Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
arrange service activities in advance, though agencies sometimes take short-term, walk-in
volunteers.
Community Tourism
More than just a buzzword 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 pre-
paring traditional food to participating in farming and craft production, and in many cases
you can combine volunteer activities with a homestay. In addition to the mountain lodges,
the following agencies are involved in community tourism and can help you set up trips to
learn about traditional weaving, farming, cooking and most other aspects of indigenous
life. Almost anything you do with these agencies will benefit local families and contribute
to the growing community-tourism movement in the region.
Respons Sustainable
CULTURAL TOUR
Tourism Center
( 42-7949;
www.respons.org
; Calle 28 de Julio 821; 9am-1pm & 3-7:30pm)
Works
as a clearinghouse for information about community tourism in the area: arranges
homestays, sells locally made woven goods and shares information free of charge.
Mountain Institute
( 42-3446;
www.mountain.org
;
Ricardo Palma 100)
Arranges excellent trips to
the Inca Trail (
Click here
)
as well as day trips to the Andean communities of Vicos and
Humacchuco in the Cordillera Blanca.
CULTURAL TOUR
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 run-
ning
(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 has its
