Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [325]
Community Tourism
More than just a buzz word in travel these days, community tourism offers an alternative experience to the traditional low-interaction, look-from-a-distance travel characterized by holidays holed up in resorts or giant tour groups. It brings travelers into close contact with local people, who are major stakeholders and beneficiaries of tourism projects that they design themselves (often with help from outside organizations). Activities range from preparing traditional food to participating in farming and craft production and in many cases you can combine volunteer activities with a homestay. Community tourism is taking off in a big way in Huaraz and the Cordilleras, and a number of local agencies (opposite) can help you set up an itinerary.
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RESPONSIBLE TREKKING
The Andes are part of a sensitive ecological environment, so it’s important to be conscious of the impact of mass tourism. Here are a few tips to keep your impact minimal.
Help prevent deforestation: avoid disturbing flora or fauna and do not cut down trees or live branches for fires or other use; open fires are illegal.
With the amount of traffic some trails see, litter is an ongoing problem – even in remote areas. If you carry it in, carry it out – and if you can pick up and carry out some extra garbage, all the better.
Respect the park guards and follow their recommendations.
Camp at least 60m from water sources to avoid contaminating them.
Avoid playing music or making noise that will disturb animals and other people.
Don’t give children money, sweets or gifts. This encourages persistent begging, which has become a major problem on some busy routes. If you wish to help, consider donating directly to local schools, NGOs and other volunteer organizations (Click here).
Keep a low profile: the gear you are carrying costs more than many locals earn in a month (or a year!). Stow everything inside your tent at night.
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Other Activities
Skiers will not find ski lifts in the Cordillera Blanca, but there is limited mountain skiing for die-hards who want to climb with skis. Ask locally for current conditions. River running (whitewater rafting) is sometimes offered on the Río Santa, but it’s a very polluted river (mine-tailings upstream and raw sewage certainly don’t help things) and people have fallen ill doing it. It’s not recommended.
Horseback riding is a possibility; although there is no dedicated outfit in Huaraz, horses can be arranged by many travel agencies. The Lazy Dog Inn outside Huaraz (Click here) has its own horses and does treks to the surrounding mountains. Parapenting (hang gliding) and parasailing are increasing in popularity, though you will need to bring all your own equipment. Aparac, a precipice behind Taricá, and Pan de Azúcar near Yungay are popular launching spots. Ask at Monttrek (opposite) for the latest info.
COURSES
Both of the following schools have Spanish teachers who are native speakers.
The Sierra Verde Spanish School (42-7954; sierra verde_sp@hotmail.com; Lúcar y Torre 530) has Spanish lessons for S15 per hour. Explorers Spanish School (94327761; Candelaria Villar 461) offers flexible hours and group (up to four)/individual lessons for S15/S20 per hour.
TOURS & GUIDES
Day Tours
Dozens of agencies along Luzuriaga can organize outings to local sites, including several day excursions. One popular tour visits the ruins at Chavín de Huántar (Click here); another passes through Yungay to the beautiful Lagunas Llanganuco (Click here), where there are superb vistas of Huascarán and other mountains; a third takes you through Caraz