About Us

Hola and welcome from Chaska Tours....your local connection to the Sacred Valley of Peru! We know all the ins and outs of this fertile valley winding around the Rio Vilcanota and spread from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. This beautiful place was first acclaimed by the Incas many years ago, and its lands were bestowed to the nobility of this remarkable civilization as a royal favour from the Spanish Conquistadors. It has since become a popular destination, as tourists must pass through it to reach the legendary Machu Picchu ruins from Cusco, and it continues to delight and surprise all that set eyes on the incredible features it possesses. These attributes range from a myriad of Incan ruins to high soaring snow-capped peaks and a rich culture that can only be found here in the highlands of Peru.

It can be difficult for travellers to know which of the numerous tours and activities offered are the best options, or which accommodation will best meet your needs; we are right here in the thick of things to help you narrow down the choices and have a stress-free experience. Our approach is a bit different than a normal travel agency though, with us you gain the opportunity to have an unforgettable trip through Peru, with the peace of mind that your participation is fuelling measures to protect the culture of these beautiful people and the pristine lands in which they reside.

 

Who we are:

Our travel group was initiated by a driven entrepreneur named Rocio Valcarcel, who was born and raised in the Sacred Valley. She studied Tourism at the University of Cusco and her experience in the tourism industry began while working at one of Peru's largest travel agencies and afterwards she retained a management position at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel in Machu Pichu. Rocio then had the vision to establish her own company with the intent to use tourism as a tool for educating outsiders about the rich culture of this region, without exploiting the people. The insight she possesses into the indigenous communities awarded her the "Best Project in Innovative Tourism" from the Peruvian government. In her free times she loves getting out into the beautiful scenery to go hiking or meet the interesting people that live here.

Pieter is from the Netherlands and was captivated by the majestic city of Cusco and the tremendous splendour of the surrounding nature. He has worked as a project manager for the IT industry with SAP/R3 previously in the Netherlands and sailed the Flying Dutchmen (a former Olympic class sailboat) in his spare time. He has competed in World Class and other championships in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Japan and Italy. He has travelled considerably around the world and is familiar with the challenges that accompany being many miles from home. As sailing opportunities are scarce in Cusco, he has turned his attention to hiking, photography and travelling. Pieter can assist you with any questions you may have about Cusco in Dutch, English, French, German or Spanish.

Sustainable Tourism in the region:

Chaska Tours' motto is "leave only footprints," and we are relentlessly aware of the impact irresponsible tourism has on delicate cultures and ecosystems. We take our obligation to the environment, to local cultures, and to sustainability very seriously. We are wholeheartedly committed to conserving the pristine beauty our guests experience when participating in our programs, and carefully manage our itineraries and tours to minimise potential impact.

Rocio wrote a thesis named "Agentes externos que afectan la sostenibilidad cultural en las comunidades indígenas de Cusco. Caso especifico en la comunidad indígena de Huilloc," in English "External Agents effecting the cultural sustainability in the indigenous communities of Cusco. Special case the indigenous community of Huilloc (Sacred Valley)," and has petitioned her hopes for the indigenous communities to the Peruvian government. Rocio and Chaska tours hope their recommendations will not fall on deaf ears, and some measures will be taken to protect the local people from losing their unique culture in the hotbed of tourism that has become our region.

Rocio has a profound knowledge of the correct way to sustainably interact with the indigenous cultures of this region without detrimentally interfering with their way of life. This knowledge is funnelled through Chaska tours and is the backbone of the daily practical operations in the company.

Consistently promoting and practicing responsible tourism that benefits local indigenous communities is our main goal. We are also placing energy into a collaborative reforestation and culture preservation project between these indigenous populations and visitors partaking in our programs.

For the upcoming year, we will play a role in the Cleaner Burning Stove Project in the local communities of Cachin in Lares. With the installation of a fuel efficient stove with adequate ventilation, a family will benefit from thirty percent improved lung capacity after three months of usage, fifty percent reduced emission of CO2 and fifty percent saving on fuel consumption, which will reduce deforestation. We are excited to see this program flourish!

We are proud to join on board with whl.travel in an effort to spread our vision to people all over the globe. We are pleased to be connected with a network of people in over 100 countries with 300 destinations that are concerned with the wellbeing of their environments and preservation of unique cultures throughout the world.

Join us for your next adventure in the Sacred Valley of Peru!