Well friends, we’ve done it. We’ve traversed the primary forests of the Ecuadorian Amazon, trekked the Salkantay pass at 15,200 feet, and visited the ancient city of Machu Picchu. We’ve witnessed community activism in Junin, and experienced the daily life of Ecuadorians while staying with local families in Pucara. We don’t even have to talk about our week working with the monkeys… The most important thing is that we all made it through!
We’ve learned to live and to travel not just as a group, but as a community of friends who deeply care about and support each other. We’ve all come to know each others strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and guilt pleasures- perhaps better than anyone. At the end of a trip like this, the only way you can describe a group like this is with one word: family.
Honestly though, we have lived through some incredible experiences together, and some challenging ones too. Everyone in this group has succeeded- whether through physically reaching the top of the mountain, or perhaps emotionally reaching a new level of compassion, empathy, and global awareness.
As your leaders, we are more than proud of you all. Every one of you gave grown in some very beautiful, and very important ways, and we are beyond happy to have shared this experience with each of your unique, awesome (and sometimes weird!) selves.
We hope that, after an experience like this, you all will begin to see your lives through a new perspective, to see that your choices, and your knowledge of the world, really does make a difference. By now, I think we can all easily agree that this life is really what you make of it.
And always remember the wise words of our beloved guide from Apu Andino, Antonio: “Todo es posible. Nada es seguro.” Everything is possible. Nothing is certain.
Viva la vida!!!
Con mucho amor, luz, y la protección de Pachamama,
Bria & Simon