The Very Best Sustainable Things To Do In Cusco Peru
Already well-known for being home to all kinds of amazing Inca temples and beautiful mountains, you may also be wondering if there are sustainable things to do in Cusco Peru.
Given it’s one of the most diverse and popular areas to explore in Peru, it’s certainly possible to find a wide range of sustainable activities that benefit both the environment as well as helping local communities. However it’s also important to know how to find them, as well as the right activity providers.
In this guide we’ll explore the best sustainable activities that you can do in Cusco Peru, and how you can add them to your own travel plans. As well as also showing you how you can check each operator, we’ll also answer any other questions you may have in our FAQ section.
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Are There Sustainable Things To Do In Cusco Peru?
When we think of the word sustainable, we often think of luxury companies doing everything possible to save the environment. However it can also be as focused on a smaller scale, such as is the case with sustainable local tour providers in Cusco Peru.
Although tourism has been increasing rapidly to the Peruvian Andes, efforts are being made to improve how the city and various sights are being looked after and preserved for the future. An example is the Inca Trail, which has a limit of 500 permits per day and is closed every February to allow for repairs to historical ruins and the original trail. Even sites like Machu Picchu are doing their part too, by converting waste into biofuel for national transport providers.
However it’s also important to note that sustainability is at the heart of what locals do and live daily within Cusco and around the Sacred Valley, and as such the larger community is taking note not to affect this. Many activities provide better employment opportunities for locals who otherwise earn little, and also help provide key educational know-how too.
How To Check If Your Cusco Activity Is Sustainable
Given how popular Cusco has become, this means we can find almost endless tour operators and providers all around the city. However not all are sustainable in their practices, and as such it’s important to be critical before choosing who to book a tour with.
Researching online on their website is a good first step, where we can see any current social projects that are in movement or how they have helped create sustainable employment opportunities. However it’s also important to look at tourist reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, as they are the most transparent way to see what other travellers say about their tours, and if they are following-through with what they say they are doing.
The Very Best Sustainable Things To Do In Cusco Peru
Below we’ll now explore some of the very best sustainable things to do in Cusco, and why each one is worth adding to your own itinerary when exploring the Peruvian Andes.
Hike The Classic Inca Trail Trek
Many of the multi-day circuits follow ethical and sustainable practices (such as looking after waste and not littering the environment), however the Four Day Classic Inca Trail Trek is one of the very best. Given it’s so popular, it has led to the creation of many different jobs such as for porters, chefs, tour guides and more. And in more recent years, certain companies like ourselves have helped improve minimum wages for local workers, as well as providing them with high quality hiking boots and gear. The Inca Trail is also closed annually during February to allow for restoration efforts to take place for the Inca Ruins.
Visit The Parque De La Papa In The Sacred Valley
Translated directly as “Potato Park”, this beautiful settlement is located just above the hills of Pisac, which is around an hour’s drive from Cusco. Given potatoes first originated from Peru, this country has seen a large development in their produce and now boasts over 4000 different varieties. In this park we can meet the local Chichubamba community who run ecological tours around the farms, where we can support local workers with donations whilst also experiencing their daily ways of life. Definitely a great way to change things up during your trip around Cusco and the Sacred Valley whilst supporting local workers!
Explore The Remote Ausangate Mountain
Known for its spiritual significance to locals which dates as far back as the times of the Inca, Ausangate Mountain is both an exciting and ethically-friendly route to head on. Here we can meet local communities of the Upis region, and especially during our first day stay in their settlement where we can buy their local products, chat about local life, see an Alpaca farm as well as relax in hot springs. During the various multi-day Ausangate Treks we can also see many beautiful lagoons and snow-capped peaks, meaning we will help local communities whilst also being able to take unforgettable photos.
Take Part In A Local Cooking Class
All around Cusco’s historic centre we can find many different types of cooking classes, which are a great way to explore Peru’s diverse and rich gastronomy. Some such as the ChocoMuseo teaches us how to make our very own chocolate from the bean that is sourced directly from the nearby Amazon Jungle. We can also learn to cook different foods here, and the benefit is that whilst enjoying these different activities, we’ll also be supporting local farmers and workers who earn more money by providing their home-grown crops and raw materials.
Buy Incredible Textiles In Chinchero
Situated an hour north of Cusco, Chinchero is a small mountainous town known for its ancient Inca ruins and colourful town market. However it’s also here where we can find some of the most incredible woven garments and textile products of the region, owing to hundreds of years of development and traditions that are still followed today by locals. During a Sacred Valley Day Tour we will stop-off at a native weaving shop, where we will see how they use the spinning technique and creatively make different coloured dyes. Not only does this give locals opportunities to sell their garments, we can also leave donations too for them.
How To Get To Cusco Peru Sustainably
Looking after the environment and engaging in sustainable practices start way before we actually make it to Cusco. The most important will be how we actually get to Cusco from Lima and beyond.
Thankfully there have been many developments in environmentally-friendly practices over the last few years. This includes the creation of biofuels from waste collected around Machu Picchu, which is used for some transport methods heading to Cusco from Lima. However it’s important to know that some methods are better than others when preserving the environment, and in this particular case it seems that these biofuels are more commonly used during air travel rather than land travel.
Certain airlines are beginning to offset their carbon emissions, and there’s a good chance you’ll be flying from Lima to Cusco (given how long the alternative 20+ hour bus takes). Airlines like Sky, who are a domestic airline, report to be reducing carbon emissions by as much as 19%. Another is JetSMART, who also have reduced their emissions by around 8%.
Cusco Sustainable Things To Do FAQ
Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about the most sustainable things to do in Cusco Peru, as well as anything else important that you need to know.
What Is Cusco Best Known For?
The historic, Andean city of Cusco is known for many natural and human feats. However the most recognised is that it was once the kingdom of the ancient Inca civilisation, who thrived here between 1200-1533 A.D. Known for their fine stonework and masonry skills, today we can walk around the city and witness many incredible creations such as Qorikancha and Saqsayhuaman that remain in almost perfect condition.
Is Peru A Sustainable Country?
As a whole, Peru is doing very well in terms of managing its sustainability – and is often ranked as the best in Latin America when taking into account how fast it’s growing. Despite mass expansion and development, local organisations are continuing to protect historical sites and the environment as they further aim to ecologically consume sustainable resources.
How Is Machu Picchu Sustainable?
Despite being the most popular tourist site in all of Peru, Machu Picchu has many sustainable practices in action. This includes the creation of biodiesel fuels from cooking oil that are taken from restaurants and lodges around the area, which are then used to help offset carbon emissions for those who travel from Lima to this sacred archaeological site. Another is the recycling of waste, with a compacting machine that processes roughly 7 tonnes of plastic waste a day.
Overview Of Sustainable Things To Do In Cusco Peru
And that’s all for this guide on the very best sustainable things to do in Cusco Peru.
Filled with all kinds of incredible activities and scenery, everyone simply must head to Cusco when exploring Peru. However it’s also important to help out where we can, and especially so that local communities can benefit – as well as preserving ancient sites for future generations to also enjoy.
Here at AB Expeditions we are currently involved in numerous sustainability projects as we aim to improve both opportunities and the livelihoods of locals in and around the Cusco region. One of these is our Four Day Inca Trail Trek, where we have increased minimum wages for all local workers as well as continuing to provide high quality gear for our workers.