Welcome to Andean Adventure!
We're thrilled to share transformative outdoor adventures in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. As our guest, we trust you agree to this Pledge to ensure respectful, sustainable, and safe experiences for yourself, local communities, and the ecosystems you will visit. We've crafted this pledge with concrete steps to help you prepare for your journey, adapt your behavior, and embrace the realities of the Andean region, such as variable infrastructure and unique cultural norms. We are committed to supporting you with vetted, sustainable partners, detailed pre-departure guidance, and robust safety protocols, as outlined in our Terms and Conditions and Guest Preparation Guide. By traveling with us, you agree to follow these protocols, fostering meaningful cultural exchanges that respect local norms and avoid attempts to impose change.
We invite you to honor the vibrant cultures of the Andes:
• Comply with Local Laws: Research and follow destination laws (e.g., respecting public behavior rules in Bolivia). Contact us for more details on country-specific regulations and respect local regulations (e.g., staying on designated paths in archeological sites). Consult your local guide with any questions when in doubt.
• Local Cultural Practices: Dress appropriately (e.g., modest clothing for sacred sites like Cusco's Qorikancha or Churches in Ecuador). Always ask permission before photographing individuals, especially in indigenous communities.
• Learn Key Phrases: Learn and practice at least five basic phrases in Spanish or local languages (e.g., Quechua greetings like “Ali puncha” good morning in Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest) using our pre-trip language guide.
• Act Respectfully: Keep noise low in rural areas, churches, and archeological sites (e.g., step out to take phone calls while at Machu Picchu's quiet zones). Locals love to engage with travelers, stay open to listen and learn.
We invite you to protect the Andes' pristine landscapes:
• Minimize Waste: Bring with you a reusable water bottle and minimize single-use plastics. Use designated bins or carry out waste in remote areas (e.g., during hikes in Chile's Patagonia).
• Conserve Resources: Use water and electricity wisely, especially in water-scarce regions like Bolivia's Altiplano. Take short showers and turn off lights when not in use.
• Preserve Wildlife and Ecosystems: Stay on marked trails to avoid disturbing flora and fauna (e.g., Andean condors in Argentina). Please refrain from picking plants or feeding animals, as per our Guest Preparation Guide.
• Follow Strict Conservation Rules in Sensitive Ecosystems: Adhere to Galápagos National Park rules (e.g., maintain a 2-meter distance from wildlife, no touching marine life). Avoid stepping on or near Nazca Desert geoglyphs and minimize dust disturbance in the Atacama Desert to protect fragile ecosystems.
• Champion Conservation: Adhere to the protocols before flying to the Galápagos Islands to comply with local regulations and preservation efforts. Check your backpack daily to ensure you are not carrying seeds with you when traveling from one destination to another, especially in your shoes. Avoid using lotions and perfumes in areas where you plan to swim, and refrain from smoking when immersed in a protected area.
We encourage ethical engagement with locals:
• Stay Curiuos: Treat locals as equals, learning about their culture without trying to change it (e.g., avoid giving unsolicited gifts in Ecuador's indigenous villages). Ask respectful questions to foster mutual understanding.
• Support Local Economies: Buy souvenirs and services from local artisans (e.g., textiles in Peru's Sacred Valley) and tip fairly based on norms in our pre-departure guide. Contact us for more details. We can provide recommendations for high-quality local products that employ local designers and artisans, such as the famous Panama Hats of Ecuador. Originally, Ecuadorian hat masterpieces.
• Avoid Illegal Activities: Steer clear of illegal activities, including buying counterfeit goods, unauthorized tours, or live or dissected wildlife or flora, which harm local economies and ecosystems. Consult with your guide before purchasing items in the street to ensure they are legal and ethically sourced.
• Stay Vigilant Against Scams: Verify vendors with your guide and avoid sharing personal information with unverified parties. Report suspicious activity to safety@andeanadventure.com.
Your well-being is our priority, and we encourage you to prepare responsibly by agreeing to:
• Disclose Health Information: Provide accurate medical details before booking, as required by our Terms and Conditions (Section 4), to ensure the trip suits your needs and to prepare for emergencies.
• Obtain Vaccinations and Insurance: We recommend securing any required vaccines (e.g., yellow fever for certain zones) and comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies, evacuation, and adventure activities, per Terms and Conditions (Section 6). Please consult your physician and our health guide. Contact us for more details.
• Follow Safety Protocols: Adhere to guide instructions and safety briefings, as outlined in our Guest Preparation Guide (e.g., altitude acclimatization in Peru). Carry our emergency contact information.
• Prepare for Local Conditions: Be ready for variable infrastructure (e.g., limited medical facilities in rural Bolivia) by following our pre-departure checklist for essentials like high-altitude gear and medications.
• Prepare for Extreme Conditions in Unique Destinations: Pack high-SPF sunscreen and protective clothing for intense sun in the Galápagos and Nazca Desert. Stay hydrated in the arid Atacama Desert and follow marine safety guidelines (e.g., refrain from touching coral) in the Galápagos, as outlined in our Guest Preparation Guide.
We value respectful communication, and your active participation is essential by agreeing to:
• Use Respectful Language: Communicate with kindness and clarity. Keep it warm and aware. In our spots across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, locals greet with a warm handshake or an optional cheek kiss on the right. Skip the bowing or namaste.
• Use Technology/Devices Responsibly: Follow local internet regulations (e.g., restricted platforms in some areas) and avoid posting sensitive content (e.g., photos of sacred sites without permission). Contact us for more details on local guidelines. Most preservation areas, such as the Galápagos or Nazca, require special permits to fly drones; flying without permission can result in the confiscation of drones by local authorities. Keep phone conversations and device use discreet in public spaces, especially in quiet rural villages in Argentina. Set your phone to vibrate unless you expect an urgent call so that you can stay focused on the experience.
• Avoid Flash Photography with Wildlife: Do not use flash when photographing animals, as it can harm light-sensitive wildlife, such as birds in the Cloud Forests, as per our Guest Preparation Guide.
• Satellite Communication: Take your US phone with you, make sure your cellular service company is aware of your travel in order to have the roaming functioning and satellite communication if available. Still, note that some of the destinations are so remote that satellite communication may not be available, and you will need to rely on local communication and availability. To get the most out of your experience, we recommend setting your phone to vibration mode so that you can stay immersed in the wonderful Andes.
• We rely on your transparency: Share updates as soon as you know, stick to our timelines, and send what we need accordingly. It enables us and our partners to craft the logistics without hiccups, and the entire journey feels effortless for you.
By choosing to travel with Andean Adventure, you acknowledge and join us in this Pledge, ensuring a respectful, enduring, and safe experience for everyone. We trust you'll embrace these protocols to foster meaningful cultural exchanges and protect the Andean region. We support your commitment with vetted sustainable partners, detailed pre-trip guidance, and robust safety standards, setting us apart from operators with vague promises. Should there be any lapses in following this pledge, we'll initiate a private discussion with you to resolve it promptly. For any questions or to access our resources, contact us at hello@andeanadventure.com.
