Actions and Initiatives In Sustainable Tourism in Lake Titicaca

The essence of Edgar Adventures is being a responsible tour operator and practice sustainable tourism operations in our journeys.

Responsible tourism & sustainable tourism are very positive concepts, but these are becoming very much overused terms as marketing tools for big and small tour operators but in our experience we see that most do not much.

Being social responsible in tourism does not mean only to be the channel for occasional donations or help to the “The poor”. Being social responsible and low –impact in tourism means; to participate actively in the protection and rescue of the delicate societies and eco systems we visit. And finally to be capable to produce a “Positive Impact” and “Low – impact”, How ?? !!. That is the question, How???. That is only possible through a deep understanding and respect of the Particular Social dynamics, cosmos vision of the local cultures and a real respect to nature. Bellow there is a small description of our humble and silent contribution in this matter.

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ACTIONS & INITIATIVES in sustainable tourism

Sustainable & responsible tourism concepts would not worth if only maintained as concepts; they come alive only in the praxis. Since Edgar Adventures started operations is dedicated to actively help local economies, minimize negative environmental and cultural impacts in our trips. Bellow some actions that we have Donne in silence.

Supporting local children education – Libraries
Since 1996 we have brought support into many schools like on: Amantani Island , Taquile Island , Uros and Ticonata islands, and the peninsulas of Capachica & Chucuito, Through our “Bring a Book, Bring a brick” project many schools were painted and re-fixed, and thanks to the commitment of many volunteer travelers we were able to bring a smile to local children, and enjoy working hand by hand with the locals. The next step is building libraries and equipping them in order to bring education to isolated areas. If you want to help, Click here. “Bring a book bring a brick project” and bring a smile. A particular recognition to Active South America for its support.
Improvement of local people health – Chimneys Project
In the Andes kitchens, chimneys are not used (we don’t know why?). By cooking with fire wood in closed spaces the fume is very harmful to the lungs. In fact high percentages of Tar, tar can be found in the local people lungs. It affects not only the mother, but all the family because the kitchen is the most important social place in the house. This general health problem can be solved when using chimneys to remove the fumes away the kitchen room.
In 2005 we have begun an ambitious project. “Installing chimneys in the traditional kitchens” at the moment over 150 families on Amantani Island & Luquina have been beneficed of it. With the target to extend it into other areas. The idea is participating actively; our clients have installed personally the chimneys working together with their local host families, hand by hand, introducing the hands in the mud, moving stones and finally testing the chimneys, making a hot soup in the kitchens was our price. We want to thank GAP Adventures to sponsor this project. If you want to help, click here “Put your hands on”.
Cleaning campaigns – Garbage recycling project
The Lake Titicaca islands are becoming attractions of first order; monthly thousands of visitors will visit them each of them carrying a certain amount of inorganic garbage that will remain somewhere over the islands. As there is no a recycling garbage system it is important to remove garbage away the islands. Since 1996 and annually we organize cleaning campaigns on Amantani & Taquile islands, and have collected with the participation of the local guides, motor boat skippers and islanders literally hips of plastic bottles, candy wrappers, used batteries and transported it by overloaded motor boats into the Puno’s city recycling centers, to give this garbage a better end. If you want to help, click here “ Put your hands On”.
Improvement of the life quality – Giving back to people
Edgar Adventures has leaded & sponsored many communities to start in the tourism industry with a solid base in real sustainable and social responsible tourism. But when helping it has to be in serious even painful, when you “give” it has to be not as an alms or crump, especially when as a company we felt responsible of local people hopes and expectations. And we feel it is very important to give back and recognize to the communities the entire effort and great job they do for our client - travelers.
- Luquina Community and sweet dreams. – 100% self financed
  Edgar Adventures has leaded the Luquina Community to start in tourism but had to start from nothing, and one of the most difficult aspects of building a home stay product is equipping it, in order to satisfy our client needs & comfort in the winter of 2009 we have sponsored the Luquina community by equipping them with 40 new brand mattresses. It was a big effort as a company but an important action in order to improve the quality of the tourist services and local people economy, a particular recognition to Norka Florez, for her goodwill commitment.
- Amantani hot mint tea made a better path. – 100% self financed
  On 2006 we were concern about the gradual destruction of and original pre-Incan path way on Amantani island, and have taken the commitment to rescue part it, and asked the help of the Colquecachi & Occosuyo communities to reconstruct it, in exchange every one of the 105 participant families have received 01 thermo hot bottle of water to conserve it heated. This represented an improvement in the home stay services because now we can enjoy a hot cup of mint tea any time and in the same time will avoid the unnecessary use of fire wood.
- Amantani homemade pancakes cleanses environment. – 100% self financed
  On 2004 in order to improve the food preparation and quality, we have Donated 80 High quality Teflon frying pans. But in exchange they collected the inorganic garbage, even the one of remote locations taken there by the winds and people, (plastics, used batteries etc.) so that was a nice exchange, pancakes for breakfast for our guests for a cleaner island. (100% self financed).
- Carina & Luquina Communities and sanitary equipment. – 100% self financed
  On 2008 Edgar Adventures has leaded the Luquina & Carina Communities to start in tourism in order to satisfy our client needs & comfort have sponsored these communities in improving their tourist services, by bringing to them 80 toilet seats and 80 hand washers, It was again a big effort for a family managed company but an important action in order to improve the quality of the tourist services and local people economy, a particular recognition to Norka Florez, for her goodwill commitment.

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Lonely Planet	VERISING	TRUSTe	ASTA	STI
Highly recommended	Best travel local operator – National Award 2005	American Society of Travel agencies	Sustainable Travel International	...
Community help Projects	Best travel local operator 2004	...	...	...
Garbage recycling Project	...	...	...	...

EDGAR ADVENTURES

ACTIONS & INITIATIVES in sustainable tourism

Supporting local children education – Libraries

Improvement of local people health – Chimneys Project

Cleaning campaigns – Garbage recycling project

Improvement of the life quality – Giving back to people