CVIP is the first volunteer organization ever allowed to work within the Sacred City of Machu Picchu.
Sanctuary Expedition: November 7 – 21, 2009
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Read an article about the trip by Mark Gallo, CEO of Magellan’s Travel Supplies, for International Travel News.
Conservation Volunteers International Program (CVIP) organized and led a volunteer expedition to Machu Picchu Sanctuary, November 7 – 21, 2009, in collaboration with Peru’s National Institute of Culture (INC) and the National Service for Protected Area management (SERNANP ). The project was authorized by Sr. Jorge Zegarra, Cusco Regional Director of the INC, and by Sra. Ada Castillo, Director of the Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu for SERNANP.
Volunteers left the U.S. on November 7, arriving in Lima on November 8th. A few of the volunteers were able to make their planned airline connections to Cusco on the 8th. However, because of aircraft and weather related problems, most of the volunteers flew to Cusco, were unable to land, and were forced to return to Lima on the 8th. By the evening of November 9th the entire group had made it to Cusco, and traveled on to Yucay. While in Cusco, the expedition leader met with representatives of SERNANP, while others purchased supplies to take to Machu Picchu. On November 10th, the group traveled by van and train to Aguas Calientes.
From November 10th thru November 17th, twelve volunteers completed a variety of trail maintenance and building restoration projects which were designated by the representatives of INC and SERNANP.
Volunteers maintained approximately 1.5 miles of trail of the Putucusi trail, including the installation of 19 water drains, cleaning of 352 steps, and removal of vegetation encroaching on the trail.
Volunteers camouflaged a metal railroad track sticking out of the center of the trail.
Volunteers removed moss, lichen and larger plants from approximately 5,000 square feet of building and terrace walls within the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
While the trail maintenance and building and terrace wall restoration was occurring, two other volunteers supervised a course on vertical rescue and safety techniques for 18 park rangers and municipal police. CMC Rescue of Santa Barbara, California, the Santa Barbara Search and Rescue Team, and Conservation Volunteers International Program donated approximately $10,000 in rescue and safety equipment to the park and the municipality of Aguas Calientes.
Volunteers also brought medical supplies for the local community. These medical supplies, combined with payments for hotels, food, and local transportation, contributed approximately $38,000 to the local community.
Conservation Volunteers International Program was honored to receive the Sons of the Sun award for conservation of Machu Picchu and community development from the Mayor of Aguas Calientes, Edgar D. Miranda Quinones. In addition, the two climbing instructors received the Keys to the City.
Following the work in Machu Picchu, the group returned to Lima via Cusco. They toured Cusco as well as the Sacred Valley, before returning to the U.S. After catching evening flights from Lima on November 20th, the volunteers arrived back in the U.S. on November 21.
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