Machu Picchu & Inca Trail charity challenge
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail |
| departures: | 2009: 6 Jun |
| price: | From £1650 (13 days) including flights from the UK and from £1050 excluding flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Support the charity of your choice as you encounter the land and descendants of the Incas, on this trip to Peru! Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu & create a ‘recreational area’ at a local school benefiting some of Peru’s poorest communities.
Your journey begins in Lima, with a chance to explore this beautiful city where colonial charm meets with pre-Colombian ruins. You will then travel inland to Cusco, at the heart of the Sacred Inca Valley, before commencing a challenging 5 day trek, following the route of the ancient Incas.
You will pass through spectacular mountain scenery, and catch glimpses of long-forgotten Inca ruins, before finally arriving at the Sun Gate, with the mystical ‘Lost City’ of Machu Picchu spread out before you – an unforgettable sight.
After returning to Cusco, your next challenge is to transform a currently unused area at the San Luis Gonzaga School into a recreational zone, where the children can play games, and receive sports training.
The Peruvian government has recently identified the region’s poorest schools and asked for support in providing facilities such as these in places where the communities are so poor they cannot afford to furnish, paint, repair or heat the schools – and in some cases even to replace broken windows – meaning children are regularly taught in freezing conditions.
This challenge takes in some of Peru's most sacred and amazing sights, and gives you an opportunity to support the local people, as well as a charity of your choice back home in the UK.
Your journey begins in Lima, with a chance to explore this beautiful city where colonial charm meets with pre-Colombian ruins. You will then travel inland to Cusco, at the heart of the Sacred Inca Valley, before commencing a challenging 5 day trek, following the route of the ancient Incas.
You will pass through spectacular mountain scenery, and catch glimpses of long-forgotten Inca ruins, before finally arriving at the Sun Gate, with the mystical ‘Lost City’ of Machu Picchu spread out before you – an unforgettable sight.
After returning to Cusco, your next challenge is to transform a currently unused area at the San Luis Gonzaga School into a recreational zone, where the children can play games, and receive sports training.
The Peruvian government has recently identified the region’s poorest schools and asked for support in providing facilities such as these in places where the communities are so poor they cannot afford to furnish, paint, repair or heat the schools – and in some cases even to replace broken windows – meaning children are regularly taught in freezing conditions.
This challenge takes in some of Peru's most sacred and amazing sights, and gives you an opportunity to support the local people, as well as a charity of your choice back home in the UK.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | London to Lima. Fly from London to Lima. Upon arrival you will be met by an English speaking guide and transferred to the hotel for the welcome dinner. |
| Day 2: | Lima. In the morning we have a guided tour of the city’s cultural highlights including the Cathedral, the main square, Government Palace and the convent of San Francisco, a World Heritage listed site. In the afternoon we explore modern Lima visiting San Isidro with its Olive Park, Miraflores with its beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and the Huaca Huallamarca, renowned for its Pan de Azucar (sweet bread) and also a fascinating pre-Inca place of worship. |
| Day 3: | Lima – Cuzco. Today we fly to Cuzco (1 hour) and head straight to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is the colourful Indian market at Pisac with its woven goods, sweaters, Alpaca rugs, tapestries, sculpture and jewellery. From here we travel to Ollantaytambo where there will be an opportunity for a short visit to the shrines and the fortification, famous for its ‘stairs to the sky’. |
| Day 4-6: | San Luis Gonzales School Project. Today we begin work at the San Luis Gonzalez School in Cuzco. Each day we will be collected from the hotel for work at the school and returned after. Before commencing the project we have a full health and safety briefing and are given information about the company’s child protection policy. The group will also be introduced to the project manager under whose guidance we will be working. After a full day’s work, the group returns to Cuzco and our hotel. |
| Day 7: | Cuzco – Inca Trail. We depart Cuzco early this morning (4-4.30am) and drive to Piskacuchu, the starting point of the Inca Trail for a four day hike to Machu Picchu. We set out on foot crossing the bridge over the Urubamba River and walk along its left bank as it flows northwest through the Sacred Valley. The terrain is flat as we arrive in Miskay (2800m/9184ft), before climbing to a perfectly placed vantage point to see the impressive Inca city of Llactapata (2650m/8692ft). The group continues trekking along the Kusichaca River Valley gradually climbing for about five hours until reaching the community of Wayllabamba (3000m/9840ft), where we set up our first camp. |
| Day 8: | Inca Trail. Today our hike takes us to Pacaymayo. After an early breakfast (approx. 6am) we begin the most difficult part of the trek consisting of an abrupt and steep 9 km ascent. On the way to the first mountain pass (the Abra Warmihuañusca, or ‘Dead Woman´s Pass’ – 4200m/13776ft) we should be able to see domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing on ichu, one of the few plants growing at high altitude. We traverse an area of the so called ‘cloud forest’, home to a variety of birds as well as the Andean bear. Immediately after the pass we descend into Pacaymayo Valley (3600m/11808ft), where we make camp after a taxing 7 hours hiking. |
| Day 9: | Inca Trail. From our camp site at Pacaymayo we climb to the second pass, the Abra Runkurakay (3970m/13022ft), stopping halfway to visit a small oval structure believed to be an ancient watchtower. We then descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lagoon) and enter the cloud forest to finally arrive at Sayacmarca (3624m/11887ft). This is a beautiful complex made up of a semicircular construction, with enclosures at different levels, narrow streets, liturgical fountains, patios and irrigation canals. Continuing up an easy climb, we arrive at the third pass, the Abra Phuyupatamarca (3700m/12136ft). Here one can appreciate the magnitude of the Incas´ ancient craft by walking along paths carved from the mountain. We then pass through an Inca tunnel to arrive at the aforementioned pass and down to the complex of the same name. This is one of the most complete and best-preserved archaeological complexes along the Inca Trail, and is located on the highest point of the mountain. Curiously, Phuyupatamarca means ‘town above the clouds’. From above, one can observe a sophisticated and sacred complex made up of water fountains with solid foundations, and also impressive views of the Urubamba River Valley. We continue our trek down the stone steps to Wiñaywayna (2650m/8692ft), an impressive Inca complex made up of an agricultural centre with numerous terraces, a temple complex and an urban area. This campsite hosts a trekker lodge, a bar and bathrooms with hot shower facilities. After visiting the impressive archaeological site we enjoy a farewell dinner at our camp. |
| Day 10: | Inca Trail – Machu Picchu. Another early start as we set out for Machu Picchu at 4am. After an hour’s climb we reach the amazing Intipunku, or Sun Gate. From this fabulous spot, we can watch the sun rise over the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. We then walk down in to Machu Picchu and 40 minutes later enter the citadel from the highest point through the ‘House of the Guardians’. From here we go to the reception area to register, leave our backpacks and embark on a comprehensive 2-hour guided tour of the Inca citadel. Later there will be free time to explore the Temple of the Moon or the fabulous Inca Bridge. You should also climb the Huayna Picchu Mountain that overlooks the site. It can be reached by climbing steps that take around 90 minutes and the view is superlative. In the afternoon we regroup in the town of Aguas Calientes where we can have a city tour or simply relax in its hot springs. We spend the night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes. |
| Day 11: | Machu Picchu - Cuzco. This morning is free to either relax or explore the ruins of Machu Picchu further (bus, guide and entrance fee not included). In the afternoon we return to Cuzco by train arriving after nightfall and transferring directly to the hotel. |
| Day 12: | Cuzco – Lima. Today we transfer to Cuzco airport for our flight to Lima where we are met and taken to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for personal activities, shopping and sightseeing. Tour guides can be arranged. |
| Day 13: | Lima. Today we transfer from our Lima hotel to the airport for our international departure flight. |
how this holiday makes a difference
 This tour offers you opportunities which few other charity challenge events do. Instead of just ‘seeing’ Peru as a mere fundraising tourist, a spectator of sceneries and events happening to other people, this tour will provide you with the chance of actually getting involved with the refurbishment of a school, thus benefiting the community in which you are staying – as well as raising money for your charity at home. Furthermore, all the hotels we use in Peru are vetted to ensure they come up to our rigorous environmental sustainability standards (such as ensuring they have water conservation and recycling policies, and that they source as many products as possible locally), that the hotel workers benefit from ‘staff friendly’ employment practices, (such as the right to belong to trades union), and earn a fair wage for a fair days work. Therefore we can guarantee that the money you spend in these hotels directly benefits local people. So, as well as the physical challenge of Hiking the Inca Trail, you will spend three days helping out at school near Cusco. Whether you choose to pick up a paintbrush, construct some shelving or spend time with the children helping them with some simple English lessons – you can be assured that you and they alike will have a fantastic time and make lasting friendships! By raising a minimum sponsorship for your chosen UK charity, you can ensure this trip helps communities both at home and abroad. |
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