1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.

Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them."

(www.unwto.org/sustainable/concepts.htm)

Company Info :
Q'ente is a top-ranked tour operator recommended by Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, Footprint, South American Handbook, Peru Handbook, Cusco & Inca Trail Guide, MyCusco.com and AndeanTravelWeb.com. As well, we were recognized as "THE BEST INCA TRAIL TOUR OPERATOR" by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism in 2002.

Q'ente was founded in 1995, and for 11 years we have serviced thousands of adventure seekers, trekkers, eco-tourists, and cultural enthusiasts. We began as a very small company, but so many people have enjoyed our trips that we have grown. Even so, we go to great lengths to preserve the personal touch in everything we do, and we are committed to providing quality, customer service, professionalism, and above all your enjoyment and safety.

Every one of our clients gets personalized attention. We have built the Q’ente reputation by thoughtfully attending to details and constantly upgrading our staff and logistics capabilities. When you are dealing with Q'ente you are dealing with the actual tour operator, not an agency or re-seller. We are an established company with professional offices and logistics capabilities, high-quality gear, and a genuine love for what we do.

Being constantly innovative in the services and programs we offer is what makes Q’ente the top tour operator in Cusco. We offer a variety of adventure treks, expeditions, and special tour packages – all of them featuring the area’s major attractions as well as some of the most off-the-beaten-path alternatives that can be found in our wonderful country of Peru.

Q’ente exists because we deeply believe in Peru and its historical and archeological importance in the world. As a top tourist destination in the world, both the city of Cusco and the country of Peru enjoy the benefits of increasing worldwide tourism, but this also means that Cusco and Peru incur the threats associated with tourism as well. We ask that all of our clients thoughtfully consider and pay attention to the natural and cultural sites that we visit. Q’ente whole-heartedly supports and protects Peru’s resources, and we are especially sensitive to the local communities and tourist attractions that we visit. We practice environmentally sound methods to lessen the impact on the areas that we visit and we politely insist that our clients do the same.

(www.qente.com)

Sustainable tourism:
Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of the pres¬ent tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological process¬es, biological diversity and life support systems.”

(According to United Nations Environment Programme on Tourism)