Nazca Lines 02-03-2010

Inca Trail 22-02-2010

Nazca Lines Peru
02-03-2010

Hello Everyone,

I am writing now to advise you of an incident in Peru which we feel affects any of you considering undertaking the optional Nazca Lines flight on your trip with us.

Unfortunately last week there was a plane crash with one of the companies operating these flights. All seven people on board including the pilot were killed. Should you wish to see an article regarding the crash you can do so here:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=352962&CategoryId=14095

We feel it is important that we make you aware of this incident, so that you may take it into account when deciding whether to do this activity. Each person on a trip with us needs to make their own judgements as to the risks involved with any of the optional activities available, as a degree of risk is unavoidable with adventurous activities and you must be comfortable with this before deciding to undertake any of them.

For our part we feel that we must be cautious in response to this incident, especially in light of the fact that the official investigation is only just beginning. We do not have access to substantiated evidence of the cause of the crash, and we are not in a position to make a technical judgement about the safety of these flights without any official source of advice and information. With this is mind, please be aware that we are currently recommending against anyone undertaking this flight, with any company. All of the companies are overseen by the same authority, and we have no way of knowing if any issues relate solely to the company involved in this incident.

Should anyone decide that they wish to undertake this activity in spite of our advice then we will not seek to prevent you, and the truck will make a stop at Nazca for those who wish to do so. However we ask you to think carefully about this activity, and ensure that you are making an informed choice in full knowledge of the risks.

I am sorry if this incident causes disappointment for anyone who was planning to undertake this flight who now feels differently, but as ever our primary concern is for your safety and welfare so we thought it important that you were informed in this matter.

Please let me know if you have any questions

Best Wishes

Andy

Inca Trail after the rain.
22-02-2010

Hello Everyone,

I really hope that you are looking forward to your up and coming trip to South America… really not long to go now!

I am writing to let you know of an unavoidable change we are making to your trip. As many of you will know, Peru recently experienced some severe weather storms and rainfall, resulting in some massive mud-slides and floods. You may have seen the coverage of tourists stranded at Machu Picchu in the news. As well as the effect on tourists, there was a devastating effect on local communities, with some villages now completely uninhabitable. There were sadly also some loss of lives. The Peruvian government is working hard to deal with the effects of these storms, both in terms of helping the local people as well as getting the usual tourists facilities up and running again, as these are of vital importance to the national and local economies.

Putting the terrible effects for local people aside for now, one of the biggest tasks in terms of tourism is repairing the rail-track which is used by people on their return from Machu Picchu to Cusco. Several large sections of this have been washed away entirely. The work has already started, but will take some time. The Government authority which oversees the Inca Trail has decided under the circumstances that the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu itself will be closed for the month of March. This unfortunately means that there is no chance that you will be able to visit Machu Picchu, or take the Classic Inca Trail, as originally planned. There is regrettably no way around this, as the passage of tourists is tightly controlled by the authorities, for their own safety. Our usual alternative trails that some travellers request both end at Machu Picchu as well, so will not be possible either.

Whilst I appreciate that this news may be disappointing for many of you, I would ask you not to loose heart. We know that the Inca Trail Trek is a highlight for many people and this is why we have been working hard with our local operator and are very pleased to be able to offer a fantastic alternative. I genuinely believe this alternative to be equal to the Classic Trail and Machu Picchu, and in many ways superior.

The alternative trek is called the Choquequirao Trek. It is five days in total, so already you have one more day than you would have had on the Classic Trail (at no extra cost). The highlight of this trail is the Inca ruins at Choquequirao itself. These ruins are actually more extensive than the ruins at Machu Picchu, and in fact excavation and archaeological work is ongoing, so more is still being even to this day. As well as seeing these ruins at sunrise, you will have the day there exploring with your guide, (in fact you will have longer here than you would have had at the ruins at Machu Picchu). The trek itself is through some really stunning surroundings. Horses will accompany you on your trek, and will carry the tents and other gear that you will need for camping. Meals will be prepared by your porters for you. This trek is of roughly the same level of intensity as the Classic Trail.

Another bonus of this particular trek and trail is that it is less well known than the Classic Trail, and hence the ruins are less well known as well. As I am sure you are all aware, Machu Picchu has been very well marketed, and has established itself as one of the best known tourist attractions in South America. However, we believe that there are other places as yet relatively unkown & undiscovered by tourists which offer just as rewarding an experience and opportunity to do something different and out of the ordinary from that to which most other tourists will have done.

As part of our expeditions we aim to get off the beaten track and find the more unusual to which many other travellers do not have the opportunity for, and as such we feel that this fits in well with those aims. Of course we can understand that there may be some initial disappointment with not being able to visit Machu Picchu, but please remember that the events which have led to this change are totally out of our control. I would ask you to have a look at the attached itinerary, and prepare yourself for what will hopefully be a real highlight of your trip. We look forward to hearing your stories, and seeing the photos.

Stepping back to the issues regarding the local communities, some of you have asked about the possibility of assisting the local people in some way. We do support a local charity in Cusco which benefits the local communities where many of the porters who make your trekking possible come from, and should you wish to make a donation they would be gratefully received (your tour leader can organise this for you if you wish).

Once again, I apologise for the change, as we appreciate any alteration can be disappointing, but we hope that you will be able to look forward to the alternative in a positive manner, and that you will have a really great experience.

If you have any questions please just let me know.

Kind Regards

Andy