With devastating natural disasters occurring recently in Haiti, Peru and Chile, compassionate travel companies are pitching in to help locals rebuild their lives, both financially and on the ground.

At the end of January, excessive rains caused devastating mudslides destroying the only land route in and out of Machu Picchu (blessedly the ruins themselves weren’t harmed), and the Urubamba River flooded the Sacred Valley. The international media focused on tourists getting airlifted to safety, but little about the communities that have had not only their villages destroyed and crops washed away, but lost their livelihood in tourism as well. Aracari Travel Consulting, a tour operator based in Lima, is targeting assistance programs to individual societies in an effort to make a significant difference. Marketing manager Nila Boquin is setting up an organization with the Patakancha village set high in the Sacred Valley. ‘We have a long standing relationship with this particular community and as you can imagine the locals are suffering since they work as support staff along the Inca Trail and it’s been closed since the end of January.’

Inkaterra owns some of the top lodges in Peru and while thankfully there was minimal damage at two properties in the affected region (which they attribute to the excellent drainage system built by the Incas), all reservations have been cancelled through March. Staff is on paid leave and has been aiding the locals with money, clothing and personal assistance, especially to those whose adobe homes were washed away in the deluge. Inkaterra is determined to not lay off any of their 500 employees, but this will be impossible if visitors do not return soon. As of now, the estimated partial reopening of Machu Picchu and rail service is April 1; getting travelers back is another challenge. As Claire Andre, Research and Development Manager highlights, ‘Tourism must come back on track. Machu Picchu is Peru’s icon but not the only destination of great interest in this country very rich in archaeology.’

The mega 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile on February 27 and subsequent major aftershocks have killed an estimated 452 citizens, affected more than 2 million, cost $1.2 billion in infrastructural damage and caused mass looting and panic. While most tourist areas such as the Atacama Desert, Easter Island and Patagonia were thankfully spared, Chile’s travel industry leaders are still doing everything they can to help their compatriots. Jesus Parrilla, Vice President of the ultra-luxe explora lodges says, ‘While counting its blessings [that the lodges were not affected], explora is encouraging employees and travel agency friends to donate to humanitarian organizations in Chile. Employees have been asked to donate clothing, blankets, diapers and non-perishable food items through Hogar de Cristo. Monetary donations are being channeled through Red Cross Chile, while personal and work hours can be dedicated to the rebuilding process through A Roof for Chile NGO. Monetary donations from employees are being matched by explora, which is also donating toiletries, blankets, slippers, furniture and mattresses.’

Please continue to support these hard-hit areas with generous donations, especially Haiti which, due to rampant corruption, instability and crime, lacked any tourism structure even before the earthquake. As for Peru, their greatest hope for recovery is the rebound of tourism to the region…. and soon. The government-run travel organization Promperu, LAN airlines and private entities have collaborated on trip packages up to 50% off usual rates in the Cusco region, where 90% of the residents rely on tourism.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Finkelstein.