We've been travelling throughout Central and South America since 1975, when we fell in love with the people, their remarkable countries and culture. We found the 'Hecho a Mano' (handmade) crafted items of great beauty and interest. These collectable pieces express the local artist’s joy, love and pride for their culture and history.

Our imported Hecho a Mano products are all one-of-a-kind, high quality and authentically crafted. Many pieces are exclusive to Los Andes, personally selected knowing we directly support the craft person and local village. Visit our shop in West Melbourne and check out beautiful hand woven blankets and scarves, ceramics, jewellery and more.

Casa Ecologica works with a number of different communities in the Cusco region and aims to increase economic opportunities through ecological and sustainable commercial ventures. The organization invites you to visit some of the rural communities in which Casa Ecologica works; or alternatively volunteer your time & skills to one of their projects.

Your participation directly benefits the people with whom you work on daily tasks, and indirectly motivates them to conserve the environment, its native biodiversity of plants, foods, and wild fauna, as well as the recuperation of the traditional arts and techniques. These will reinforce the communities’ identity and offer different alternatives to sustainable development. See our The Other Peru tour on our website for details.

Wings Working Together is the not-for-profit branch of our Peruvian partners Condor Travel. Their pilot project in the village of Misinmay has had some important successes in creating economic and social opportunities for local people- local men have been trained as porters for the Inca Trail, literacy and textile classes have been offered to the village women and children are targeted through education and health care initiatives. Tourists are welcomed as volunteers to help in a range of activities or simply to visit as guests to learn more about the work of the organisation.

The first priority in each community in which Peru’s Challenge works is to see that the school is transformed into a safe, happy learning environment supported fully by the government and community. The organisation then turns its focus to the community as a whole through Project for Life, to ensure that each member enjoys the opportunity to have their needs met and enhance their quality of life.

Peru’s Challenge welcomes our clients to spend time working and learning alongside local communities in the Cuzco region - cash or in-kind donations help the organization continue their excellent work.  

Since 2006 our Guatemalan partners Via Venture have been actively involved in promoting responsible tourism and creating opportunities for local people. The company has designed tours that put you in touch with local initiatives, to learn more about the ways in which Guatemalan people are tackling issues of community development and environmental degradation. Tour costs include donations to the organizations visited. Via Venture donate an additional USD$0.50 to the foundation for every tour booked. See our Guatemalan Community Projects tour for details.

The Guatemala Green Program aims to educate suppliers and local people about the reduction of waste and offer a practical solution- a recycling program. The program currently operates in the Antigua area of Guatemala with the hope of eventually expanding across the country.

Any money which is made from the recycling of materials goes to paying for the rent of the recycling station and the salaries of staff working there. This project does not yet pay for itself and is currently subsidized by the Viaventure Foundation (see above).

The recycling program operates in conjunction with a local bio-diesel project, Bio Persa which recycles used vegetable oil to make bio-diesel. Guatemala Green collection vans are operated by this program and they run on bio-diesel fuel. 

Currently, 64 children call Casa Hogar their home, where they are given faith, family, and a chance at the promising future they deserve. Using the same methods as the famous Girls & Boys Town, Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II has become a leader in the treatment and care of orphaned, abandoned, and abused children of Peru. The organization relies entirely on the generosity of volunteers and donors.

Since 1999 our Ecuadorian partner Explorandes has been working with indigenous women artisans from the province of Imbabura in northern Ecuador. Their goal is to assist poor women in rural areas by helping them improve their craft, providing a market for their products and offering classes in women’s rights & health. Trips to see the work of these women and learn more about the project can be arranged as an easy side trip from Quito or Otavalo. Ask us for details.

As Green as it Gets (GAIG) is a charity working to support small independent coffee producers and promoting environmentally responsible agriculture in Guatemala. We offer tours to see the work of this organization - every tour includes a donation to GAIG and offers clients the chance to experience first hand the good work the organization is doing.

Contours Travel has made two small loans to farmers Daniel Gonzalez and Alberto Hernandez through GAIG- click on the links to read the latest reports on their progress.

 Eyes Wide Open gives people like you the opportunity to see the world and make a difference. We get people involved in Rotary International’s humanitarian projects in Asia and Australia’s Northern Territory. Eyes Wide Open tours are open to anyone and provide a meaningful way to see new destinations, experience new cultures and undertake volunteer work with Rotary - the world’s largest humanitarian organisation! In fact, Rotary has been providing humanitarian aid to communities of developing regions since it s establishment 1905.