
-Day 12 of the Trip-
On July 1st, 2024, the group woke in the remote Andean community of Cancha-Cancha. This community, which is only accessible by a hike, is so small it has no school of its own. A cloudy sky contrasted the incredible starry sky of the previous night. After close to a week of camping in the Andes of Peru, today posed a certain challenge. From Cancha-Cancha to the bus that would take us to the town of Urubamba, llamas would accompany us with our luggage on their backs. As we have come to understand during our trip, the horse and the mule have displaced llamas as the animals that carry and transport loads throughout the mountainous terrain. As of today, the use of the llama is something difficult and inefficient, as they have lost their pre-colonial purpose. As we trekked down and the llamas kept wandering away from the route, we saw firsthand the enormous advantages of the horse and the mule. With perhaps half the number of animals, the tourist agencies hiking up carried twice as much load. Our final moments in the mountains perfectly exemplified the necessary work that was being done. The use of llamas in high Andean journeys to transport loads serves many purposes. First, it allows local llama breeders to benefit from the huge economy of tourism in their region. Second, it works towards attaining sustainable tourism practices and protecting the environment that so many people depend on. Lastly, an opportunity for connection with people who are isolated is opened. The bus ride to the lodge, the dining table, and the shower after the trek on feet filled with blisters, the food in a dimly lit room, and the cold, cold nights in tents served as a great learning opportunity. Not only to appreciate the things we have now, but also to embrace the struggle and enjoy the results. Personally, this trip has managed to solidify my belief that no one person can create great change and no one decision will solve all problems. Instead, one person deciding to tackle a problem, without ever needing to see a solution, is what needs to happen. You should not seek to be the fire that warms but instead the spark that starts the flame.
-Hector