After two flights and thirteen hours of travelling, entering Peru was like stepping into another world, a place where nothing quite seemed real. The air felt different, and everywhere we looked stood something new to take in. Our trip to Peru had officially begun, and I don’t think any of us could have imagined just how much we would truly learn, see and experience in the days ahead.
The first part of our trip took us to the world of Cusco, the tourist capital of Peru, where we wandered through vibrant markets flowing with colour and vivacity. Shimmering Incan jewellery, handmade instruments and alpaca ponchos surrounded us, each piece a small treasure reflecting centuries of Peruvian history and art. We watched the city of Cusco unfurl around us as we began our bus tour, the alpaca farm where we took part in a traditional ritual, and tranquil churches covered in gold, offering a glimpse into the beauty of a culture that existed on the other side of the world from us, yet felt closer than ever.
After growing accustomed to the sights and sounds of Peru, we began the next phase of our trip: volunteering, where we not only saw the culture of South America, but became a part of it. We were introduced to the concept of Green Heroes, a charity based in Urubamba intent on educating children and adults on environmental issues and sustainable living. Despite some of us being able to speak only a little Spanish, we found that we were able to establish a genuine connection with the children at the local primary schools, who greeted us with so much love and excitement. As we helped them grow gardens and played alongside them, it was incredibly beautiful knowing that the happiness they felt that day would grow into something everlasting. Our volunteering journey ended with a riverside cleanup, where we soon discovered that removing plastic from the trunks of trees was no easy task!
Next came the hardest part of the trip, the part that some of us had been training for, for weeks, even months prior to the expedition- The Salkantay Trek. Surrounded by ice-capped mountains and hiking around 4,650 metres above sea level through snow and rain, that was when we truly missed the glamour and luxury of home. Even so, what motivated us to continue was that feeling of accomplishment when we reached the top of the Salkantay Pass, knowing that we had made it and that we could achieve almost anything. As we camped out at the highest altitude some of us had ever reached, staring at the countless stars in the night sky, there was a feeling so surreal, like everything we had been through had led to that moment, a moment that we might never experience again. It was very special.
After a relaxing and well-deserved visit to the Hot Springs at Cocalmayo, we finally reached the highlight of the trip: Machu Picchu. Catching a train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), we recovered from our hike by spending the afternoon wandering through local markets. The next morning, we set off to explore The Lost City of the Incas – a new wonder of the world that was just as breathtaking as we had imagined.
On the penultimate day of our expedition to Peru, we faced one final challenge, and perhaps the greatest yet: climbing over 5,000 metres above sea level to reach Rainbow Mountain. The altitude pushed us to our limits, but standing at the summit, surrounded by streaks of colour and mesmerising views, it felt like the perfect end to a journey we would never forget.
A huge thank you to Miss Woods for making this trip possible, Miss McKee for supporting us throughout, and for Mark and the team in Peru who helped to make it such an incredible experience.
Harmani (Lower Sixth)
