Ecotourism[edit] edit
Ecotourism is an environmentally conscious form of tourism that intends to conserve the environment and benefit the livelihoods of local communities. The need for environmentally conscious economic opportunity in Peru is apparent. Many Peruvians have resorted to financial income channels that are harmful to the environment because environmental degradation and changes in the country have caused a decline in alternative economic opportunities. Illegal logging as a source of income is a dominant example of this and a product of the lack of economic opportunity in many regions in Peru. Not only is illegal logging extremely harmful to the environment, but it also is damaging to local and indigenous livelihoods. By creating alternatives to this, like ecotourism, there is an opportunity for ecological conservation, economic development, and political empowerment of local and indigenous communities in Peru.
60% of the land of Peru is in the Amazon Basin, and 74% of the land is covered by the Amazon rainforest itself. Peru has a higher percentage of land area protected in national parks and reserves than any other country in South America. The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most pristine, virgin, and untouched rainforests on the earth, making it a destination for tourists interested in nature and ecology; this has prompted increased tourist infrastructure. Despite this land coverage, nearly 1 million hectares and counting of the rainforest has been decimated between 2001 and 2015 with the following main causes: deforestation and soil degradation, illegal logging, small and medium-scale agriculture, large-scale agriculture, pasture for livestock, gold mining, coca cultivation, and road construction. The Amazon's innate beauty and its continuous destruction altogether draw tourists to Peru through ecotourism and environmental voluntourism.
The Peruvian Amazon is divided into two areas: the High Jungle and the Lower Jungle. The High Jungle is more easily accessible, while the Lower Jungle is more pristine and untouched. In recent times, however, the government has increased accessibility to the Lower Jungle. Both areas contain an unrivaled diversity of animal and plant life. Large national preserves of interest to tourists include the Manú National Park, Rio Abiseo National Park, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and the Tambopata-Candamo Protected Area. Tourist agencies in these areas promote eco-friendly tourism to preserve the fragile ecosystems of the rainforest.
In the Áncash Region, tourists also experience the mountainous terrain of the Andes. The region has two mountain ranges of the Andes; the Cordillera Negra, a dark line of mountains without any glacial peaks and the Cordillera Blanca, a line of snowcapped mountains with glaciers. Huascarán, the tallest point in Peru and the fourth highest mountain in the Americas. The region also hosts Huascarán National Park, which holds biodiversity of various flora and fauna, being a World Heritage Site since 1985.
Beach tourism[edit] edit
Peru boasts a 2,414-kilometer coastline littered with many beaches attractive to any type of traveler. Beachgoing in Peru is extremely popular among domestic and international travelers alike. Beach resorts and towns are abundant along the coast and many are in popular areas which attract visitors. Two of the most popular beach areas are Máncora and Punta Sal in the Piura and Tumbes regions respectively, and Asia in the Lima Department.
The northern beaches of Máncora and Punta Sal have a pleasant beach climate year round whereas Asia is primarily a summertime beach. Because Asia is located near the city of Lima, many beachgoers own houses in that area. In contrast, Máncora is many hours from major cities so visitors usually stay in hotels or resorts. A beach in Máncora, Piura Region
Beachgoing in Peru is affected by fads: Beach homeowners moved from beach to beach resulting from the oversaturation of one beach. In previous years, the beach of Ancón was the most popular of Lima; it became oversaturated and beachgoers moved south of the city to the beaches of Punta Hermosa, San Bartolo, Santa Maria and Pucusana. In the last decade, these beaches have become oversaturated as well and beachgoers have moved further south to the development of Asia, which has now become extremely popular and is the primary beach destination for Limeans.
Máncora, 17 hours north of Lima by bus and 1.5 hours by plane from Talara, is older than Asia but still a relatively new development. In recent years it has experienced a tourist boom and beachgoers flock there. Its beaches have white sand and the town has many nightclubs and bars frequented by thousands of tourists. The popularity of this beach has become so great that a movie has been made about the beach: Máncora. Punta Sal is another beach a half-hour north of Mancora, less popular among young people, and the destination for older people seeking relaxation. Nonetheless, it remains a large tourist attraction and is characterized by its white sand beaches and turquoise color waters. Peruvian beaches are popular places for surfing and their waves are world-renowned.
Surf tourism edit
Peru is a recognized location for surfing. In and around Lima there are surf options for tourists. On the northern coast is the town of Puerto Chicama, home to the longest left-breaking wave in the world at 1.4 miles (2.2 km). Surf tourism on the northern coast of Peru is relatively new. In 1998, mudslides caused by a major El Niño event altered the seafloor on the coast of Peru and brought significant amounts of sand to the beaches. These environmental changes to the seafloor and coastline of the Peruvian town of Lobitos created the perfect waves and conditions for surfing. By the early 2000s, these waves were discovered by surfers, putting Lobitos on the map as a popular surf tourism destination. Surf tourism is a Sport for development and peace (SDP) initiative, which intends to use sports like surfing to create economic and social benefits for impoverished or lower-income countries. The commodification of natural resources like surf breaks in rural coastal regions in Peru is what connects surf tourism to both ecotourism and beach tourism. These natural beach and ocean resources have the ability to draw tourists to lower-income regions of Peru and boost the economy. However environmental damage caused by surf tourism is also another possible outcome. Surfing promotes an appreciation for nature and does not support gender, economic, and social divisions as heavily as traditional sports. These qualities, along with the potential for environmental damage, make surfing an ideal venture of ecotourism *reword*. Surf tourism in Peru has the potential to act as an agent of ecotourism and aid in the goals of conserving the environment and improving the well-being of local Peruvian people. It is crucial that the development programs utilizing surf tourism prioritize developing locals' skills for participating in the new economy and actively challenge the potential harms of tourism growth to the local communities and environment in Peru.
*add citations throughout*