Abstract
High-altitude socio-ecological systems in the Peruvian Andes are increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disruptions, posing severe challenges to Indigenous Community-Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs). This study assesses the adaptive capacity and socio-ecological resilience of eight indigenous CBTEs in the Sacred Valley and Vilcanota mountain range of Peru. Employing a mixed-methods empirical approach combining structured household and enterprise surveys (n = 168), semi-structured expert interviews (n = 26), and participatory climate vulnerability mapping, we operationalize a multidimensional Resilience Index encompassing financial capital, governance, institutional networks, infrastructural stability, and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Our empirical findings reveal that while climate hazards—specifically glacial retreat, extreme water stress, and unseasonal landslide activity—significantly disrupt trekking infrastructure and seasonal tourist flows, enterprises exhibiting strong collective governance (ayllu-based resource management) and high integration of TEK demonstrate significantly higher adaptive resilience. Conversely, limited access to formal credit markets and fragmented institutional support from local governments remain major structural bottlenecks. The paper concludes with actionable destination management and policy frameworks aimed at enhancing climate-adaptive governance, diversifying rural livelihood portfolios, and safeguarding indigenous heritage in vulnerable mountain tourism destinations.
