Thanks for visiting our WordPress fundraising site. As many of you know, Pete’s mum is an Alzheimer’s sufferer and a number of Fraser’s relatives and close friends have had, or are currently suffering from, cancer.
So in an attempt to do something to help existing and future sufferers of these insidious diseases (not forgetting their families) we have signed up to do a 10 day high-altitude trek in the Andes, finishing at the iconic sky city of Machu Picchu.
Yes, it will be a great experience but it’s no walk in the park either. Go on You Tube and search for Machu Picchu and you’ll find dozens of home-made videos of poor saps slogging their guts out to reach this ancient Incan city 8,000 ft above sea level where the air is thin and oxygen in poor supply.
Here’s one we downloaded earlier:
We’re planning a series of fundraising ideas and events and we’ll keep you posted on this site. Details of how to donate or help can be found in the fundraising section.
That’s why we’re doing it, now about the expedition itself.
The trek takes place 18-27 September.
We’ll fly to Lima on Friday 18th and transfer to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco (or Cuzco) the next day.
After acclimatising to the high altitude by visiting local Inca ruins and Spanish Colonial churches, we’ll head towards the remote and rarely visited Lares Valley.
This unique alternative to the extremely busy Inca Trail is far off the beaten track and we will see diverse and spectacular scenery as we glimpse a way of Peruvian life that has remained untouched for centuries.
As we walk through these endless stunning valleys we will meet Andean farmers dressed in their traditional brightly coloured ponchos tending herds of Llamas and Alpacas. We’ll hopefully also get to meet the local communities.
The region is home to the Baños Del Inca, probably the best hot springs in southern Peru. Situated at an altitude of 2,667m, the springs offer spectacular views of snowy peaks and glaciers such as Mounts Veronica, Chicon and Pumahaunca. As we continue along the route, we will also take in the dazzling sight of glacial blue lakes.
Eventually we’ll arrive at the ruins of fabled Machu Picchu, the ‘lost City of the Incas’. These breathtaking pre Columbian ruins are nestled high in the Andes between two peaks. The ruins were rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham and are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Peru Perusals 