Machu Picchu: The Iconic Inca Trail

Peru | Sunday 8th - Saturday 14th August 2021

Overview
Itinerary
Charity Project
Challengers

Hike the legendary Inca trail, enjoy cultural visits along the way and marvel at the stunning Machu Picchu in the panoramic Andes Mountains.

FUNDRAISING: This charity challenge fundraises for our charity project in Peru, Chichuchas Wasi. Together, our goal is to raise USD54,500 to build a dry multipurpose room larger than a classroom for events, sports, theatre presentations or otherwise.

To ensure we achieve our targets, we advise each individual to fundraise USD1,375 so that together, we can succeed with this incredible educational project and support more than 200 children in need attending the school.

FITNESS LEVEL: This challenge is rated as a demanding test of all round fitness. You must be comfortable walking several hours per day including steep inclines and at altitude. Regular fitness training and long-distance walking is highly recommended. Click here to read more about the challenge difficulty levels.

TRAINING: In the run up to the challenge Gulf for Good runs a variety of free, weekly training sessions that we encourage you to join. In addition, registering for this challenge grants you an unlimited membership to Gulf for Good's soulFIT fitness community. Click here to read more about soulFIT, our hiking community and view the upcoming schedule of activities.

Join our public WhatsApp group to keep informed of all of our news, events and activities.

COST INCLUDES:

A challenge, adventure and charity experience of a lifetime!
An opportunity to visit the charity and experience the difference your fundraising will make
soulFIT training membership
Unlimited access to all Gulf for Good hikes, fitness and training activities in UAE
Fundraising approval and support with fundraising events
Pre-challenge briefing and get-togethers
Discount with Gulf for Good partner outdoor outfitters
Safety, medical and equipment advice
Internal flights and transfers
Accommodation, food and water
Experienced Outdoor First Aid certified, Gulf for Good support team
In-country medical & vehicle back up
Ethical, global standards for in-country guides and porters

PAYMENT DEADLINES:
Either pay at once or opt for our easy instalment plan below.

[DATE]: AED1,000 (USD275) deposit toward the Challenge Expenses (non-refundable and non-transferable) paid to Gulf for Good to reserve your place on the challenge
Thursday 13th May 2021: AED3,100 (USD845), 50% remaining balance towards the Challenge Expenses paid to Gulf for Good
Thursday 24 June 2021: AED3,100 (USD845), 50% final balance towards the Challenge Expenses paid to Gulf for Good
Thursday 29 July 2021: AED5,000 (USD1,360) minimum Charity Donation paid to International Humanitarian City

(USD1 = AED3.67)

EXCLUDES:
• International flights
• Visas
• Tips and spending money
• Vaccinations
• Insurance
• Kit items
• Drinks (other than water)

This event is under process for approval by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.

Day1

Sunday 8th August 2021: Arrival in Cusco

We meet at the hotel lobby at 12-noon for a short walking tour of Cusco which is a great way to get our bearings and also helps us get used to the altitude. The beautiful historic centre where we will stop for lunch was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 with Inca and colonial architecture evident all around.

Dinner at the hotel

Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui

Day2

Monday 9th August 2021: Charity visit

We will visit our Charity project where we will have lunch with the children.

During the afternoon, we will visit the Cusco Outlying Ruins and stretch our legs with a delightful hike in the hills above Cusco.

First we will visit the impressive site of Sacsayhuaman and its huge stone ramparts which surround a beautiful grass amphitheatre. Once the scene of fierce battles it now hosts the recreation of traditional Inca ceremonies such as Inti Raymi and Warachikuy. From here we will walk to the Inca water temple of Tambo Machay lying at 3,700m. With its intricately carved water channels this is thought to have been used both for ritual cleansing as well as the worship of water.

From here we carry on back down to Cusco, stopping at the Temple of the Moon and other historical sites along the way.

After dinner our guide will give a challenge briefing for the adventure ahead.

Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui

Day3

Tuesday 10th August 2021: Lares trek from Totora canyon to Quishuarani

After breakfast, we will take a scenic two-hour drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the start of our trek, at the small village of Totora. We follow an ancient Inca trail into a narrow canyon, where Inca tombs perch in the cliffs. Emerging from the canyon we pass through tiny rural communities before stopping for a picnic lunch.

Our bus then takes us to the small and very traditional community of Quishuarani and our camp for the night (3,700m).

Overnight camp in tents

Day4

Wednesday 11th August 2021: Lares trek from Quishuarani to Huacahuasi

This is a stunning day of hiking. We leave camp behind and climb past colourfully dressed locals and up towards the native forests that our ground handlers have been heavily involved in re-planting. These forests harbour Andean deer, vizcachas and several rare species of birds and are essential to the future of this area.

A further push and we reach the stunning views from our highest pass of the trek, the Huchayccasa pass (4,450m). A chain of emerald blue lakes fills the hillside below us and in the distance rise the snow clad Urubamba mountains. Descending through hand turned potato fields we come to the upper reaches of the ancient community of Cuncani at (3,800m). From here our bus takes us twenty minutes to our camp at Chancachaca (3,440m) with an option to visit the Lares hot-springs after lunch.

Overnight camp in tents

Day5

Thursday 12th August 2021: Lares trek from Huacahuasi to Patacancha Valley

This is a day filled with encounters with locals. Men head off to work in the potato fields, wooden ploughs slung over their shoulder. Women sit, legs outstretched weaving their traditional clothes on wooden looms. Small children sit motionless guarding herds of alpaca and llama, their ever-faithful dog by their side.

We start a 15-minute drive from camp whereby we begin our journey towards the final pass. Lying at 4,200m the Ipsaycocha pass marks the border between Lares and the Patacancha Valley. We start gently ascending and then climb a final steep section to get to the summit. We will have spectacular views of Mount Veronica. We have lunch by the beautiful Ipsay lake then follow an ancient trail to the Patacancha Valley and the village of Patacancha where the trek ends. A vehicle takes us down the valley and to our hotel for the night.

Tunupa Lodge Hotel

Day6

Friday 13th August 2021: Royal Inca Trail (km104) to Machu Picchu

We start early in the morning and transfer to the train station for the beautiful journey towards Machu Picchu. At 104km we alight, pass through the control and start our walk past the interesting ruins at Chachabamba. Following the ancient Inca trail, we ascend through tropical cloud forest and climb high above the roaring Urubamba River. Whilst walking all we need to carry is a daypack.

An initially challenging ascent is replaced by satisfaction as we reach Wiñay Wayna, a beautiful Inca ruin full of swallows and orchids. We enjoy a picnic lunch and, time-permitting, visit these impressive ruins before joining what is generally considered to be the most spectacular part of the Inca Trail. The contour path through the fascinating cloud forest leads to Inti Puncu, ‘the gateway of the Sun’ and our first glimpse of Machu Picchu.

We savour the moment and, once in the ruins themselves, our guide will give us an extensive walking tour of Machu Picchu explaining the fascinating history of the Incas. If time permits those who wish can explore further to the Inca Bridge, whilst others may prefer to relax and take in the stunning location. We then catch an afternoon bus to Machu Picchu town and transfer to the train station, where we can take a train back to Ollantaytambo and onwards to our hotel.

Cusco Celebration Dinner in traditional Peruvian restaurant.

Day7

Saturday 14th August 2021: Explore Cusco and onward journey home

Depending on flight times, there may be time to enjoy a free morning in Cusco for some rest and recuperation. Whether exploring Inca ruins, visiting Colonial churches, bargain hunting in artisan markets, visiting the chocolate museum or just relaxing over a coffee on a terrace overlooking the Plaza de Arma.

Notes: This itinerary may change due to changes outside our control. We will endeavour to keep to the planned itinerary but cannot be held responsible for changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, the group leader will have the final say.

Chicuchas Wasi

The school currently does not have an indoor facility larger than a classroom to host events, sports, theatre presentations or otherwise. The goal is to raise USD54,500 to build a dry multipurpose room for such activities once children can return to school.

About Chicuchas Wasi: Chicuchas Wasi began in 1987 focused on the society’s tolerated human rights violations of the many abandoned children, as young as 6 years old, surviving alone on the streets of Cusco, Peru. Chicuchas Wasi created a safe house including nutrition, health care, school, life skills, and more.

Chicuchas Wasi School for Girls provides free, primary education, emphasising personal development, empowerment, and academics. We stress personal values, integrity, self-esteem and social responsibility for an adult life of quality, dignity, gender equality, and financial independence. Chicuchas Wasi School maintains a big presence in the community with cultural celebrations, supporting social issues and women’s issues and to spread the value and importance of education for girls.

Since their foundation they have supported 300 number of girls in Cusco, Peru.

http://www.chicuchaswasi.org/

Fundraising goal: USD54,500

Number of children impacted: 126

United Nation's Sustainable development goal: Quality Education

Charity registration number: EIN 680188327

Elaine Kelly (Rep)

Jennifer Sault

Shireen Jamal

Annie Ellerby

Phil Ellerby

Clare Hartnett

Len Funnell

Alia Galadari

Mohammad Galadari

Maria Fadeeva

Rana Abu Samaha

Yvette Diangson

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