**5. Rural tourism nodes**

"The exceptional diversity of landscapes and cultures in the Andes holds rich opportunities for tourism" ([21]: 249). The ecological variety in the tropical and

extratropical realm of the Andes ranges from the humid rainforests (*selva*) and cloud forests (*Ceja de la Montaña*) to various types of highland grasslands, to thorn steppes, saltpans (*salares*) and deserts. On the highest summits in the tropics and on lower elevations in the extratropical realm, snow- and icefields cover the mountains. In addition to this extraordinary ecological diversity, the impressive mountain scenery of rugged peaks (most famous of them are the Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia or the spectacular, glacier-covered Cordillera Blanca in Peru) of the numerous active and dormant volcanoes; the deeply entrenched valleys (e.g. the Colca Canyon in Peru); the impressive fjord coast of southern Peru, the impressive rivers in the eastern Cordilleras; the mountain lakes, foremost Lake Titicaca; or the vastness of the Peruvian and Bolivian *Altiplano*, the landscape appeal of the Andes is further complemented by the rich cultural heritage of the region. Among the famous visitor attractions are the pre-Inca sites (e.g. Chan Chan in the coastal desert of Peru; Chavín de Huantar in the eastern Cordilleras of Peru; Tiahuanaco on the Bolivian Altiplano); the impressive monuments and other relics of the material culture of the Incas centred in Cuzco, Machu Picchu (**Figure 8**), and other sites of the *Valle Sagrado*. With the Spanish conquest, the Inca culture was superseded and replaced by the Spanish cultural heritage. Visitors are attracted to the colonial towns with their churches, monasteries, museums, *plazas* and typical colonial houses, to attractive *hacienda* buildings (many of them converted to elegant hotels) and to

**177**

**Figure 9.**

*Altitudinal zones and forms of Andean tourism (Borsdorf and Stadel 2015).*

*Horizontal and Vertical Archipelagoes of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Andean…*

pilgrimage sites. Many of the pre-Spanish and colonial cities have been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, a fact which further enhances their appeal for tourists. In a generalized model, Borsdorf and Stadel [21] have portrayed the altitudinal zonation in major types of Andean tourism in the tropical and

In addition to the most common type of a sightseeing tourism attracted to the most famous sites, other forms of visiting and tourism can be observed. Ecotourism has been promoted at all altitudinal levels in many ecologically attractive niches. Of particular interest to visitors are the National Parks, the Biosphere Reserves and other types of protected areas. Still rather spotty are various forms of rural or agrotourism, but this type of tourism may still face the barriers of difficult accessibility, substandard accommodation and other facilities, insufficient investment funds and promotion and sometimes also hesitant rural host families and communities. Successful examples are the *comunidades* of Vicos and Humacchuco in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru, to the north of the major mountain tourist centre of Huaraz [28]. With the support of the *Instituto de Montañas* in Huaraz, the local population was involved in various ways in a gentle, ecologically and culturally compatible and

Under the motto "cuidar la vida en las montañas" (protecting life in the mountains), some communities around the Huascaran National Park (founded in 1975) benefit from this initiative and are participating in all stages of the planning and management of rural tourism. Ecotourism and "soft" agrotourism are contrasting with newer forms of sports, adventure or event tourism (e.g. mountain biking, paragliding, white-water rafting, modern festivals). Mountaineering, here called *andinismo*, has a long tradition and appeals to a national and international clientele. Preferred destinations are the high Cordilleras, notably the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera de Huaylas of Peru, the Cordillera Real in Bolivia and the Patagonian

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86841*

extratropical realm (**Figure 9**).

sustainable rural tourism.

Cordillera of Argentina and Chile.

**Figure 8.** *Machu Picchu, Peru (Photo credit: Borsdorf and Stadel).*

## *Horizontal and Vertical Archipelagoes of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Andean… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86841*

pilgrimage sites. Many of the pre-Spanish and colonial cities have been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, a fact which further enhances their appeal for tourists. In a generalized model, Borsdorf and Stadel [21] have portrayed the altitudinal zonation in major types of Andean tourism in the tropical and extratropical realm (**Figure 9**).

In addition to the most common type of a sightseeing tourism attracted to the most famous sites, other forms of visiting and tourism can be observed. Ecotourism has been promoted at all altitudinal levels in many ecologically attractive niches. Of particular interest to visitors are the National Parks, the Biosphere Reserves and other types of protected areas. Still rather spotty are various forms of rural or agrotourism, but this type of tourism may still face the barriers of difficult accessibility, substandard accommodation and other facilities, insufficient investment funds and promotion and sometimes also hesitant rural host families and communities. Successful examples are the *comunidades* of Vicos and Humacchuco in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru, to the north of the major mountain tourist centre of Huaraz [28]. With the support of the *Instituto de Montañas* in Huaraz, the local population was involved in various ways in a gentle, ecologically and culturally compatible and sustainable rural tourism.

Under the motto "cuidar la vida en las montañas" (protecting life in the mountains), some communities around the Huascaran National Park (founded in 1975) benefit from this initiative and are participating in all stages of the planning and management of rural tourism. Ecotourism and "soft" agrotourism are contrasting with newer forms of sports, adventure or event tourism (e.g. mountain biking, paragliding, white-water rafting, modern festivals). Mountaineering, here called *andinismo*, has a long tradition and appeals to a national and international clientele. Preferred destinations are the high Cordilleras, notably the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera de Huaylas of Peru, the Cordillera Real in Bolivia and the Patagonian Cordillera of Argentina and Chile.

**Figure 9.** *Altitudinal zones and forms of Andean tourism (Borsdorf and Stadel 2015).*

*Sustainability Assessment at the 21st Century*

extratropical realm of the Andes ranges from the humid rainforests (*selva*) and cloud forests (*Ceja de la Montaña*) to various types of highland grasslands, to thorn steppes, saltpans (*salares*) and deserts. On the highest summits in the tropics and on lower elevations in the extratropical realm, snow- and icefields cover the mountains. In addition to this extraordinary ecological diversity, the impressive mountain scenery of rugged peaks (most famous of them are the Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia or the spectacular, glacier-covered Cordillera Blanca in Peru) of the numerous active and dormant volcanoes; the deeply entrenched valleys (e.g. the Colca Canyon in Peru); the impressive fjord coast of southern Peru, the impressive rivers in the eastern Cordilleras; the mountain lakes, foremost Lake Titicaca; or the vastness of the Peruvian and Bolivian *Altiplano*, the landscape appeal of the Andes is further complemented by the rich cultural heritage of the region. Among the famous visitor attractions are the pre-Inca sites (e.g. Chan Chan in the coastal desert of Peru; Chavín de Huantar in the eastern Cordilleras of Peru; Tiahuanaco on the Bolivian Altiplano); the impressive monuments and other relics of the material culture of the Incas centred in Cuzco, Machu Picchu (**Figure 8**), and other sites of the *Valle Sagrado*. With the Spanish conquest, the Inca culture was superseded and replaced by the Spanish cultural heritage. Visitors are attracted to the colonial towns with their churches, monasteries, museums, *plazas* and typical colonial houses, to attractive *hacienda* buildings (many of them converted to elegant hotels) and to

**176**

**Figure 8.**

*Machu Picchu, Peru (Photo credit: Borsdorf and Stadel).*
