IF your New Year’s resolution happens to be to embark on a four-day trek in South America to reach the ruins of a historic Native American mountainside city once thought to be lost – then you could be in luck.
The Isle of Man Children’s Centre is looking for adventurous souls to take part in a fundraising expedition to Peru in November, which will include following the original Inca trail to the long-lost city of Machu Picchu.
The charity ran a similar scheme in 2009, and a group of 33 Manx residents partook in the Peruvian experience. Elly Duchars and her husband Peter were among them.
‘Walking through the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time is an amazing experience – no photograph can convey what it’s like to see it in person,’ said Elly.
She added: ‘But the other great thing I remember about the Inca Trail trip was the camaraderie and support from the other members of the group. We all supported each other along the way and everyone in our group will carry forever a tiny piece of Peru in our hearts.’
Machu Picchu was built in around 1450 and is believed to have been uninhabited by 1572, in the wake of the arrival of Spanish conquistadores under Francisco Pizarro in 1532 and the subsequent collapse of the vast Inca empire, which had stretched right along the Andes mountains from Chile to Ecuador.
Machu Picchu was only brought to the attention of the outside world in 1911, following its ‘discovery’ by the US explorer Hiram Bingham, and it is now a familiar icon of the Inca empire. It remains an important archaeological example of classical Inca culture, as the site remained undisturbed throughout the Spanish conquest.
Anyone interested in taking part in the 2012 trip should attend a launch evening at The Children’s Centre, in Woodbourne Road, Douglas, on February 15 at 6pm.
Mark Eastham, fundraising co-ordinator for The Children’s Centre, said: ‘This year’s Inca Trail trek begins on November 1 and will be a nine-day trip with four days of walking. We are expecting a high level of interest this year and would urge anyone who missed out last time to sign up as soon as possible.’
He added super-fitness isn’t required – a lady in her 60s completed the 2009 trip – and guidance and advice will be available leading up to, and during, the trek. Anyone wishing to attend the launch event on February 15 must register in advance by emailing {mailto:markeastham@thechildrenscentre.org.im|markeastham(at)thechildrenscentre.org.im} or call Mark on 01624 631917. Alternatively, sign up for the challenge by going to {http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im.thechildrenscentre.org.im}.