Health and fitness considerations when taking part in our eco Trails and Vision Quests in Peru
Vaccinations for Peru
First let's address the question of what vaccinations you should get before stepping on the plane. Before you click on my chart I need to mention you should see your doctor about the current recommendations for Peru.
For reference, the two regions in Peru in which we provide eco Trails and Vision Quests are the region of the Amazon around Iquitos, Loreta, and the region of the Andes around Cusco and the Sacred Valley. What I discovered is, over and above the likes of Yellow Fever which you need when travelling the jungle regions, the rest were up to me to make an informed decision.
Avoid Paranoia
That's why you need to discuss it with your medical doctor. It's one of those areas I find were you need to avoid a kind of medical paranoia. After all if I were to speak to my doctor about all the diseases I could contract here in Ireland it could seem like a very dangerous place to live. The truth of the matter is some potential diseases have a much higher risk than others.
Medical Centres
Most well equipped medical centres here in Ireland can give you a kind of vaccination cocktail, a one or two shot injection covering your chosen vaccinations. I'm sure it's the same in most countries. It's simple and relatively painless. It can cost roughly between 50 and 165 euros depending on your vaccination cocktail.
Leave enough time for the vaccinations to take effect
Don't leave it to the last minute though as some of the vaccinations take a few weeks to work. Some also require a second booster shot. Don't forget it's up to you how you go about this, make your own informed decision.
Ok lets move onto:
Fitness
Our ecoTrails and Vision Quests take place in the likes of the jungle and in the mountain region of the Andes, I would describe the level of fitness as Active travel. A vague term on it's own, I'll try and clarify what I mean.
As an example, with regards to our eco Trail into the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, we never walk more than approximately 3 or 4 miles into the jungle in any one day. However it is warm and humid. We travel by small boat, we get in and out to go on walks, some of us swim in the river every day (optional), take breaks and gather at the camp in the evening. In that respect it's active - walking and flexible, physically and mentally. We sleep in clean but spartan facilities in some of the villages along the way.
Other nights we camp in the jungle in tents we provide. We have our own cook travelling with each expedition. So the physical fitness level is moderate but it also requires the ability to 'rough it' to some degree. Our eco Trails do not try and create a kind of 'artificial comfort bubble'. We and our clients want to engage fully with the experience of the Jungle.
Excercise
What I do for around 3 or 4 months before travelling to Peru is I go out for walks every other day, building it up rapidly from 20 minutes to 45 to 60 minutes a session, I also stretch on the days I'm not walking. This is easy low impact excercise and means it's even more enjoyable for me when I get there. Keep in mind I'll be 59 years old this September and I find it all very manageable, in fact I think this level of excercise should be a normal part of my life.
Trails of the Spirit facilitates Sketching Workshop
Adventures in Peru and Ireland
