Llama Travel recognises that tourism to countries in
Latin America has a significant impact, both on the
lives of local people and on the natural environment.
When carried out sensitively, this impact can be very
positive, providing employment and income as well as
encouraging the preservation of local resources and
culture. The economic benefit comes more directly
than most other forms of export; through restaurants,
shops and other services supplied by locals.
Many countries in Latin America are poor, and to
make a living, natural resources have always been
exploited by locals, e.g. through logging in the
Amazon rainforest. However, as tourism has become
more important economically, there is a growing
recognition of the need to preserve natural resources.
This can be seen through the increasing number of
eco-lodges in the jungle, where many locals who once
would have been involved in hunting or destruction
of the forest are now involved in preservation.
Llama Travel works with local companies and
organisations in Latin America to try to ensure that
our holidays are beneficial for the people of the
destinations we visit. We ask you to help with this:
- Support the local economy by buying local
produce and services.
- Respect local people and culture, especially
when taking photographs.
- Respect the behaviour and habitat of wildlife.
- Do not buy products made from endangered
species or tropical hardwoods.
- Support local environmental projects and those
designed to preserve local heritage.
- Please do not litter.
All Llama Travel excursions are taken with
knowledgeable local guides who are fluent in English,
and often in other local languages, such as Quechua.
Some trips include sections without guides; in these
cases drivers may have only rudimentary English. We
feel that the use of local guides aids the traveller in
a better understanding of their destination, as well
as working to better the lives of people living in the
local community. We try to ensure that all local staff
we work with are treated and paid well. However, some
of the local companies we work with may not always
share these concerns. If you come across anyone on
your holiday that you think is being exploited, please
bring this to our attention.
Practical Action
Llama Travel supports the work in Peru of Practical
Action, a UK-based development charity. Practical
Action was founded in the UK in 1965 by Fritz
Schumacher, who coined the phrase ‘small is
beautiful’ to describe the need to apply smallscale
technology to reduce poverty. The charity,
previously called Intermediate Technology, opened
its Peru office in 1985, and now employs over 100
people in 9 regions of the country. Llama Travel is
particularly impressed with the way Practical Action
operates, employing local people, carrying out
relatively short-term projects (3-5 years) that have
a long-term impact on people’s lives.
If you would like to join us in helping Practical
Action, see below.
Carbon emissions
Flying, like other forms of transport
and many other activities, produces
greenhouse gases. Many people are
looking to find ways to reduce their
impact on the environment and in
particular to offset their carbon
emissions in some way.
There are a number of organisations
which you can buy ‘carbon offsets’
from. The going rate for a long
haul flight to Latin America
is currently about £20. Whilst
this is a valid option and many
operators specifically suggest that
holidaymakers do this, we are less
comfortable with this approach.
Most of these organisations
are commercial enterprises. In
addition, a lot of the activity they
undertake is planting trees, the
environmental benefits of which
are much disputed. We prefer the
support of organisations involved
in introducing renewable energy
sources in developing countries, so
that these countries are able to
advance economically and socially
without developing a ‘carbon habit’.
Llama Travel supports the work
in Peru of Practical Action, a UK based
development charity. One of
the Practical Action projects we
are supporting is the development
of renewable energy sources in
rural communities. This allows the
communities to develop without
having to burn resources or use
other polluting forms of energy
generation.
If you would like to contribute your
£20 carbon offset amount to this
Practical Action activity, please
let us know. We will match your
£20, so that Practical Action will
receive double your contribution
to developing renewable energy
projects in Peru.