Our Origin & Mission
About VA Expeditions - Leading Central & South America Tour Operator
VA Expeditions was born in 2009 in the heart of Cusco, Peru, the realization of a shared dream between two brothers: René Hurtado Valencia, a professional guide with a deep connection to the land, and Amílcar Hurtado Valencia, a professor of philosophy with a passion for cultural understanding. Together, they envisioned far more than a standard travel agency. Their mission was clear: to connect people through the transformative power of travel, fostering a global community committed to sustainable exploration and cultural reverence.
From day one, our purpose has been to curate journeys that inspire, educate, and connect. Today, as a leading sustainable tour operator for Central and South America, we invite travelers from across the globe to experience our continent's extraordinary geographic diversity, immerse themselves in living ancestral traditions, and build deep connections with local communities.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be Central and South America's most trusted and celebrated tour operator, recognized internationally for delivering transformative, bespoke travel experiences. We embody a people-first ethos, placing our travelers, dedicated teams, and indigenous host communities at the core of every itinerary. By seamlessly pairing world-class service with authentic local insight, we set the benchmark for customer delight while pioneering regenerative tourism. Our steadfast commitment is to protect Latin America's fragile ecosystems and cultural treasures, ensuring future generations can experience the same breathtaking wonder that inspires our travelers today.
Our Purpose
At VA Expeditions, our purpose is simple yet powerful: to connect lives through the transformative power of travel. Every expedition we create is an invitation to build a conscious global community of travelers — one that is curious, enriched by cultural diversity, and deeply attuned to our collective responsibility for environmental conservation.
With over 16 years of operational experience, we are proud regional destination experts with authentic roots. We reveal Central and South America's natural wonders with uncompromised integrity and care, curating moments that go far beyond conventional sightseeing — moments that unite cultures, kindle mutual understanding, and generate a lasting positive impact on everyone we meet.
Our Mission
Our mission is to craft innovative, tailor-made travel expeditions that inspire you to discover Central and South America's awe-inspiring landscapes — from cloud forests and volcanic peaks to ancient ruins, the Amazon basin, and the heights of the Andes.
We provide highly personalized, responsible travel management that produces unforgettable memories for our guests, champions the sustainable economic growth of local communities, and elevates the standards of sustainable tourism across Latin America. Every journey with VA Expeditions is designed to connect people, safeguard living heritage, and build a greener tomorrow.
Our Philosophy
“We provide experiences by creating emotions”
We believe that travel, when conducted sustainably and with intention, holds the power to transform perspectives and bring nations closer together. Every expedition is an opportunity to cultivate empathy, reverence, and shared humanity.
That is why VA Expeditions is dedicated to protecting the fragile biodiversity and living heritage of Central and South America's communities. Our goal is to share not only our expertise, but also the ancestral wisdom of the people who call these lands home — creating a more harmonious, connected world.
Health, Nutrition & Heritage
Central and South America are blessed with an unmatched ancestral heritage of superfoods — nutrient-dense treasures that have sustained indigenous populations for millennia. Today, as industrial foods threaten traditional nutrition, VA Expeditions works to ensure our partner communities remain proud and resilient custodians of their culinary heritage.
How We Contribute
- Promoting indigenous diets based on authentic superfoods, including quinoa, kiwicha, cañihua, maca, yacón, native cacao, giant Cusco corn, camu camu, soursop, and lucuma.
- Incorporating high-grade regional superfoods into all expedition menus, giving travelers healthy, authentic culinary experiences.
- Supporting workshops that foster the preservation of ancestral culinary techniques and organic agrobiodiversity.
- Promoting healthy eating habits to international guests and host communities alike, championing nutrition as vital to wellbeing.
For us, food is an expression of culture, an celebration of biodiversity, and an essential pillar in building a healthier future across Latin America.
Community Philanthropy & Social Impact
At VA Expeditions, we believe tourism must give back directly to the communities that make our expeditions possible. For us, philanthropy is not an occasional gesture — it is an enduring commitment to dignity, opportunity, and empowerment across rural Central and South America.
Annual Mountain Community Outreach
One of our most cherished traditions is our annual outreach to isolated Andean and rural communities, such as Waca Punku, nestled high in the mountains hours away from urban centers. Each year, our team brings warm holiday support, essential supplies, and festive celebrations to local families and children.
VA Expeditions allocates a portion of every travel package directly into our social impact fund. This allows us to provide targeted relief, celebrate community milestones, and invest in educational resources.
We provide:
- Nutritious food supplies and essential staples for remote households.
- Sustainable, plastic-free educational supplies, notebooks, warm apparel, and handcrafted toys for children.
We also welcome our travelers to participate by packing lightweight, useful educational items and warm clothing, creating a personal circle of reciprocity that directly touches local lives.
Supporting Our Field Crews & Porters
For more than 16 years, VA Expeditions has worked alongside dedicated mountain porters, wranglers, and field staff. To honor their invaluable work, we maintain social support programs that provide nutritious meals, premium gear, fair wages, health coverage, and community development support for their families.
Communities We Support
Our social impact programs reach multiple rural communities, including:
- WacaHuasi (Lares District, Urubamba Province).
- Amaru de Pisac (Sacred Valley).
- Paruparu (Pisac District, Sacred Valley).
- Quello Quello (Pisac District).
- Yurac Turuyoc (Paucartambo Province).
- Sacsayhuaman (Ocongate District).
- Quehuayllo (Ccapi District).
Our Enduring Promise
For VA Expeditions, ethical travel means sharing prosperity, honoring our field crews, and nurturing deep bonds of reciprocity. By working together, we ensure that the local people of Central and South America share directly and meaningfully in the fruits of sustainable tourism.
Certified Excellence: Amazing tours & Adventures
Committed to international standards of excellence, safety, and sustainable tourism.
