Seventeen Sixth Form pupils from Oundle School enjoyed a challenging trip to Peru over the summer.
Upon arrival, after acclimatising to the altitude at 3600m, the pupils were given time to explore the chaotic street markets, where several of them enjoyed bartering for colourful ‘traditional’ Peruvian trousers. The group also had time to visit numerous attractions around Cusco including an alpaca farm, Cristo Blanco and the first Inca ruins of many, where they had the delight of being blessed by Patcha Mama (Mother Earth) in a rather hands-on religious ceremony.
Pupil, Chris Bird (17) commented, “When signing up for the Peru trip I was unsure what to expect and so upon arrival it is fair to say that I, along with my fellow Oundelians, was blown away by what greeted us. We could hardly wait to disembark the aircraft before starting to take photos of the rugged mountains that surrounded the condensed, bustling city of Cusco, where we were to stay for three nights before starting our journey of the Inca Trail.”
Three days after first setting foot in Peru it was time for the pupils to start their trek, a daunting prospect for many of them.
Chris added, “The four-day hike was truly an unforgettable experience. From the heights of Dead Woman’s Pass to the rainforest of valleys below, none of us tired of the stunning scenery. Nestled in the mountains were a seemingly never-ending amount of Inca ruins about which our guides didn’t cease to entertain us, even at our most exhausted.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip came whilst sat atop a mountain shrouded in cloud, when the guide whipped out a panpipe like instrument and proceeded to play the Titanic theme. An event that was met by bewildered laughter from the pupils and staff.”
On the final morning of the hike, after trekking for an hour or so, the group arrived at the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu as the sun just rose above the mountains. After spending the rest of the morning exploring the ancient city, the group descended into Aguas Calientes for some pizza and a dip in the hot springs before catching the train back to Cusco.
Chris concluded, “The trip was all over too soon and as we reminisced over the past ten days it was clear that our time in deepest darkest Peru would not be easily forgotten.”
Trip Leader and Head of Economics, Oliver Butterworth commented, “This was a fantastic trip that brought together a group of seventeen pupils from the Sixth Form – many of whom did not know each other well beforehand. There was a wealth of cultural benefits derived from such an experience – not least in the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco but also, of course, on the trek itself seeing the ruins with all their spiritual secrets unveiled.
The trip was more about taking on the challenge than any direct educational benefit. Most of the pupils left their comfort zone at some stage and learnt more about themselves and their personal capabilities. Perhaps this was the education.”