Positive Impact

At Culture Xplorers, we insist on being not only responsible travelers, but also on making a positive impact on the communities with which we come into contact. We visit only in small groups, spend time as well as money and exchange questions and ideas with our local hosts.

We champion the ancient, living traditions that make the destinations we visit so unique; traditions that form part of the cultural treasures of our planet. Some examples of our long term partnerships follow.

CX Weavers Awards

This annual event is organized in with our friend and local partner, Nilda Callaòaupa, the person most responsible for the revival of the 2,000 year old Peruvian textile tradition in recent years.

Hundreds of indigenous weavers in participating communities from across the Sacred Valley compete for substantial cash awards, pride and the honor to represent their communities at our annual celebration ceremony in Chinchero.

Weavers have three months to submit a piece to the judges, the rotating board of directors of the community's own weaving cooperative. The top weavers from each community gather in Chinchero to receive medals, cash prizes and certificates of achievement. They share lunch, laughter and tears of joy with fellow weavers from across the Andes and with the Culture Xplorers travelers who come to honor them.

To see a video filmed on our inaugural Culture Xplorers Weavers Awards journey, click here. Note: a broadband connection is recommended, plus volume to hear the narrative (approx. 9 minutes).

Some background on Nilda Callanaupa and her amazing CTTC cooperative: CTTC Web Site

National Geographic Article on Nilda's Work and Weavers

Jim Kane's Transitions Abroad Article: Preserving Peru's Textile Tradition

Micro-Loans in Guatemala

With each trip to Guatemala, Culture Xplorers sponsors micro-loans administered via the respected NGO Friendship Bridge. Their program is comprehensive, long term and sustainable, combining micro-credit for mothers with formal education for their children and informal health education for the women themselves.

In addition to our significant financial support, Culture Xplorers travelers meet the women improving their lives through Friendship Bridge's programs. We attend a local loan circle meeting and visit one or two of the micro-businesses of participants.

For more information on Friendship Bridge, click here.

Favela Tourism Project

One of Rio's largest favelas (slums), Rocinha is home to an estimated 200,000 people, many of whom live in conditions of poverty. We have joined forces with Rejane Reis, an inspiring local who has created an innovative program to train local kids to become tour guides. Each semester 36 students enroll. They receive free daily lunch, English and Spanish classes and guide training.

Although not all the kids in the program become guides, they all gain valuable self respect and citizenship skills that will serve them in life.

Each trip to Brazil, we join Rejane's team of young guides for a unique half day walk through Rocinha. After our visit, we often play soccer or beach volleyball with the kids.

Our Clients, Our Team

Our clients form an important part of our responsible travel team as cultural ambassadors, spending time and exchanging questions and ideas with the many local friends we meet along the journey. With the guidance of our bi-lingual, locally based trip leaders, clients are able to more fully understand the impact our travel has on local communities and to ensure that ours is a positive one.