Tales from Peru 

Trek Peru 21st September – 1st October 2006

In September 2006, six women went on the trip of a lifetime to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru. This trek is notoriously demanding because of the altitude and distances involved. But it is also one of our most popular, because of the mystical nature of the landscape and the majestic and astonishing beauty of Machu Picchu.

Read about the experience from the words of three of our participants: Sarah Brown, Lele Gemma and Liz Lloyd.

From the eyes of Sarah Brown:

Having not camped for over 20 years and having never been to high altitude, the experience was a shocker. The Andes mountain range is extremes of climate throughout one day. It was sunburn and mosquito bites in the valleys, snow blizzards at the mountain peaks and minus degrees at night while sleeping in all your clothes. Trekking to 4,700 metres above sea level was an experience; chest-constricting, heart-palpitating, and stomach-churning. Chewing coco leaves did give some relief but it was: three steps, stop let heart recover, and then three more.

I completed the trek, as I knew I would. I had lost 14lbs in weight and had become the fittest I had been for nearly 15 years and I had raised nearly £3,000 through quiz evenings, a family day and coffee mornings for FSID.
Sarah Brown

From the eyes of Lele Gemma:

Trekking the Andes was an experience that I shall never forget. Firstly because, although trekking is a hobby of mine, I'd never been to such altitudes before and, secondly, I'd never trekked in such weather conditions.

The views were breathtaking at all times. It was an extraordinary feeling; one of being overwhelmingly humble against such powerful forces of nature and the sheer majestic presence of the ragged and steep mountains we’d climbed.

The habitat changed according to the altitude. We passed small villages of thatched stoned houses, which blended with the colour of the earth. We followed mountain streams and valleys of pastoral farmlands with llamas, alpacas, sheep and cows roaming. Every now and then, we would come across locals; men and women, both dressed in their traditional colourful clothes.

Machu Picchu was an amazingly spiritual place. I got to learn a lot about the Inca and their veneration for nature. It was very emotional journey.
Lele Gemma

From the eyes of Liz Lloyd:

I decided to take part in the trek after my beautiful nephew Stanley died last year from cot death. After witnessing the pain and suffering that cot death causes, as a family we decided to raise money to try and help in some way, however small. I had always wanted to go to Peru and decided that taking part in the challenge was a good opportunity to raise both money and awareness.

When I first signed up I used to have sleepless nights about raising the money. But people surprised me with their generosity and thought. I fundraised through sponsorship and a craft fair. We also did car boot sales and had a charity market stall. Finally my sister held a party in a field asking for donations instead of presents.

The trek was amazing; it really was the trip of a lifetime. It was hard, but most definitely worth it. At times it felt like we were the only people on the planet it was that isolated.  I would recommend it to anyone. Anyone thinking about taking part in Challenge Peru should sign up immediately!
Liz Lloyd

FSID would like to thank all those that participated in Peru 2006.

Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime for FSID? If so, click here now to view your options!