This Land Is *Your* Land ...

Well the picture at the left says it all my friends ... hiking along the Inca Trail looking for a toilet. Luckily in this case we found one rather than just using a random area along the trail!

As many of you probably know, the Peruvian government has regulated the number of tour operators and travel companies having access to the trail since 2001. Also quite a few tour operators have been denied permission to continue operating due to their practices regarding garbage, use of fuel and proper toilet facilities.

The number of visitors on the Inca Trail has skyrocketed from under 10,000 in the early 1990s to over 400,000 in recent years. UNESCO has been wanting to put Machu Picchu on its list of World Heritage in Danger sites, and with good reason ... the amount of traffic, human waste and erosion being caused to the area is creating great problems.

So where does this all end? Or better yet, where do we start? While there is great responsibility on tour operators to treat the environments where they travel with great respect and protection, it is also the responsibility of us as travelers to make smart choices about the travel companies we use. Studies show that most travelers spend little or no time researching guidebooks or tour operators to determine typical company practices. Even a brief amount of time and effort by visitors in advance of selecting a travel company can make a significant difference on the impact to the environment.

All of us are responsible for taking care of the land, sea and the air, and ensuring the beautiful sites can be protected for all of us to enjoy, and for many future generations. So, before you take your next trip with a tour company, I'd ask them some questions like ...

• What are your policies for handling human garbage and waste during our trip?
• What types of toilet facilities are available to guests when outdoors?
  
• Are there camp sites, trails and public access areas you are required to use based on local government regulations?
• Will we be eating or preparing food in any outdoors areas? If so, what are your policies regarding proper use of fuels and disposal of food?
• Do you donate a portion of your earnings to efforts for land restoration, conservation or sustainable tourism?
  

Just a few basic questions in advance can provide you with the piece of mind that your travel company is conducting itself in a responsible manner and doing the utmost to protect the planet.