Responsible People: Traveling Responsibly and Promoting Sustainable Tourism
Responsible People is a foundation dedicated to promoting responsible travel and tourism on every trip. Our goal is to ensure sustainable tourism for future generations — allowing Peru to continue growing and offering natural and archaeological attractions to all visitors while always respecting the culture and traditions of the Andean people.
We also take responsibility for protecting nature during visits and prohibit certain activities that could harm the environment. Nowadays, many travel agencies fail to respect the environment and often damage the ecosystems around them, especially in sensitive areas like Salkantay (Salkantay Devastation).
From our point of view, any responsible travel company — in Peru or anywhere in the world — should meet at least some basic standards to ensure that the main beneficiaries are both tourists and the local Andean communities. Our partners and team members must receive training on sustainable tourism, responsible travel practices, and environmental protection.
Responsibility to the Tourist
In Peru, all excursions offered by our partners are organized and operated directly by them. This ensures that the benefits are fairly shared between travelers and local communities, while also guaranteeing that your trip is managed 100% by the company you booked with — without being transferred to another agency.
Working with Local People
100% of our partners’ staff are locals born and living in Cusco. This includes office personnel, reservation and operations teams, and professional guides. Our partners also ensure gender equality, employing both men and women.
Cooks and especially porters come from Andean communities near Cusco, receiving fair wages and stable employment without payment delays. All staff members are treated with respect and provided with the necessary equipment at no extra cost to ensure their safety and well-being.
Tax Payments by Our Partners
All partner travel operators include the 18% General Sales Tax (IGV) in their tour prices — meaning there are no hidden fees. Taxes are paid punctually every month. We firmly believe that paying taxes contributes to Peru’s economic growth and supports the most vulnerable and remote communities.
Environmental Care
Responsible People’s commitment to environmental protection is strong and ongoing. We train all our partner staff on sustainable practices and environmental conservation.
We have almost completely eliminated paper use — now, about 90% of our reservations are made electronically. The only printed documents are entry tickets for archaeological sites, using CHAMEX-brand paper, which also supports eco-friendly production.
Plastic use is kept to a minimum in all tours and is allowed only for specific adventure activities. We promote the use of reusable materials, such as plastic ground sheets for tents, and teach our teams how to properly separate waste. Waste is sorted into red, black, white, and green bags for organic and non-organic materials, following the guidelines of the Regional Directorate of Culture (DRC) and SERNANP.
Social Projects
A portion of our partners’ annual earnings is dedicated to social projects in remote Andean communities — often the same villages our porters come from. These community activities are usually carried out in February each year. However, due to heavy rains during that month, the schedule may sometimes change.
Our Travel Partners
All our travel partners work hand in hand with Responsible People on new projects that benefit both the local communities and the environment. We believe that tourism has the power to improve lives, support those in need, and change the way we see and care for the world — today and for the future.
Tierras Vivas
Inca Trail Machu
Salkantay Trek Machu
Machu Picchut Travel
Travel Tour Group
Recommendations for Responsible Travelers
Below we suggest you read these recommendations so that your stay in our environment is as pleasant and respectful as possible:
- Respect local customs, culture, and traditions.
- Always ask permission before photographing local people, especially during religious or cultural ceremonies.
- Learn key words of the local language — do not expect everyone to speak your language.
- Dress and behave respectfully, especially in towns, religious sites, and cultural areas.
- Support the local economy by purchasing locally made products and crafts.
- Dispose of garbage properly, recycle as much as possible, reuse your bottles, and say no to plastic bags.
- Remember that you are a guest — do not do anything you would not do at home.
- Enjoy nature without chasing or touching wild animals.
- Leave everything as you found it — do not remove stones, plants, or other natural elements.
- Stay on designated trails to help reduce erosion caused by visitor traffic.
- Encourage responsible behavior among your family and fellow travelers.
- Avoid excessive bargaining — a small amount of money to you can mean a lot to local families.
- When dining out, choose small local restaurants instead of large companies or international chains.
- Never throw garbage anywhere.
- Handle used batteries carefully; they are highly harmful to the environment. Take them back to your country and dispose of them properly.
- Conserve water and electricity whenever possible.
- Report any environmental damage to the local authorities.