Travellers Code of Conduct

As a responsible trekking company, we encourage and comply with environmentally and socially-sustainable practices. This is particularly important because we offer an “off the beaten path” trekking experience, which often take us and our clients through remote areas vulnerable to environmental damage and cultural change. The following guidelines are designed to minimize our impact on the areas we visit, explain acceptable and respectful behavior, and how to consider cultural differences you may encounter.  Please take the time to read the information below, and let us know if you have any questions!

Apus Peru encourages you to consider the following aspects of responsible tourism and apply them during your trip.

Be Sensitive to Local Customs

• Conduct that may be acceptable in certain Western communities (ie. Drug use, nude sun bathing, loud and gregarious public conversation) is not appropriate in this region and culture.
•  Don't hand out sweets, loose change or small gifts, this only serves to corrupt and create begging mentality where none existed before.
• Churches are often viewed as tourist attractions; however, their primary purpose is as houses of worship for local residents; visitors should be quiet and respectful.
•  Be aware of people's sensitivity to be photographed; always ask first.
• Be perceptive of your own cultural values and how they affect your judgment of others. There are many different concepts of time, personal space, communication etc. which are not wrong or inferior, just different.
•  Act as an example for other travellers who are less informed than you!

Be Flexible in Your Expectations

• Approach your travels with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Sometimes plans change and a chance for more in-depth learning or a unique cultural experience presents itself. Adapt yourself to the situation rather than trying to change the situation to you.

Bridging the Cultural Gaps

• Take the opportunity to be a cultural ambassador. Much of the world's image of western tourists is based on the unrealities of television and magazines. Look for situations for cultural exchange whereby learning about each other's lives is mutual. Getting to know the person sitting next to you on a local bus or the person cooking your food is often a rewarding experience.

Bargaining/Shopping
For many people, shopping and souvenir hunting is an enjoyable and memorable part of their holiday.   Peruvians do bargain/haggle, but usually will only drop their price a little lower from the original start price.  Remember that while it can make you feel good to “knock down a price” or “squeeze a sale” out of a shop holder, that 1-2 soles means something to the  person who makes their livelihood from selling souvenirs, whereas its nothing but “loose change” in your country.
In remote communities, the people do not haggle. They offer a price and expect that you will pay that price. They are usually not willing to reduce prices and tend to find such behaviour as a little insulting/demeaning.

Ideas for Giving Gifts 
Visitors to Peru often want to help people, and whilst on treks you may encounter children asking for pens and sweets. When they do this, remember that by handing out sweets, loose change or small gifts, it can corrupt and create begging mentality where none existed before.

• However, to not give anything also doesn't give the best impression of tourists.
• If you wish to bring gifts please consider those which might convey a positive image. This includes fruit - oranges and apples. Children in the high Andes rarely eat fruit, and you are encouraging a healthy eating behaviour. The drawback is that fruit is heavy to carry.
• Other ideas include dried fruit & bread (Try to avoid anything that has packaging which will inevitably become litter.)
• Pens and paper are often suggested but are not necessarily useful for semi-literate children. Shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste are all purchasable at cheap prices in Cusco and encourage healthy behaviours but do come in packaging. (The packaging then becomes litter).
• If you want to contribute very positively, you can bring simple reading books or picture books (in Spanish) and ask that you accompany your guide to the local school to give them to the teacher. Do not give the books to individuals.
• If you strongly wish to give cash when arriving in a community, ask to see the President, Secretary and/or Treasurer of the Community or the Parents Association. Then, ensure that your gift is witnessed by several people and that the donation is written in the 'Actas' or recordbook of the community. (regardless, the best way to “give” is via an established organisation.)  
• Please note that $15.00 of our trek price is contributed to community projects via Threads of Peru (www.threadsofperu.com)
• Have you got a good idea for gifts? Then please let us know!

Gifts If you wish to bring a gift from your home country please bring something useful, simple and not too expensive. Hats and t-shirts are good gifts, fridge magnets are not necessarily very useful (many families do not have refrigerators!)
Sharing info about your home country Many people collate small photographs or information about their lives in their home country. We encourage this very important cultural sharing, however, really analyse what you show people. Pictures of your brother with his brand new car, the family on a ski holiday or your sister in an elaborate debutante dress in some ways only emphasise difference, rather than generate solidarity. Pictures of your house (no matter how moderate it is by Western standards) will probably emphasise that you are "rich" by Peruvian standards.
On the Trail  
Once your trip is underway, there is much that can be done to minimize consumption of resources, creation of waste, and your impact on the natural environment.  The following suggestions and guidelines are designed to help you achieve these important goals.

Practice Environmental Minimum Impact  
Many Apus treks occur in and around protected areas. We support and comply with the laws and regulations for these areas, and will make you aware of any restrictions or special circumstances at your pre-trek briefing.  In addition, our guides can provide you with specific information in relation to the protected species you may see on the trail.

No matter what the legal status of the land we are trekking through, the following guidelines are important to follow in order to reduce the effects of your presence: 

 Follow the international "Leave No Trace" rules – which are:

• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimise campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife  
• Be considerate of your hosts and other visitors

In addition, Apus Peru adheres to the following guidelines, and appreciates our client’s cooperation:

• Relieve yourself at least 70 meters from any water source.  This helps to reduce the contamination of rivers, lakes and streams.
• When hiking, stay on the trail. Don´t trample delicate vegetation or remove any form of plant or animal life.
• Do not pick flowers or collect local seeds.
•  Don´t approach, surround or chase animals you may observe in order to get a photograph. Don´t attempt to feed animals, and be careful not to leave foods around the campsite.                       

Solid Waste
One of the biggest environmental challenges all operators face is the collection and removal of the waste created during their treks. By following the suggestions below you will be helping us greatly and leaving your route cleaner than you found it!

• If you see litter, collect it.  When breaking camp, take care to pick up small pieces of plastic, orange peels or other small pieces of rubbish.
• We recommend that you bring a water bottle that can be filled with hot water.  Nalgene-style plastic bottles can work well for your entire trip to Peru – you can refill both on the trail and in your hotels.
• Carry all rubbish out.
• Use our cloth lunch bags provided to reduce the number of plastic bags used.

Because our treks take place primarily in relatively undeveloped areas, over-consumption of energy and water is not as significant an issue as in other areas of the tourism industry.  However, we do encourage you to take the following action before, during (if hotel stays are included), and after your trek:

In your Hotel                           

• If your hotel has a towel washing policy (ie put in the bath for towels to be washed or on the rack to not be washed) please adhere to the policy.
• Turn taps off properly and report any faults, so that they can be repaired.
• Turn the lights off when you leave the room.

Flights
We suggest that you offset the carbon emissions from your air travels to make them Carbon neutral.  If you find a scheme that you like, please share it with us!
Thank you for being a conscientious traveller!

• Its not easy to provide a good, sustainable trekking experience and to keep it affordable, largely because we have small groups and we need more people to support us - to bring down overhead costs (rent, office staff employee etc)
• Thank you for making your booking early, especially if you made it 6 weeks before your trek.  Not only did you give us the best possible chance to get you good train tickets & entries, you also supported our staff.  Apus Peru is a ethical  travel agency which tries to give trekking staff (guides and cooks) a balanced program that enables them to rest before tours.  They also like to be able to plan around family events.  Your booking early means that they are guaranteed work in advance and can live more balanced lives.
• Have you enjoyed what you experienced?  Have you learnt about sustainability? Please share what you have learn with other travellers, so they are about to make more careful decision of how to trek.

Finally... Have a great time and make sure that those people you met also have great memories of you.