Our Social Project – Travel That Gives Back

Peru’s extraordinary culture, traditions and landscapes are not a backdrop for tourism – they are the reason people come. At Exploor Peru, we believe that if travel benefits us, it must benefit the communities that make it possible.

Since 2015, we have worked directly with local Andean communities across the Cusco region – supporting fair wages for guides and porters, funding educational initiatives, and helping preserve traditions that mass tourism has historically eroded.

This page tells that story. And it explains why every trip you book with us contributes to something bigger than the itinerary.

Why We Started

Peru is one of the world’s most culturally rich countries – centuries of Inca history, Quechua traditions, and a living relationship with Pachamama (Mother Earth) that most visitors only glimpse from a tour bus window.

But after just a few weeks in Cusco in 2015, Erik and Oliver saw what was quietly disappearing. Traditions were being commercialised and hollowed out. Local guides and porters – the people who made every experience possible – were being treated as logistics, not people. Agencies collected the margins; communities got the minimum.

We decided to build something different from the ground up.

What We Do Today

What started as a commitment to one community has grown into a network of partnerships across the Cusco region. Today our social work spans several areas:

Fair Pay for Everyone on the Ground
From the moment we started, we set a clear standard: every person involved in delivering your experience — guides, drivers, porters, kitchen staff, local artisans — is paid fairly and treated with respect. No separation between travelers and support staff. No hierarchy based on visibility.

Community Partnerships
We work directly with indigenous Quechua communities across the Sacred Valley, the high Andes and the Palccoyo region. Our tours visit communities on their terms — supporting local markets, craft cooperatives and community-led experiences rather than staged performances.

Educational Support
We contribute to educational initiatives that give young people in rural communities access to learning resources and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. This includes direct donations from a portion of every tour and periodic visits to support community programs.

Reforestation
As part of our broader environmental commitment, we participate in reforestation efforts across areas affected by tourism pressure and climate change — helping restore the landscapes that make Peru extraordinary.

Preserving Living Traditions
We actively work with community elders and artisans to document, celebrate and share traditions – weaving, natural dyeing, traditional cooking, agricultural rituals — through authentic encounters on our tours rather than tourist-facing shows.

By the way, in December 2025, Exploor Peru was awarded CALTUR ORO – Peru’s highest tourism quality certification. Read more about what it means.

The Palccoyo Community – Where It All Began

Our first and longest-standing partnership is with the community of Palccoyo – a remote Quechua village high in the Andes above Cusco, home to the lesser-known Rainbow Mountain that we helped introduce to travelers before it became one of Peru’s most visited sites.

When we first visited Palccoyo, the community had no reliable income, no internet, and limited access to basic resources. The few travelers who made it there left nothing behind. We changed that – by building Palccoyo into our tour offering and ensuring that every visit directly benefits the families who live there through fair entrance contributions, purchases from local artisans, and meals prepared by community members.

Today the Palccoyo community is a cornerstone of our cultural tours – and a demonstration of what responsible, community-integrated tourism can look like in practice.

How You Contribute

Every tour you book through Exploor Peru has a direct positive impact — not as a charity add-on, but as a fundamental part of how we operate.

When you travel with us:

• Your guides and drivers are paid above market rate — fairly and without exception
• A portion of every booking is directed toward our community education and reforestation initiatives
• Your itinerary includes authentic community encounters that generate direct income for local families
• You travel in small groups – protecting sites from the overcrowding that degrades both the experience and the environment

This isn’t a campaign. It’s just how we run our business – and it has been since day one.

Want to Travel With Impact?

Every Exploor Peru tour supports local communities, fair wages and sustainable tourism. Browse our tours or start planning your custom trip today.