By icon of Incas

GETTING THERE

The Charity Challenge trip to Machu Picchu, is for 10 days (five days trekking) includes flights, transfers, activity equipment, back-up support, guides, drivers, cooks, porters, first aid, entrance fees to national parks, accommodation and food. Trips available on selected dates in Sep/oct/nov 2020 and March/may/ Sep/oct 2021.

Three packages: *Self Funder – registration fee £395pp, pay £2,053pp, raise as much as you can for your charity. *Minimum Sponsorship – registration fee £395pp, raise at least £4,190.

*Flexi - registration fee £395pp, £395pp towards costs, raise at least £3,385. charitychallenge. com/challenge/10/ Trek-to-machupicchu

Spanish moss hangs over fresh streams and gushing waterfalls, while vibrant wakanki, orchids and bromelia frame the pathways. It’s the contrast of the two landscapes – barren, imposing peaks looming above lush, teeming vegetation – that makes this trip such a wondrous geological adventure.

We stopped under a waterfall, took off our heavy boots and cooled our bare feet in the icy water before bedding down for another night under canvas. on our progress through a clearing in the underbrush, we seemed to have climbed impossibly higher.

But when we arrived at the Sun Gate and gazed down at Machu Picchu, a quiet sense of peace settled across the group.

American explorer and historian, Hiram Bingham III talked of

Machu Picchu’s mystical power when he came upon the ancient

Inca citadel in 1911, writing: “In the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it.”

After spending time reflecting on who or what had really been driving us all along, we headed into town for beer, karaoke and a hot shower at our hotel.