Friends and Family,
Elijah and I are leaving in about two weeks for our Peru adventure. The following post has information that we've been sent that I thought might be of interest. We'll continue to post throughout!
Our Flight leaves June 11th from JFK.
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Name of volunteers: Mackenzie Bartlett and Elijah Douglass
Volunteering Period: From June 14th until July 16th - 5 WEEKS
Project requested: Healthcare Program
General Project Information:
Centro de Salud San Sebastian
Medical Employees- 13
Patients- indigenous and local people; 300/day
We're working Monday-Friday from 8AM-1PM
"Depending on your medical experience and Spanish language skills you will be asked to assist with various procedures and
being involved in the daily procedures of medical centers – observing or directly providing various sorts of assistance to
existing doctors and nurses.
Volunteers may also be expected to assist in maintaining files, providing assistance to the reception desk as well as in
nurseries, routine patient check-ups, measure blood pressure, body temperature, record patients' height, weight, and more.
You will also assist the doctors and staff in any emergency cases in the center.
Note: Volunteers are provided roles as an assistant. They cannot perform andy major operations, surgeries or major
diagnosis."
Home stay:
Address: Calle Los Alamos Q1-16B
San Sebastian-District
Host Mother Elizabeth Sucnier; 2 children
We will be fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Monday-Saturday
HIKING:
We are also hiking to Machu Picchu on the Salkantey Trail starting July 16th
(Pardon the English- I think they used a translator)
Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek 5d/4n
Day 1 Cusco – Soray, camp.
On the first day we leave Cusco early and drive to the sub-tropical town of Mollepata (2,800 metres), situated in a citrus growing area. It is common to hear flocks of screeching parakeets as we trek northwards. It is here that we meet up with our mules that will carry our gear. As we begin our trek the mountains and valleys open up around us, and we catch our first glimpse of the snow-capped peak of Humantay (5,917 metres). The path winds through the mountains growing gradually steeper until we reach our lunch spot, and the chance to cool down near the fresh mountain stream. After lunch we follow a gentler path towards today's destination, the five family hamlet of Soray at 3500 metres, a distance of approximately 16 km, and 7-8 hours walk. We camp in the valley at the foot of the towering peaks of Humantay and Salkantay (6,271 metres).
Day 2 Soray – Chaullay, camp.
On the second day we wake up early and head towards our target, the pass at 4,830 metres, between Salkantay and Humantay, which is the highest point on our trek. We walk through the valley for an hour before the path begins its ascent. A series of switchbacks take us to the highest point which is dotted with small piles of stones, or apachetas, left by locals and travelers to honour the mountain gods. From this point we can see glaciers on the mountains on either side of us. This is a tough but spectacular day's walking. Our descent takes us through very different landscapes from screes, to high puna glasslands and finally to the beginning of the cloud forest, in Spanish appropriately named ‘ceja de selva’ - literally ‘eyebrow of the jungle’. 7-8 hours walking.
Day 3 Chaullay - Santa Teresa, camp.
On the third day we continue to descend through a verdant landscape, where there is a good chance of seeing exotic birds and animals. We take a welcome break at the natural hot springs by the edge of our path. The ice cold mountain river running alongside provides sharp contrast to the warm relaxing water of the springs. Fully revitalised, we continue on to the village of La Playa. Here we meet our transport which takes us to our campsite near the small railtrack town of Santa Teresa. 7-8 hours walking.
Day 4 Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes, hostel.
Today we cross the river Vilcanota by cable car. This is the river that flows past Machu Picchu and we follow it throughout the day to the railtrack town of Aguas Calientes. On the way we get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu, perched high on top of the mountain. Arriving in Aguas Calientes we have the chance of a welcome dip in the hot springs, before our celebration dinner. We spend the night in a hostel. 6-7 hours walking.
Day 5 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu – Cusco, hotel.
On the final day of our expedition we visit Machu Picchu. We walk or take the first bus to the site to arrive just as the sun is rising. Here we will have a guided tour of approximately 2 hours. Then we have time to explore the mysterious remains on our own before returning to Aguas Calientes for lunch and the late afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco.
Our flight home leaves on the 21st of July.
