Social Projects

IMPROVING LIFE AND HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH YOUR TRAVEL

WHEN YOU BOOK WITH WAMAN ADVENTURES, 5% OF THE COST OF YOUR TOUR WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE “WAMAN ADVENTURES” FOUNDATION.

In light of the communities where we were born, grew up, laughed, and learned the wisdom of the Andes, especially the meaning of Ayni or “sacred reciprocity”, we cherish our origins. Through our work, we seek to support the communities that have supported us.

Waman Adventures is dedicated to promoting and organizing community projects within the Cusco region. Although tourism plays an important role in Peru’s economy and provides employment for many people, small communities are often denied the direct financial support that large-scale commercial tourism could provide.

Our first objectives within the Waman Adventures family, through organizing community projects, include the distribution of educational materials for children, as school systems in smaller communities can always use extra support. Another objective is to distribute warm clothing to distant communities, especially those in high altitudes where winter temperatures can reach -15°C (5°F).

The mission of this foundation is to assist school children in our communities by providing materials and uniforms, and during certain holidays, organizing special charity events.

1. Support for Schools

Every March, the foundation selects a specific community to support between 30–40 children. School supplies are purchased according to the school’s needs.

2. Uniforms for Our Children

Many children in rural communities lack the financial resources for new uniforms, leaving them no choice but to reuse them for up to 2 years. They often use local sandals made from recycled tires instead of shoes, and sometimes, they may not even have backpacks or other supplies.

Thanks to your reservations, the Waman Foundation assists our children at the beginning of each school year with the purchase of uniforms, including:

• Shoes
• Trousers
• Jerseys
• Shirts
• Sweaters
• Backpacks

3. Christmas in the Andes

All children anxiously await the arrival of Christmas in the Andes! Every Christmas, the Waman Adventures family travels to a high mountain community to share a moment of joy with the local children. Through a simple Christmas breakfast and gifts, along with dancing and lots of playfulness, we bring out smiles from children and elders alike.

SUSTAINABLE COMPANY AND ECOLOGICAL TOUR

Waman Adventures is an ecological organization with sustainable values. We believe that respect and love for our beautiful planet (Pacha Mama) are very important and absolutely necessary in order to enjoy and celebrate life. To honor and take care of her is our duty. This implies maintaining this beautiful land so that our clients, who visit from far away, may enjoy a pristine environment.

1. Environmental Responsibility

1. Waman Adventures practices LEAVE NO TRACE at all times. All trash generated during treks is carried out to proper facilities.
2. Low Environmental Impact practices. In all our hikes, we use only biodegradable materials (soaps, detergent, biodegradable bags, among others).
3. Constant training for our staff: We educate all our personnel to be respectful of nature, to always carry out all trash, to reuse or recycle products when possible, and to provide them with newer ecological products like solar lamps.
4. Yearly Cleaning Campaigns on the trails: We organize annual campaigns with all the Waman Staff (Guides, cooks, porters, office staff, and anyone who wants to participate). All forms of waste are collected and removed on the trails to Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Salkantay, Inca Jungle, and Lares trek.

PORTER WELFARE

Looking after our Porters

We seek as many positive adjectives as possible for our staff. These porters are kind, sincere, and joyous individuals with enormous hearts who will receive you at each campsite with big smiles, as if you were being welcomed by family members. These men come from communities high in the Andes, typically above 4,000m (above 13,000ft), where Quechua is the dominant language.

These men are the ones in charge of making this experience possible. They carry all the food, equipment, and supplies, and are also available to support you whenever necessary. These Supermen or heroes must depart from each campsite after our hikers leave and arrive at the next site before our hikers to prepare the next meal and ready the tents at each site. Our cooks and porters are the principal force sustaining all our expeditions.

Waman Adventures works each day to offer the best facilities and optimum working conditions, such as:

1. Uniforms for Treks

Shoes, proper packs, sleep bags, sleeping mats, and waist support belts, as well as the most important element – appropriate nourishment before and throughout the trek.

2. Pack Weight

The Peruvian Government has created laws that protect and support all porters to implement the best working conditions. Unfortunately, there are still companies that take advantage of porters, forcing many to carry more than the maximum 25 kg without paying an appropriate salary.

Waman Adventures was created with the objective of making the necessary changes by setting an example of ideal conditions that other agencies may adopt, as well as respecting the rigorous work these porters perform, starting with a salary that honors their impressive physical labor. Our porters shall not carry a weight of more than 18 kg and shall also receive a better salary for their time and service.

We recognize that we are part of the communities that saw us come into this world; that taught us to grow, laugh, and learn the wisdom of the Andes, most importantly the principle of Ayni or sacred reciprocity. We honor our origins and work hard to support our cooks and porters so that they may then support their respective families. Waman assumes the responsibility to improve the quality of life for our family of porters.

3. Sufficient Food

It is critical that our staff receives proper nutritional meals during all treks to account for rigorous physical activity.

4. Payment on Time

As soon as each trek concludes, our staff is paid on the spot by a representative from our office, so our porters may return home to their communities instead of traveling to our office in Cusco.