CNX - Cycle Machu Picchu to the Amazon

Level of Difficulty

The Cycle Machu Picchu to the Amazon Challenge is graded as Tough. A good level of fitness and regular training is required for this challenge. The more prepared you are for this challenge, the more you will enjoy it. This challenge will be perfect for keen cyclists, who want to push themselves to the extreme. You can tell your supporters that during your Cycle Machu Picchu to Amazon challenge you will be:

• Cycling an average of 50km-65km per day at high altitude
• Taking on several long steep continuous hills - the longest is a continuous stretch of approximately 35km of ascent
• Camping each night after the daily ride with no home comforts to look forward to
• Battling changing weather conditions from the windy coldy mountain tops, to the warm and wet cloud forest

Typical Day

During the cycling days you rise early and pack up camp after breakfast, then cycle with only your daypack. You can keep this in the support vehicle if you wish. There will be a lunch stop on route. There will be plenty of time to stop and view the remarkable scenery. The evenings are spent in beautifully located camps in the shadows of nearby mountain peaks, where the facilities are fairly good.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. In a nutshell, Our Challenge Safe brand (link to Challenge Safe page on new website) formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the activity itself. Your welfare is paramount!

In terms of your Cycle Machu Picchu to the Amazon Challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

• The route is quite exposed, with almost no shade, and on sunny days the temperatures can soar. You should ideally be wearing sun cream, and hydrating constantly throughout the ride!
• You will be cycling at altitude throughout, which may have an affect on certain medical conditions
• The brakes on your bike will be the opposite way to normal. Be aware of this and ensure that you test them softly in order to become accustomed before starting the ride.
• You will be cycling on some dirt roads, but also tarmac roads that can have more car users. Remember that in Peru you will be cycling on the right, and always signal when turning.
• Smoke alarms are not a legal requirement in Peru, and as such some of the hotels we use do not have them in place. Your leader will explain the emergency fire procedures to you.

Responsible Tourism

It is our aim to make your challenge experience unforgettable. We also wish to contribute positively towards the communities and the destinations that we visit.

On your trek to Machu Picchu we commit to the following:

Wherever possible using local leaders and support staff:

Your challenge leader for your Machu Picchu trek will be a local, well trained and knowledgeable professional leader. All our leaders for this challenge are either native from or long term residents of Peru. This will ensure that you not only will have a much higher level of engagement with the local culture, but also knowledge of the environment, local ways of living, history and experiences from the locals.
During your cycle you will pass through lots of communities. We support these communities by asking our ground handlers to employ support staff straight from them. For example, the local chefs will be providing you with delicious meal after your hard day of cycling. Not only does this ensure that the money is going straight back into the community but it also means you can learn so much more from them about their culture and lives. We also camp on lands owned by the community and pay them fees. This allows them to improve their campsites by building public bathrooms and showers and therefore supporting local sustainable businesses.
The support of our local staff does not stop after your challenge has finished. Our ground handler provides annual training on safety, group management, environmental protection management, and First Aid. This continued support throughout the year empowers our local leaders and helps to keep them up to date with best practice.

Using local produce and reducing our plastic footprint:

In order to have the freshest food and the best water we source it along the way from the local areas /campsites / communities. Where possible you will have delicious potatoes and trout fished from the fresh flowing rivers. The fresh water cuts down our use of plastic bottles, and of course all this fresh water will help you to stay hydrated.

Flights

You will be flying from London Heathrow Airport to Cusco. The journey will take approx. 16 hours including stops. Your flight tickets will be e-mailed to you before departure. If you choose to book your own flights you must confirm with the Charity Challenge office before paying otherwise you may be liable for your included group flights (please contact flights@charitychallenge.com for further assistance).

If flying with LATAM via Madrid, Madrid airport conducts strict security checks regarding hand luggage.

At Lima airport please ensure that you collect your luggage from the luggage belt as you will have to clear customs and then re-check it in for your domestic flight.

Visa & Permits

Visa

British citizens do not require a visa for Peru. When entering Peru, participants will be asked to fill out a white embarkation card. This piece of paper is very important. You cannot leave the country without a copy; however, if you do happen to lose it you are able to buy another for a small fee on departure. Ensure your entry stamp is legible as it is required by hotels for the exoneration of Peruvian tax. You must hold a full ten-year passport with at least six months to run from the end of your challenge, and at least one blank page for your visa and entry/exit stamps.

Permits

Inca Trail Passes: please note that for this challenge you need an Inca pass to complete the last day of trekking. There are only a limited amount of passes printed for each day. In order to purchase them for you, please try and book onto the challenge as early as possible with passport details that will be correct on your chosen date of departure. Should your passport details change, your pass will NOT be valid and we may not be able to secure another one. If you book onto the challenge late we cannot guarantee that we will be able to secure a pass for you. You will be advised on booking if this is the case and you may choose an alternative departure date, or we can talk you through alternative arrangements that we can make.

Please note that Inca Trail passes are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you choose to transfer your challenge to a later date, you will be charged the cost of the Inca Pass.

Insurance

It is a condition of booking that you have a suitable travel insurance policy whilst participating on the challenge. We have a special policy which covers among other things, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, cancellation and curtailment of the challenge, and more specifically for the adventurous activities undertaken on this challenge.

If you have your own travel insurance policy, you must ensure that it provides at least the same level of cover as our recommended policy, including protecting the charity in the event of your cancellation 56 days or less prior to departure. If you choose not to purchase our recommended policy when you book we will send you a disclaimer which you should complete and return.

For more general travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page.

Vaccinations & Medication

Vaccinations
For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting so it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication
•    carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled container, as issued by the pharmacist, in hand luggage
•    consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage
•    a letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required
•    carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications
•    take out an appropriate level of travel health insurance including repatriation and specific cover for any pre-existing illnesses
N.B.  Some medications are banned abroad so please check you can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

Climate & Terrain

Climate

Peru's climate has two seasons – wet and dry – though the weather varies depending on the geographical region. In the Andes there is a dry season (April to October) and a wet season (mid November to March). The average temperature throughout the year goes from 8.5°C (June to August) to 10.8°C (September to May). In the Andes the temperature can drop up to 15º from day to night-time, especially at higher altitudes.  As the trip goes from the Andes to the rainforest you can expect to experience all different types of weather and should be suitably equipped to cover this. Temperatures can likely to go below freezing at night especially at campsites and during the day will be relatively warm making for pleasant hiking weather. Expect some rain, hot sunshine, humid jungle conditions, as well as dry, cold high altitude conditions.

Terrain

You will be cycling through different geographical zones and the terrain will vary. During the first days the terrain will be mountainous with long steep uphill sections. Once you reach the cloud forest the scenery will change and the terrain will still be undulating. Some days you will be cycling on main roads.

Training

Training and fitness is definitely required. It is important that you work specifically on your stamina, leg and joint strength, and balance in order to get as much out of the challenge as possible. The cycle takes place in a hilly environment, so the best training advice is to get outdoors and do some long cycles in the hills around your area. Try and cycle for at least 2 consecutive days in the run-up to the challenge, and if you can do any more this will also really help. Although you will be able to put all of your equipment on the support vehicle during the challenge, it’s a good idea to train while carrying a bag or panniers, in order to make it easier for yourself when you no longer need to carry the weight.

Luggage Allowance & Valuables

As no formal clothes are needed, luggage should be kept to the absolute minimum – details of what to pack are provided in your Kit List. Your main kit bag, or rucksack, must not exceed 23kgs in weight, but for the five days you are away from Cusco you can safely store any excess kit as you will be provided with a separate kit bag for the time you are cycling. Each day, your personal kit will be transported by vehicle to your next campsite, where it will be waiting for you on arrival. You will carry a daypack for your daily needs such as sun cream, water, camera and lightweight waterproofs. For any valuables, safe deposit boxes are usually provided in Cusco and Aguas Calientes for guests’ use in the hotels, but will not be available while camping. Use a padlock on your luggage when in transit to reduce any risks.
While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces and rings. You must take your passport with you during the cycle. It should be kept in a plastic bag to protect it from damp or water damage.

Leadership

We employ a number challenge leaders, all of whom speak fluent English, as well as local GP's. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Group Size

Each group is intended to be a minimum of 16 people in order to run and a maximum of 25 people. We will be able to run this challenge for 10 to 15 people by charging a small group supplement of £75 which will be added to your final balance invoice (self funders) or charged to your charity (minimum sponsorship or flexi).

Clothing & Equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, waterproof, well-worn in boots will be indispensable, particularly coupled with some really good quality walking socks. You don’t need a clean pair every day, but enough to make sure you have dry socks each morning. The benefits of a comfortable day sack cannot be underestimated, so make sure that you train with this. Other essentials are high quality gore-tex waterproof and windproof jackets and trousers, and technical/wicking t-shirts rather than cotton shirts. Walking poles are also recommended, as a preventative as well as for anyone with any pre-existing leg injuries or niggles. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here, and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners Outdoorhire, Cotswold Outdoor and Cycle Surgery.

Accommodation & Toilets

Accommodation

In Cusco the accommodation will be in a 3 star standard hotel. In Ollantaytambo you will stay in a 1-2 star family run hostel. During the cycle you will camp in spacious two person tents. If you would like your own room / tent, this can be arranged but there will be a single room supplement. Please let Charity Challenge know if you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with.

Toilets

Toilet tents are supplied during the challenge. They are set up near the campsite at specific locations away from watercourses. Toilet paper is provided. You will be provided with warm water for washing. A portable toilet will be set up at all meal stops and camps. During the cycling days they will be some toilet stops organized along the way.

Food & Drink

The meals we provide are nutritionally balanced and well suited to the environment and altitude. Breakfast will usually include cereals, bread, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. Lunches will either be in the form of a packed lunch given out at breakfast to be carried in the daypack, provided in a mess tent set up along the route or taken in a local restaurant. Dinner always includes a soup/starter, main course and a dessert. The vegetarian food is excellent. Please let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.

Money

Currency: Peru uses the Sol as its currency, USD$ are also widely used. For up to date currency exchange, go to www.xe.com. You should ideally bring a combination of Soles and dollars, or bring dollars that you can change into Soles on arrival in Peru.

Credit Cards: Credit cards are welcomed in Cusco (Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express), but take cash for small towns or pueblos. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants.

ATMs: You will find ATMs in Cusco, located in the airport, the city centre or near banks.

How much to bring: You will not need a large amount of money during this trip, as most expenses are included. You should only need money for tips, food & drink (additional), gifts and souvenirs. There are a wide range of souvenirs to buy, including rugs, ponchos, and jewellery. On average around £150- £200 + a credit card in case of an emergency, should suffice. Keep in mind that, other than at the start and end of the trip, you will be in the mountains away from any foreign exchanges or banks. We therefore recommend that you carry some cash. You will mainly need soles and just enough dollars in small denominations for the staff tips for this trip.

Tipping: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend the equivalent of approx. US$10 per person per day (approx $70) in Peruvian Soles (ideally in small denominations), and this should be given to the challenge leader during the trek who will distribute it among the support team, including guides, assistant guides cooks, and porters.

Phone & WiFi

During your stay in Cusco and Aguas Calientes you will have good wi-fi access and phone signal. On camping days there will be no wi-fi and phone signal will be extremely limited.

Emergencies

The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people’s walking abilities. This is allowed for. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that you are not left behind and can take things at your own pace. In the event of an emergency all guides and leaders maintain contact via radio, with mules available and the support vehicle not far away. If somebody is unable to walk at all, then we can transport him or her from one location to the next.