Adventure Holidays in the UK, Spain, Scandinavia, Europe, Peru & Mexico
Telephone: +44 (0)1822 880277 • E-mail martin@spirit-of-adventure.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1822 880277 • E-mail martin@spirit-of-adventure.com
Joyce, Jane, Margaret, Tamsin, Sarah, Claire,Steven, Martin, Eric, Johnnie, and Matt.
John Diplock with Spirit of Adventure.
'Guides' Paul, Pepe, Clarke, Juan, Juanita
Spirit of Adventure took us on the holiday of a lifetime! Experiencing canoeing, walking the Inca Trail and white water rafting.
We walked the Inca trail to Machu Pichu. Porters carried our luggage, tents and cooking equipment. We just had to concentrate on walking extremely slowly, as the air is so thin at this altitude. We were also constantly urged to drink plenty of water. The scenery was stunning, especially when we reach 'Dead Woman's pass', the highest point of the trail at 14000ft. The craggy, snow topped mountains looming all around, and the steep sided valleys falling away below us. We also passed through the humid cloud forest, and it certainly was cloudy and rained! Whilst there, we visited a little known Inca ruin, which the forest had reclaimed. It is thought it was used by the relay of runners, who brought fresh fish from Lima, in one day, to the Inca in Cuzco. Machu Pichu left us all speechless. Our first view of this amazing city, was in that beautiful light of late afternoon. We just stood and gazed, trying to absorb the beauty and the enormity of such a project. Much of the history is conjecture, as no one has yet been able to work out how the Inca's actually built it! walking this trail was an unforgettable experience. I recommend that everyone take the opportunity to follow the Inca route to Machu Pichu soon.
Our mini bus delivered us to the white-water region of the river for our second week of challenges. The Amazon is not the longest river in the world, but it is the mightiest, with the greatest volume of water passing through those narrow canyons, as we were about to find out! A few of the locals helped to unload the minibus, and to inflate the rubber rafts. It took some time to secure the luggage. There were two rafts, each with a very experienced oarsman shouting instructions to the novices at the front of the craft. Clarke, Paul and Martin went ahead, downriver, in order to survey the rapids. They were so exciting to watch, as this ferocious water held no fears for them. Most of the party slept out under the huge, bright moon and sensational sky. The week was hard work, but the enormous sense of achievement certainly made up for everything.
All my memories from this amazing holiday are still extremely vivid, but, if I had to say which were the most notable, they would be.... the stars, the mighty power of the river, tasty hot porridge with chunky, chopped fruit on a frosty morning, the expertise of the three kayaking boys, the powerful oarsmen who gave us the confidence to relax and to enjoy the experience, the hardworking Peruvians who live in these remote mountains, who have absolutely nothing but are so happy, and of course, the ever changing beautiful scenery in this fascinating, and, as yet, unspoilt country of Peru. Thank you so much Spirit of Adventure, for making it possible!
Courtesy of Joyce West (the pensioner on the trip)