Responsible Travel
Sustainable Tourism
trade and income producing opportunities.
Responsible Tourism Policy
Kumuka Worldwide aims to reduce its impact on
Here are some of the projects Kumuka supports
local culture and the environment, whilst
and encourages our passengers to be involved with:
• Travelling in Small Groups
simultaneously safeguarding and preserving
Saturday Children’s Library
• Employing Local Crew
opportunities for future travellers. We travel through
in Cusco
• Supporting Local Businesses
many amazing yet fragile ecosystems, which we
want to preserve and protect, so that future
Without access to books, children do not develop
• Encouraging Cultural Awareness
generations can appreciate them as well.
the enthusiasm to read and use this as a way of • Water Conservation
learning and discovering information. With no
We ensure that our tour groups shop at local
• Decreasing Carbon Emissions
libraries in Cusco, and many families who are
markets and stay at locally owned hotels and • Reducing Waste
unable to afford to buy books, Kumuka supports a
campsites, as well as using local agencies and
local initiative to establish a small Saturday library
• Responsible Waste Disposal
guides, thus ensuring that a large proportion of both
for these children, which also serves as a day
your trip and local payment costs are ploughed back
• Respecting Wildlife
centre for the families.
directly into the communities we visit and the
• Visiting Sustainable Destinations
regions we travel through. Our tour groups conduct On most tours, Kumuka offers passengers the
• Engage in Local Projects
their activities according to a set of environmental chance to visit the centre on a Saturday and donate
guidelines that minimise any negative impacts of our any 2nd-hand children’s books they might bring
activities and maximise our positive impacts. with them from home. Passengers will have the
them fair access to the tourist city of Cusco to sell
Together we can make a difference. chance to read and show the books to the local
their wares.
Kumuka is dedicated to ensuring that our
children and gain a personal insight into the
Responsible Travel objectives are practiced and
contribution they have made.
Kumuka supports the Lares Valley & Community
Project, which seeks to promote these textiles to
maintained, and also communicated to our
Lares Valley & Communities trekkers on this route, and also to tourists in Cusco
passengers whose participation is integral to the
Project
where a special display of weavings has been set
success of the policy. We are involved with a
up on their behalf in a local hotel. Passengers are
number of different community and environmental
High in the Lares Valley of the Andes, live the
encouraged to consider these textiles over cheaper,
projects in the areas we visit, and encourage the
isolated descendents of the Incas; communities
machine made, synthetic copies knowing that every
support of our passengers as they pass through
known for their intricate, hand woven tapestries of
cent of the purchase price goes directly back to the
these areas. The contribution of our passengers not
brilliant colours that last a lifetime.
weavers and their families. Weavings come with
only benefits the local communities and
These communities are among the poorest in Peru information about the person who made the
environments, but also makes them Responsible
and barely survive on subsistence farming and the product, so that customers can learn about the
Travellers.
proceeds of the alternate Inca Trails that wind person they have supported.
Projects in Latin America through this valley to Machu Picchu.
In addition, the community project uses the Lares
Kumuka works closely with local organisations on Many trekkers passing through do not know of Valley Treks to Machu Picchu to distribute much
community projects that seek to improve the quality these special textiles available to purchase as they needed food, educational materials and other
of life for locals and also provide the support visit the indigenous villages and their residents. And supplies to the remote schools and communities
necessary to ensure they have equal access to fair the isolation of these communities does not allow along the route.
Travel Checklist
Luggage - Restricted to one large bag, preferably a backpack, plus one small daypack to carry with you. Suitcases are not appropriate.
Spending Money - Allow approximately US$15-30 per day, and more if you intend to do many optional activities or buy souvenirs. We suggest that you carry your
spending money through a mixture of ATM cards, US Dollar travellers cheques and US Dollar cash. In larger towns and cities ATM credit and debit cards are
becoming an increasingly simple way to withdraw cash in local currency, however this should not be relied upon exclusively. US Dollar travellers cheques are widely
accepted and are the most secure way to carry money, but can often be expensive and time consuming to exchange. US Dollar cash is often the most convenient
way to carry funds in South America, but security can never be guaranteed.
Visas and Immunisation - Visa and health requirements for your destinations are listed on our website at
www.kumuka.com, or ask our staff in advance. For a quick
reference guide see page 120.
Peace of Mind
Financial Security - In the UK, Kumuka is fully bonded with an ATOL License No. 5575, issued by Air Travel Organisers Licensing, the governing body of tour operators.
In Australia, Kumuka is a fully bonded member of the Travel Compensation Fund (TCF) and as such provides the assurance of complete financial protection. In Canada,
Kumuka is registered with the Ontario Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). TICO is an organisation mandated by the Ontario Government to administer the Travel
Industry Act, 2002 and an industry financed travel compensation fund. Always look for the TICO sign before you book your travel time.
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