traveling responsibly is not just a promise: it is a responsibility we must prove every day.
The Five Principles of Our Ethical Tourism
1. Wellbeing and Fair Treatment for Our Workers
The wellbeing of our team is the heart of every adventure. The people who make each adventure possible deserve respect, recognition and care.
At Alpaca Expeditions, we believe our porters, cooks, guides, drivers and our entire administrative and operations team are essential to delivering an unforgettable experience to every traveler. That is why we are committed to offering every member of our work family dignified treatment, respect, good working conditions and fair wages, paid on time.
Our commitment is especially meaningful with our porters, whom we proudly know as our Green Machine. We recognize the enormous physical effort they make in the mountains and the indispensable role they play in every expedition. That is why we have a wellbeing program that includes:
- Complete uniforms and gear for mountain work
- Proper footwear and sleeping bags
- Meals throughout every expedition
- Exclusive transportation for porters
- Lodging at our Porters’ House at Km 82
- Access to medical care
We are proud to have our own transportation for porters and a house built especially for their wellbeing, an investment of more than one million soles. These initiatives reflect our commitment to providing better working conditions and to recognizing the value of their work with actions.
We also promote job opportunities for women as porters, helping to broaden their participation in the tourism sector and to create new opportunities for growth.
At Alpaca Expeditions, creating jobs also means transforming lives. Through our operations, we help create work opportunities for more than 2,000 people, especially families and workers from Andean communities. We are deeply proud to contribute to the development of our people and to offer opportunities that allow them to improve their quality of life.
Our commitment goes beyond employment. We also promote social initiatives for our porters and their communities, such as recognition trips for porters, dental care campaigns, visits to archaeological sites, reforestation projects in areas degraded by human activity, and donations, among other acts of solidarity.
None of this would be possible without the trust of our travelers. We sincerely thank everyone who chooses Alpaca Expeditions, because by booking an adventure with us, you also help sustain jobs, support local families and promote a more responsible and human tourism.
We firmly believe that the success of an expedition is not measured only by the satisfaction of our visitors, but also by the respect, dignity, opportunities and care received by the people who make it possible.
At Alpaca Expeditions, every adventure leaves a footprint on the mountain, but our greatest pride is leaving a positive footprint on the lives of our people.
2. Support for Andean Communities
Tourism should create opportunities that reach the families and communities that bring the Andes to life.
As a company born in Cusco, we deeply value our connection with the communities of the region. We promote local employment and develop social initiatives aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of families, supporting education and creating opportunities beyond the treks.
Our initiatives include educational and community projects, as well as trips organized so our porters and their families can visit Machu Picchu and other destinations in Peru.
- We believe in the Andean principle of Ayni, reciprocity: receiving from our land and our communities also means contributing to their wellbeing.
3. Protecting the Environment
The Andes are our home, and protecting them is part of our responsibility.
The mountains, trails, ecosystems and archaeological sites we visit are part of a heritage we must preserve for future generations.
That is why we promote waste management, plastic reduction, reuse of materials, water and energy saving, and the use of biodegradable products in our trekking operations.
- We organize and take part in clean-up campaigns on the Inca Trail and alternative routes, and develop reforestation and conservation initiatives.
- We encourage travelers to use reusable bottles, follow their guides’ instructions and never leave waste on the trails.
Our goal is to keep the environmental impact of every adventure to a minimum.
4. Respect for Andean Cultures and Traditions
The richness of the Andes lives in its landscapes, but also in its people, their knowledge and their traditions.
We promote experiences that bring our travelers closer to Peruvian culture with respect, sensitivity and curiosity.
We value the ancestral knowledge, traditions, languages and ways of life of local communities. We invite our visitors to respect their customs, ask permission before photographing people when appropriate, and care for sacred and archaeological spaces.
We want every cultural encounter to be an opportunity to learn, share and recognize the human richness of the Andes, without losing sight of people’s dignity, privacy and identity.
5. Transparency and Responsibility
Trust is built through honesty and consistent actions.
We believe travelers should receive clear information about their treks, the services included, the conditions of each route and the recommendations they need to enjoy a safe and responsible experience.
Our commitment means acting professionally, paying attention to the wellbeing of our clients and workers, and communicating our social and environmental initiatives transparently. We also consider it essential to listen to the opinions of our team and our travelers to identify opportunities for improvement.
For Alpaca Expeditions, responsibility does not end when a trek is over. It is part of the way we work and of the relationship we build with people, communities and the destinations we share.
What Does Ethical Tourism Mean on the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is an extraordinary experience that depends on the coordinated effort of many people and on the conservation of a unique natural and cultural heritage.
Behind every expedition there are porters who carry the equipment, cooks who prepare the meals, guides who share the history and knowledge of the Andes, and communities that are part of our region’s identity.
At Alpaca Expeditions, we understand that walking this route carries responsibilities that go beyond reaching Machu Picchu. This is how we put our commitment into practice:
- We care for our porters. We provide gear for mountain work, meals, transportation and support services dedicated to their wellbeing.
- We recognize the value of our team. We want every traveler to understand the importance of the work of porters, cooks and guides, and to always treat them with respect.
- We protect natural and archaeological heritage. We promote responsible waste management, respect for authorized routes and care for the places we visit.
- We create local opportunities. We invest in the talent of our region and in the participation of both men and women in tourism.
- We share responsibility with our travelers. Before and during our expeditions, we encourage responsible habits that help preserve the trails and respect the communities.
We want our travelers to finish the Inca Trail with unforgettable memories and the satisfaction of having been part of an experience that recognizes the value of people and the importance of protecting this heritage for the future.
Conventional Tourism vs. Ethical Tourism
At Alpaca Expeditions, we believe a quality tourism experience must consider not only traveler satisfaction, but also the wellbeing of people, respect for communities and the protection of the environment.
| Conventional Tourism | Ethical Tourism |
|---|---|
| Focuses mainly on the traveler’s experience. | Seeks the wellbeing of travelers, workers and communities, while respecting the natural environment. |
| May prioritize the lowest price as the main deciding factor. | Values responsible pricing, fair pay and dignified working conditions. |
| May pay little attention to its impact on the destination. | Takes action to prevent and reduce negative social and environmental impacts. |
| Sees workers as part of the service provided. | Recognizes the rights, experience, knowledge and dignity of every worker. |
| Measures success mainly by commercial results. | Also considers team wellbeing, community benefits and heritage conservation. |
| May treat local culture as just another tourist attraction. | Promotes respect for traditions, ancestral knowledge and cultural identity. |
| May limit its responsibility to the tour itself. | Takes responsibility for the whole journey and its impacts. |
OUR PHILOSOPHY AT ALPACA EXPEDITIONS
For us, ethical tourism means that an extraordinary adventure must also be built on respect, responsibility and solidarity.
On the Inca Trail and on our expeditions across the Andes, we recognize that guides, porters, cooks and every other team member are essential to each experience. We also value local communities and the conservation of the landscapes and cultural heritage we share with our visitors.
Our goal is for every traveler to enjoy an unforgettable experience while we contribute to a fairer, more responsible and more sustainable tourism.
“Alpaca Expeditions: traveling with respect is also part of the adventure.”
Why Ethical and Sustainable Tourism Matters to Us
At Alpaca Expeditions, we believe traveling is much more than discovering extraordinary landscapes and reaching unforgettable destinations. It also means recognizing the people who make every adventure possible, respecting the cultures that welcome us and protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the Andes.
As a local company from Cusco, we understand that tourism has a responsibility toward workers, communities and the environment. That is why we strive to integrate the principles of ethical and sustainable tourism into the way we organize and run our expeditions.
For us, these principles must be reflected in concrete actions: caring for the wellbeing of our porters, valuing the work of our guides and cooks, promoting opportunities for local communities and contributing to the conservation of the landscapes and archaeological sites we share with our travelers.
Ethical Tourism Starts with People
Behind every expedition on the Inca Trail and the alternative routes of Cusco, there is a human team whose effort, experience and dedication make our visitors’ experience possible.
Porters carry equipment and supplies across demanding terrain; cooks prepare meals during the treks; and guides share their knowledge of the history, culture and nature of the Andes.
Recognizing this contribution means promoting respect for every worker, caring for their wellbeing and fostering dignified and safe working conditions.
We also believe our travelers should understand the value of this work. That is why raising awareness of the role of every expedition member is an important part of promoting more conscious and respectful tourism.
Ethical tourism should not depend only on tips or positive reviews. While both can be valuable expressions of gratitude, the priority must be respect for workers and responsible labor practices.
