Spirit of Adventure

We were very excited to learn that one of the projects we support through the Peregrine Community Trust – Peru’s Challenge has won ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Best Volunteer Organisation’ category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009 – the most competitive and prestigious awards of their kind in the world. Congratulations!

Peru’s Challenge was founded in 2003, by Jane Gavel from Australia and Selvy Ugaz from Peru, with the aim of working with rural indigenous communities near Cusco, Peru to alleviate poverty. They work in partnership with local residents, developing functional and sustainable schools and communities with a particular focus on education, health and general well being.

Since 2003, some of their achievements include: hosting over 600 volunteers from around the world, constructing four schools in four rural communities and making a difference to lives of over 2,000 community members.

See our short video clip about the great work Peru’s Challenge does, or see Peru’s Challenge in action on one of Peregrine’s trips that visit the project, like the 12-day Inca Adventure or 28-day South America Circle.

Pumamarca is an agricultural community located in the mountain region above Cuzco. The community survives on their agricultural products, and families struggle to make ends meet on the income farming brings in.

The benefit of non-agricultural activities is that they provide more stable income. Peru’s Challenge helps approximately 200 families through the creation of Talleres, in which mothers work on crafts such as weaving, knitting and jewellery making, however they are finding it increasing hard to fit in the one school classroom available to them.

Through the Community Trust, Peregrine is fundraising for a workshop to be built so that the group can work uninterrupted, and without disrupting the school children.

A Peregrine Charity Challenge is a unique travel adventure for those keen to make a difference in the world. Together with our partner, Inspired Adventures – who create and manage charity challenges on behalf of Australian charities, we are offering a series of incredible journeys across the globe, one of which is the Camp Quality Trek and Cycle Peru Challenge.

Charity: Camp Quality (Northern Territory)
Date: 15-25 November 2009
Fundraising Target: $8,200
Trip Duration: 11 days
Having explored Lima and the old Inca city of Cusco take on a two-day bicycle ride into the beautiful Sacred Valley, stopping at numerous Inca sites along the way. Discover the colourful market town of Pisac and the fortress village of Ollantaytambo, then hike along old Inca trails, on to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. This is Peru at its best!

By NICKI SCHUCK - The Dominion Post

I can see her from our boat, bouncing up and down by the water’s edge. Her fluorescent clothing can’t be missed but that’s not what catches my eye. It’s her smile.

As we tie up alongside she is chatting away in the local Aymara dialect, showing no signs of nervousness of falling in the water.

But why would she? She’s never set foot on land in her four years of life. It’s likely she never will, just like generations of family before her.

I’m a 30-minute motor boat ride from Puno, the capital of Peru’s harsh highland region.

The city sits at an altitude of more than 3,800 metres and is known as Peru’s folklore centre - a place from which over 300 ethnic dances originated. Like much of Peru, poverty is prevalent.

Manuela lives on Islas Flotantes, the artificial floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 metres above sea level.

RICH HISTORY

The Incas believe their culture emerged from Lake Titicaca and it is this rich history, as well as a fascination for the floating reed islands, that draws tourists to Puno.

Manuela’s home is made of layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake, which are tied together and crudely anchored.

Maintenance keeps the men busy because the lower layers eventually rot and require constant replenishment from the top. The result is a spongy feeling underfoot.

With limited resources comes versatility, and totora reeds are versatile all right. I’m gobsmacked as Manuela’s father strips a reed to reveal a leek-like stem that he then eats raw as a vegetable.

We’re told it’s also great for his teeth - they gleam white. I wonder, is it something that a toothpaste manufacturer will try to patent?

He offers us a taste, which we decline politely, having been warned that foreign stomachs may not cope with the bacteria that live in the reeds.

These same reeds not only form the base for the island, but the walls and roofs for locals’ sleeping quarters, beds, fuel for the fire and fibre for rope.

With hand gestures and lots of smiles Manuela’s father encourages my husband and me to have a look inside his home. It’s surprisingly cosy and inviting with handicrafts adorning the walls and across the bed.

No sooner do I whisper to my husband that it looks like something out of the Three Little Pigs than Manuela decides to have the last laugh. She encourages us both to dress up in the spare clothing pegged along the walls.

I can’t stop giggling as I place make-believe plaits around my neck and put on the traditional bowler hat to complete my outfit. Ed looks like something out of a cartoon.

We pose for the record - clearly they’ve learnt how to use a digital SLR camera. Manuela tugs at me to take the costume off because it’s time to have a look at her parents’ hand crafts which, of course, are available for sale.

INCAPABLE OF DROWNING

We can’t resist a detailed wall hanging that tells the harrowing history of the indigenous people of Peru. Centuries ago they were driven to the lake to escape the encroaching Inca tribes - now they’re known as the people incapable of drowning.

The starkness of the dried reeds against the turquoise sky lulls me into thinking it could be fun to live here, but the islanders’ bland diet, the tanned roughness of Manuela’s young skin and the reality of the cold nights at this altitude quickly bring me round.

Now it is time for a ride on a reed boat that resembles a Viking ship. The two four-year-olds leap on to the boat and run up and down collecting loose change in their hats from the passengers.

I can’t help but imagine the same scenario back home and the sound of nervous Kiwi mothers telling their children to sit down and to be careful as it is dangerous and that they could fall into the water.

There is no such concern here - the fathers seem oblivious to their daughters’ safety as they do their part to supplement the family income.

Uros now has its own school and the children from the 30 floating islands gather to learn Spanish and other skills which will potentially open a new world for their generation.

As our boat ride comes to an end the two girls make a last minute attempt to show how cute they are by singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in seven different languages.

As we motor our way back to Puno, the girls wave and call out, their beaming smiles etching a mark in my heart forever.

TIP: Ensure you buy fresh fruit in Puno to take with you - the variety of food is greatly appreciated by the families.

This article was reproduced with permission from The Dominion Post in New Zealand. Nicky travelled on the 13-day Inca Heartland trip.

Niki Schuck is a freelance journalist based in New Zealand, who fell in love with Peru, South America, on Peregrine’s 13-day Inca Heartland tour.

From a young age I have always had an absolute fascination for South America, especially Peru. Personally it’s the combination of the steeped history the continent and its people hold. Despite all the reading I had done it wasn’t until I completed the Inca Heartland tour with Peregrine that I truly appreciated just how special Peru is.

Known as one of the most developed cultures in the world, many of the Inca traditions remain interspersed with the influence of the Spanish invasion and the establishment of European traits.

At first glance I dismissed the capital Lima with its grey gloomy inversion layer which hangs for most of the year, but it’s a city which has pockets of stunning architecture including colonial wooden balconies and 17th century fountains. Local guides had my mind spinning with what the Plaza Mayor with its bright yellow 18th century buildings had seen over time. If you are into books and bones, don’t miss the Monasterio de San Francisco.

In just shy of two weeks I had my first (and definitely not my last) ‘pisco sour’, saw ruins that had me stopping dead in my tracks marvelling at their engineering and geographical feats, trekked the Inca Trail and watched the fog lift to reveal the mysterious Machu Picchu. I wandered the narrow cobbled streets of Cusco, breathed the air of the wide open spaces of the Sacred Valley and met the warm and friendly people whose homes made of reeds ebb and flow on the highest navigable lake in the world.

People ask me if I had a good trip and I have to smile to myself. When your mind is stimulated and your heart and soul soothed and warmed by the goodness of another culture, it’s definitely not just a trip — it’s a life-changing journey.

The Galapagos Islands offer a wildlife and wilderness experience like no other, and combining this with the culture and history of Cusco and the Sacred Valley in Peru provides a completely unique adventure.

Our new 15-day Galapagos with Cusco & the Sacred Valley trip explores the dramatic volcanic landscape and the bizarre and prolific wildlife of the Galapagos Islands onboard the 16-berth Peregrine Endeavour. The mysteries surrounding the Incan empire in Peru are then discovered in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, where we reach the ‘Lost City of Machu Picchu’ by train.

Our Galapagos with Cusco & the Sacred Valley trip has departures throughout the year from July 2009, visit our website for more details.

We are very excited to be able to now have on our website some amazing video’s for you to enjoy! These clips will give you a feeling for what our adventures are like. You will meet some of our incredible local leaders and see the highlights from some of our most popular destinations. From Jordan’s magnificent treasury building at Petra to getting up close with the humpback whales and penguins of the Antarctic, these are sure to inspire!

We’d like to know what you think our new videos. Send us your feedback and the five most useful comments will receive Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book!

Click on the destinations below to view the footage now!

Africa
From hearing the call of the lion in Tanzania to seeing the endangered gorillas of Rwanda up close, discover how you can ‘live East Africa’ on your next adventure.

India
From the back of a rickshaw in Delhi, to riding a camel into the deserts of Rajasthan or staying in a Nimaj palace, explore India with us.

Peru
From trekking the Inca trail, to the highest navigatable lake in the world or the mysterious Nazca lines, see what’s on offer in Peru.

Galapagos Islands and Ecuador
From the enchanted Galapagos Islands to the mighty Amazon jungle, uncover the highlights of amazing Ecuador.

Jordan
From enjoying a feast with the Bedouin nomads in the desert, to taking a dip in the Dead Sea or exploring stunning Petra, discover incredible Jordan.

Antarctica
Explore the pristine Antarctic Peninsula by ship, Zodiac, kayak and on foot.

The High Arctic
From the beauty of towering icebergs to spotting polar bears under the midnight sun, explore the Canadian and Scandinavian High Arctic.

New for 2008/09 in our Latin America program are the Peru and Galapagos combinations with dates that are specifically designed to see these two great destinations. With variations ranging from 17 to 31 days, there’s a trip to suit everyone’s holiday plans.

The concise 17-day Classic Peru and Galapagos starts with the many delights of Peru, including the ancient Inca city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a trek of the famous Inca Trail, before heading north where superb wildlife awaits on a 4-night Galapagos cruise.

In contrast, our 31-day Lima to La Paz & Galapagos pulls no punches with a comprehensive tour of three countries. Peru comes first with trips to see the remarkable Nasca Lines and the deepest canyon in the world – the Colca Canyon. From here it’s up onto the Altiplano and to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a 4-day Inca Trail trek. Bolivia beckons and after a quick stop at Lake Titicaca, we reach the heady heights of La Paz. All this is combined with an in-depth 7-night Galapagos cruise to round off a truly epic adventure.

If you’re looking for an extended trip through Latin America, then a Peru and Galapagos combination is a very good bet and we’ve got the trips you’re looking for!

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were seven amazing man-made creations – the list was put together by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C. Today only one of the Wonders remains standing – the pyramids at Giza in Egypt.

To ensure that our cultural heritage is cared for into the future, a new seven wonders have been selected – this time chosen by an international survey of over 100 million people. It’s an interesting list, representing times from ancient to modern. All of the sites are man-made and all are truly magnificent. And all of them can be seen as you travel with Peregrine. The New Seven Wonders of the World, as announced in July 2007, are:

The Inca city of Machu Picchu, Peru
Just about all of Peregrine’s Peru trips visit the amazing Incan city of Machu Picchu. You can take the spectacular four-day trek along the Inca Trail to arrive at Machu Picchu by foot at sunrise, or take the more leisurely option of a train ride up the mountain to visit the site by day.

The Great Wall of China, China
No trip to China is complete without visiting the Great Wall. With Peregrine you will visit an ancient, original section of the wall, or you can even choose to walk for five days along remote sections of the wall, to really appreciate the scale and beauty of this magnificent structure.

The ancient city of Petra, Jordan
Travelling through Jordan with Peregrine, you will be surprised by the size and complexity of the ancient city of Petra. With our local guide we explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several old tombs and climb up to the monastery for a fine view of the entire site.

The Mayan temple city of Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza, in Mexico, is a temple city that once served as the economic and political centre of Mayan civilisation. Its most famous structure is the temple of Kukulcan, a stepped pyramid, but the city includes many fantastic stone structures. To get the full picture of Mayan civilisation, join Peregrine’s Ancient Civilisations for a 23-day journey through Mexico and Central America.

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The newest of the new Seven Wonders, the 38-metre statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio, was inaugurated in 1931. You’ll visit the statue on any of our Brazil trips. While you are in Brazil it’s worth checking out the spectacular Iguazu Falls – a likely contender for the new list of Seven Natural Wonders!

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
The Colosseum was built as a stadium seating around 50,000 spectators, and the structure has remained as the basic design template for stadiums to this day. Explore Rome and visit this ancient wonder before heading off for the other sights of Italy – the Cinque Terre, rural Tuscany or the serene Italian Lakes.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
You need to see it for yourself to understand the majesty, grace and beauty of the Taj Mahal. The building itself, set amongst a stunning formal garden, is built from a translucent white marble inlaid with thousands of precious stones. A visit to the Taj is a must of any trip to India – on Peregrine’s Jewels of India, you’ll visit the Taj at sunrise to fully appreciate its beauty.

For hundreds of years before the arrival of the Spanish, the Incas ruled the Andes. It is well known that they did so without the invention of the wheel, or taming of beasts of burden. All that was at their disposal in terms of easing their load were their trusted llamas, that could only carry up to 40 kilograms. To witness the magnitude of the Inca empire and the grandeur and impossible architecture of their temples and cities offer a insight into the resourcefulness of this incredible civilisation.

Peregrine’s 8-day Llanganuco llama Trek is a superb high-level trek into the beautiful Cordillera Blanca region of the Andes. The Cordillera Blanca promises some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the world. And what better way to trek than with the help of llamas, the traditional pack animal of the ancient Incas. Carrying light loads these colourful animals make a real contribution to your trekking holiday, as well as affording us a unique insight into the ways of the Inca civilisation.

Leaving Lima we head for the climbing centre of Huaraz where a short trek to Honqopampa allows the body to begin its acclimatisation process. We meet our trekking party in the town of Cashapampa where we load up the llamas and take to the mountain trails. The next four days will lead us into the very heart of the Andes. Our highest point on the trek is reached at Punta Union (4750m). All around, magnificent mountains tower above us - Santa Cruz (6259m), Huandoy (6395m), and the towering sentinel of Mount Huascaran (6768m), the second highest mountain in the Americas. As we descend down through the mountain valleys we have excellent views of the beautiful Llanganuco Lakes from which this amazing trek receives its name.

If you like to combine your trekking with a bit of tradition and history - then this could be the choice for you!

If you are looking to really experience a country and immerse yourself in its culture, it can be very challenging when travelling with kids. David Gibbons, father of two young boys, Sam, 12, and Harry, nine, was recently interviewed by Australia’s leading family travel magazine, Holidays with Kids, about his family’s time away with Peregrine.

David says he was attracted to Peregrine’s family adventures by the opportunity to share an adventurous holiday with his boys. They initially chose to travel on Peregrine’s 14-day Vietnam Coastal Explorer, which took them to bustling Saigon, the Mekong Delta, Nha Trang’s offshore islands, ancient Hoi An, French-colonial Hanoi and Halong Bay. Action packed days for the family included boat cruising, snorkelling, cooking class, water puppet show and an overnight stay with a local family.

The Gibbons enjoyed their adventure in Vietnam so much that they joined Peregrine’s Inca Explorer in Peru that same year. Exploring the Sacred Valley and visiting the Machu Picchu ruins were among the highlights for the family. A recent addition to this itinerary is a visit to the Peru’s Challenge Community Project, dedicated to helping some of Peru’s poorest children, which is a poignant and important experience for parents and kids alike.

According to David, both trips introduced the kids to some amazing cultures. The bonus, he says, was that he didn’t have to organise the travel and accommodation. He believes that both tours were excellent value for money; in fact he found them cheaper than similar holidays within Australia. He also appreciated that the accommodation was in distinctive local properties that gave his family a real insight into the country. Harry and Sam loved travelling with the other children on the tour, as there was always someone with whom to spend time.

David also spoke highly of the local guides, saying they were great with the kids and able to amuse the youngsters during any dull moments. David says that the next stop for his adventurous family is Egypt and the pyramids.