Posts Tagged ‘Peru’

Peru – Machu Picchu!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

PLAY it Forward’s largest group just returned from Peru on an amazing 10-day adventure.  This was our first trip to the Sacred Valley region of Peru and it couldn’t have gone better!  We started off in the village of Taray to work at an elementary school.  Taray had been badly hit by the mudslides in January.  Many people lost their homes and had to relocate to tents in the neighboring town of Pisaq.  Our wonderful group of sixteen sojourners worked hard to build school furniture for the children and clear brush to plant new trees for a fresh beginning.  We played harder though, swinging kids around, getting chased, and shared laughs even though we didn’t share a language.

Saying goodbye was hard to do, but after many thanks and hugs of gratitude we parted from our new friends and headed to the town of Lares to continue our adventure.  We spent three days and two nights trekking in the Andes Mountains.  Though we were exhausted and sore, everyone made it to the top at 15,000 feet!  Huffing and puffing seemed to immediately cease as you took your first glance at the other side; looking down on a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains made the struggle all worthwhile.  Nothing makes a group bond faster than sharing this major accomplishment together, and not to mention the enjoyable nights huddled together in the dining tent.

Our adventure did not end there!  We all checked off our bucket lists as we spent the final day together at Machu Picchu.  This world wonder left us all in awe as we stood on the grounds of a hidden Incan community surrounded by lush jungles and vast mountain ranges on all sides.  We explored the mysterious complex and a few of us even ventured to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain to overlook the grandeur from almost 2,000 feet higher than the Incan city.

A very spiritual place, it was a great ending to an extremely meaningful and all-encompassing trip.  Despite the size of our group, we all came together as strangers and made 15 new friends who shared a unique experience together.  The group is already in the stages of planning a reunion.

group jump

Thanks everyone for an amazing trip!

Nikki Williams

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Mudslides in Peru

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I am sure that many of you have heard of the mudslides in the Cusco region of Peru, more familiarly known as the Machu Picchu area.  The news reported the large amount of tourists that were stranded.  It was on the news for maybe a couple days, but lives are affected forever. This is a very important issue, as there were thousands of tourists trapped with minimal food and water.  However, what was harder to find, was information regarding the thousands of Peruvians that had lost their homes.  Here are some of the facts of the mudslide:

Machu Picchu is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Latin America, attracting more than 400,000 visitors a year. The 15th-century Inca fortress is located on a high mountain ridge 40 miles from Cusco. A railway that transports tourists to the site was covered by a mudslide. Normally the wet season in this region ranges from December to February. However, this year they started in early November and in the first few weeks of January they were the heaviest they’ve been in 15 years. The rivers in the Cusco region have swollen and burst their banks flooding adjacent low-lying villages and causing damage to bridges and the railway line between Aguas Calientes (the town closet to Machu Picchu) and Ollantaytambo (in the Sacred Valley). Many areas of the railway, which is the only mode of transportation between the two cities, have been severely damaged and some wiped out all together. Homes, bridges, fields, and roads have been very hard hit, affecting people’s livelihoods dramatically.  The homes of over 2,000 people in poor rural areas — many of them riverside dwellings made of clay and straw — had been destroyed or damaged. Another 12,000 people were affected to a lesser degree, losing possessions or suffering property damage. Most of the damage has happened in the southern valley of the Cusco region. Especially right now with Machu Picchu being closed and tourism near zero, many people are suffering from lack of work as well.

PLAY it Forward was very alarmed to hear of this news, not only because we have a scheduled trip this May, but also because we are concerned for the well-being of people around the world.  Donations are always nice. However, because we prefer hands-on, tangible ways to help, we will be helping in the disaster relief. Continuing to give back in the places we play.

Nikki Williams

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PERU AMAZON ADVENTURE 2009

Monday, July 6th, 2009

The first trip to the Amazon in Peru was a great success. We had a wonderful group of travelers. When asked what stood out to them most in Peru, connecting with the friendly and welcoming people of the Amazon is the main thought across the board from the PIF Peru Sojourners. This, of course, is followed by the beautiful scenery and sounds and the chance to experience something new every day. This group may have arrived as strangers, but we definitely left as friends. The group had a great time working in the Amazonian villages, cruising the beautiful river, and trekking through the lush Rain Forest. After an amazing trip, it is always nice coming home knowing you get to share your experiences with your family and friends.

peru-group

peru-service-project

 


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Improving Sanitation in the Amazon

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

PLAY it Forward sojourners will be traveling south of the equator to play and reach those in need in the Amazon Jungle. The amazing and beautiful Amazon has tons to offer with immense wildlife, ziplining the forest canopy, and canoeing the Amazon River. But no adventure would be complete without giving back!

The flow of tourists and markets coming in and the waste they bring presents a problem to the small villages in the Amazon. With no garbage system, the locals throw the waste into the natural environment. This solution is not only harming the environment, but also causing health problems for the villagers. Garbage pile-up draws insects and causes disease to spread. PLAY it Forward will be working with a local non-profit organization in the Tahuayo River area. Sojourners will be educating locals and implementing a sanitation system, one village at a time. As a result, these efforts will improve health and environment conditions. Teaching children about the importance of proper sanitation from a young age is critical if the Amazon wishes to keep things under control.

Join us on our Peruvian Amazon adventure! Family trips also available! Check out http://www.pifadventures.com/trips/peru-amazon for more information.


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PLAY it Forward now offering family adventures!

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009


Looking for a fun and active way to vacation with your family?  How about a travel adventure with a humanitarian center?

PLAY it Forward provides active outdoor adventures combined with volunteerism for a truly all-encompassing travel experience.  Share unique experiences, trekking through the Peru Amazon or hiking volcanoes in Guatemala.  Connect with your family in a way unlike any other when you work side-by-side with locals to improve their lifestyle and make a lasting impression on a community.

Join us on the Amazon Playground Tour (kids ages 7+) or the Guatemala Playground Tour (kids ages 10+) this holiday season, December 27, 2009 through January 2, 2010.

Space is limited!  Schedule your adventure today!

Check out www.pifadventures.com/trips/peru-amazon or www.pifadventures.com/trips/guatemala for a sample itinerary.

Call 651-493-8817 for a detailed 7-day itinerary and book your trip.

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