They say that it is not so much the destination but the journey that counts. In the case of experiencing the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, both the journey and the destination matter. They are equally rewarding and will leave behind treasured memories and inexplicable feelings conjured up from being enveloped in the magic and mystery of the Andes.
The mystical Machu Picchu has been both a journey and a destination for many Inspired Adventurers already, and 2012 is no exception.
The journey commences when you have your breath taken away (literally) as you roam the cobbled streets of Cuzco (3,326m) – a town high in the Andes that has been ruled by both Incas and Conquistadors alike. Legend has it that Cuzco was the ‘navel of the earth’. This is fairly factual as the town is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the entire continent. Strolling along the streets to admire the Inca-built walls is thought provoking. Taking in the sounds of the Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas and soaking up the history of the undisputed archaeological capital of the America’s is indescribable.
After you become accustomed to life at altitude, the adventure really begins when you start trekking in the beautiful Lares Valley. This is a remote and rarely visited region where herds of llamas and alpacas surround the thatched stone houses of Andean farmers. The traditional dress is bright and colourful and the local communities are renowned for their high-quality textiles using natural dyes. Indeed the journey into the deep Andes, the colourful dress of high-altitude communities, the snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes is as important as the ultimate destination – Machu Picchu.
We don’t need to mention all 100 reasons to experience Machu Picchu as these amazing reasons alone will demonstrate why a Peru challenge will be the most rewarding thing you do in 2012.
- Give deaf children a voice and get deaf kids talking: Our trips in June will raise vital funds for The Shepherd Centre and Taralye. Participants on these trips will have a unique visit to the Cochlear Clinic in Lima.
- Support medical research to help prevent heart disease and stroke or help find a cure for cancer by supporting world-class research in Australia. This trip in September will raise funds for the Heart Research Centre and the Australian Cancer Research Centre. This trip includes a special trip into the field to see project work being done by a local NGO outside of Cuzco.
- Delve into the realm of the Inca’s and wander around their lofty citadel perched high in the Andes on an isolated mountaintop. Awaken something deep within you as you take in the awe and mysteriousness that abounds in Machu Picchu.
- Trek the spectacular and remote Lares valley: observe how traditional Andean farmers live and work; see herds of llamas and alpacas in their natural habitat; learn about the weaving techniques from locals who have become renowned for their brightly coloured, high-quality textiles; stumble across ancient Incan burial tombs on trails built by the Incas; and rest aching muscles in the thermal baths.
- Indulge in delicious Peruvian cuisine – ceviche (marinated fresh fish) and cuy chactado (fried guinea pig)! Did you know that potatoes came from Peru? There are over 8,000 species of potato native to the Andes.
- Try ubiquitous beverages unique to Peru: Inca Kola, pisco sour, Cusqueña beer, chicha morrada (purple corn drink) and coca leaf tea.
- Extend your trip and visit the Amazon, unravel the mystery of the Nazca lines in the coastal desert or go to the world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is so steeped in history that the line between myth and fact has become blurred. For example, legend has it that Manco Capac founded the empire in the 12th century. He was the first Inca and the son of the sun god Inti. More reliant historical fact emerges with detailed writings about the downfall of the Inca’s at the hands of the Spanish in the 16th Century. More recent and greatly documented was the discovery of Machu Picchu in 1911. It has now been 100 years since Hiram Bingham stumbled upon what is undeniably one of the world’s greatest manmade wonders and there are more than 100 reasons to unleash your adventurous spirit 2012 to explore them for yourself.
