Here at Va Expeditions, we strive to unite people through travel. Each itinerary is especially designed to create a global community of travellers, free to immerse themselves in different cultures and ways of life, free from fear and with a focus on creating a sustainable future.
Our aim is to position ourselves as one of the leaders in the international travel market with a people -first ethic, basic on customer satisfaction, as well as ethical and sustainable tourism.
To design creative and innovative travel experiences to motivate people to explore the incredible natural diversity of Central and South America, as well as the cultural and historical magnificence of its countries, positively contributing to local communities and travellers to the continent.
We wholeheartedly believe that by travelling in a conscientious responsible and sustainable way, we can connect different cultures and change perspectives about the world. We are fully committed to preserving the unique magic of local communities, animal species and our natural environment by sharing our knowledge and that of ancient communities to contribute to making our planet a better place.
Va Expeditions wholeheartedly believes that by travelling in a sustainable and conscientious manner, we can transform the world and connect a myriad of cultures. For this reason, we are completely committed to preserving the magic of local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We want to share our local knowledge and the wisdom of the native people to contribute to a better world.
We use our inclusive and sustained economic growth to reward the daily contribution of our local experts through economic compensation and performance bonuses. The people that work with us are not nameless faces: They are who make Va Expeditions great.
Each person has a story to tell. Leaders are born who make it possible to think about tomorrow in a better way. People who come from the breathtaking heights of the Andes, or the depths of the rainforest are the people who have enabled us to build our agency and operate in over 14 destinations in Central and South America.
We rely on them, and that’s why we treat them as equals and with the respect that they deserve. This is reflected in the fair salaries that we share with our great family of local experts. Beyond on that, we have in place a range of incentives and programs to further show our thanks to our great team of local experts, including:
We promote the inclusion of women as leaders and experts in our various travel destinations and throughout our tourism operation, always seeking gender balance in our employment practices. We actively want to increase the number of employment opportunities for women in the travel industry, and we firmly believe that this will help us progress as a global community and a more inclusive society.
We promote the inclusion of women as leaders and experts in our various travel destinations and throughout our tourism operation, always seeking gender balance in our employment practices. We actively want to increase the number of employment opportunities for women in the travel industry, and we firmly believe that this will help us progress as a global community and a more inclusive society.
With this initiative, we also seek to reduce the gender pay gap, so that we can have more open conversations and set goals to address any issues. Starting in 2020, we began to have equal gender representation among our company spokespersons, to ensure that we better reflect the diversity of our society. We also continuously strive to empower every woman in the communities where we travel with the aim of improving their job opportunities and quality of life. We know it will be constant and hard work, but we are endlessly motivated to walk along this particular path towards a more just society.
Our objectives:
Increase employee and market sentiment regarding diversity and inclusion across all of our brands.
Diversity:
Means that those of all backgrounds, life experiences, preferences and beliefs are recognized and respected as individuals and valued for the different perspectives they bring.
Inclusion:
Means that all are given equal opportunity to contribute to business success and be their true selves, regardless of background.
This is what the CIPD has to say: “there is a compelling moral case for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond. Ensuring everyone is treated equally, with dignity and has their fair share of resources (whether that be access to work or equitable pay) is simply the right thing to do. People matter, and we all should have equal opportunity to develop, progress, and be rewarded and recognized at work. Organizations must ensure that their people management practices champion this fundamental principle.”
Goals:
Ensure that the Va Expedition teams, partners and travelers are equally represented within the LGBTQ +, Indigenous and People of Color communities and we as a company will not work with companies that don’t support LGBT+, BLM, BAME, human rights, women´s rights, workers benefits.
The protection of wildlife and the habitats that animals depend on is of huge importance to us. All of the animal and bird species throughout Central and South America, enrich the landscapes that we explore when we set off on one of our adventures. These countries are home to a wonderful array of flora and fauna, which it is why these destinations are some of the most megadiverse places on the planet. From record numbers of marine and continental fish species, butterflies, bird species, amphibians and a number of endemic species of mammals, many of which are endangered and are protected throughout the many national parks.
Faced with the threats to wildlife, we have become very much engaged in protecting the flora and fauna of the region. We follow essential fundamentals for animal welfare, and along all of our routes we take great care to respect and preserve the animal world. This includes the welfare of domesticated animals such as llamas, horses, donkeys, alpacas, seals, penguins and sea life species along the coastal regions we visit.
At Va Expeditions, we follow the Five Freedoms of animal welfare:
At Va Expeditions, we comply with the following guidelines that we will implement in our operation:
Reduction of our impact on the operation
Our Goals:
Eliminate single-use plastics from our offices and trips throughout LATIN AMERICA by 2022.
How?
Reduce printed brochures by 50% by 2025
How?
Implement sustainable offices
How?
Central and South America is composed of a number of diverse countries that represent an endless number of unique traditions and legacies that are passed from one generation to the next, up to the present day. This includes arts, gastronomy, medicinal remedies, spirituality, personal values, landmarks, monuments and more. We love to connect our travelers with the local heritage and culture, and we consider every trip an educational and enriching experience. This, in turn, helps to preserve the local traditions.
We ensure that every cultural exchange is carried out in an ethical and sustainable way, while not interfering with or altering the local traditions. As a company, we:
Promote sustainable cultural preservation through tourism that benefits communities, including through the production and sale of goods and services. With this we seek to connect people with opportunities that promotes and enhances the local heritage to guarantee sustainable tourism models.
Our actions
Our programs seek to create new jobs and support local development through cultural preservation and the development of alternative local tourist routes that ensure that investment from travelers truly benefits everyone.
As tour operators we help encourage people to stay longer at sites and contribute resources to local economies, emphasizing quality over quantity, fundamental principles in our new sustainable travel programs.
We employ local guides and community leaders so that we can learn about each culture and way of life directly from those who live it. In particular, we can learn from rural indigenous communities about their relationship to the land and how they have practiced sustainable agriculture for centuries.
We promote purchasing from local suppliers and ethically-sourced fair trade goods. This helps guarantee that farmers and workers receive fair and competitive wages and safe working conditions, prevents forced or abusive child labor practices, and promotes environmentally sustainable farming methods.
We seek work with 100% local companies, our platform model ensures that the profits from our operation go to the local economy. This is incredibly important for conservation as it creates viable local economic alternatives in rural areas, and increases the inherent value of conserving natural landscapes.
Our objectives:
A great example of community philanthropy is in Peru where we can visit the Waca Punku community, located about three hours from Cusco. Here are a number of small villages located on the side of a steep mountain. Every year it is a great pleasure for us to bring a little Christmas cheer into the lives of the locals. We dress up in our best Santa Claus costumes and make sure that Christmas in this community is celebrated well.
Va Expeditions allocates 5% of the total tourist packages to help this community. We know this won't solve all of the difficulties this community faces on a day-to-day basis, but we think it's a good start and a great way to promote more smiles during the holiday season and make daily life a little easier.
We encourage our guests to save some space in their luggage to bring something small to help these communities, as long as the material does not contaminate or contain plastic.
These treasured items can be as simple as a T-shirt, a pair of socks, a baseball cap, or a pair of shoes. It's okay if these items are second-hand, as long as they're clean and in good condition. Educational materials are also appreciated! Items like notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, and glue are local favorites. If you really want to be a rock star, bring a calculator!
For the last three years we have been carrying out social support, where we share basic food and coatsw ith the families of Inca trailporters, all of them from the communities with wich we have worked the Inca Trail route for the past 9 years
We want EVERYONE to be able to enjoy Central and South America. That is why we always try to include facilities for those with disabilities, low finance resources or other disadvantaged groups with the aim to integrate people through unique travel experiences.
We want everyone to be a part of our journey regardless of their place in the world. This is a huge part of our philosophy. It is for tis reason that we always try to accessibility for people with special needs in our travel itineraries.
There are also so many people who live in the countries where we travel, who simply do not have access to the incredible wonders of their countries. It is heart breaking to think that people do no have access to their land, history and heritage which is why we try to help local people, wherever possible to have extraordinary experiences that will change their lives for the better. The time is now! for everyone to get to know each other and become part of a global community!
Va Expeditions was founded in 2009. The company came about as a dream of the Hurtado Valencia brothers to create a business venture in the world of tourism. René, a professional guide and the actual CMO of the Company, Amílcar, a philosophy student and assistant manager of the company come from a relatively large family from the province of Chumbivilcas, found 8 hours away from Cusco, Peru. The brothers had a vision to create the best possible travel agency in the city of Cusco; an agency that connects the lives of people through travel, to form a global community free of fear of the unknown and conscious about the planet. The name of the company was inspired by their mothers’ surname, Valencia, originating from Spain.
We connect our passengers through travel experiences which will transform their lives through authenticity, innovation and dedication. Our whole purpose is to offer a service that goes above and beyond the expectations of the client and which is based on excellence and high standards.
We started with a small office space and an enormous dream. Now our company is one of the leaders in the tourism industry and renowned for its quality of service, technology and the unique experiences that we offer.
In the words of Rene Valencia:
"Our Brand identity emerged from an idea that came about from the numerous visits to Machu Picchu working as a tour guide and Tour conductor. I had the opportunity to photograph the many archaeological sites in the area. “It is impossible to NOT ask yourself about why Machu Picchu is here. There are so many possible places that this amazing site could have been built and create an empire that controlled the territory from Chile to Ecuador.
For what unfathomable reason did the Incas decide to build this site here, given the difficulty of the geography of the region, 500 metres above the River Urubamba? My curiosity as to why these magnificent monuments and archaeological sites came about have led me to travel through most of Latin America to understand why ancient civilizations across the continent can give us the perfect insight into history, culture and the origins of ancient civilizations. These days I can combine these incredible sites with idyllic beaches, fascinating cultures, abundant rainforests and delicious cuisine, all through Central and South America and I consider myself to be lucky and blessed to have been born in this part of the world.”
We have 15 years of designing travel itineraries for over 6000 happy travellers, throughout a number of Central and South American destinations and with 100% satisfaction!
Transform the way you think about life, reconnect with your essence and discover a new way to see the world by immersing yourself in magnificent cultures and countries via our innovative itineraries which incorporate freedom, emotion and flexibility.
We have reinvented the definition of luxury to promote your well-being, by combining cultural immersion activities, with stunning destinations and experiences, specially designed to promote your physical and mental well- being, allowing you to reconnect to the essence of the real world.
It is important for us to share our local knowledge and authentic true essence of this magical region by sharing insight into local cuisine, fascinating folklore and impressive history. Immersive experiences allow you to experience hands-on the different cultures, people and ways of life of the fascinating and friendly people of Central and South America for an authentic and insightful experience.
Be safe in the knowledge that we are always there for you. There is always one of our travel specialists to answer any questions you may have or help you resolve any issues…… around the clock! Send us an E mail or give us a call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and we will happily answer any concerns you have.
At Va Expeditions, all departures are guaranteed. Once you have paid for your vacation, we will not change or cancel your trip unless your personal safety is at risk or exceptional circumstances which do not allow for the smooth running of your trip, such as extreme weather conditions or civil unrest, for example.
We are totally committed to the highest standard of service possible as we as your security and safety during your vacation. Our staff are all highly trained professionals in the travel industry who will look after you every step of the way!
We form part of a global community of international travellers who are socially and culturally aware. We help travellers connect and integrate with local communities during their trip, always with respect, cultural sensitivity and appreciation for a wholesome and deeper connection and fulfilling our social commitment policies.
We travel with a focus on positive impact wherever we go! We help empower local, indigenous communities, women and children through specialized training sessions, using carefully selected service providers in each destination and direct contribution to a number of social projects in each region and country we visit. We are 100% committed to working in a socially and environmentally conscientious manner and aim to produce positive change by our presence.