The Wayra Lodge high in the Peruvian Andes above Machu Picchu
When someone decides to build a couple of lodges in the middle of remote, stunning mountain scenery near Machu Picchu then alarm bells will clearly ring for those of us who care about protecting these places.
Surely it would destroy the feeling of remoteness that makes the mountains so special. Then there are environmental considerations – the area has no electricity connection or running water. It does make you wonder what sacrifices have been made to create these lodges?
It is reassuring to know that the lodges are owned and operated by a team genuinely passionate about the environment and the communities they work in.
Mountain Lodges of Peru is a Peruvian family business. The driving force behind the project is to eliminate poverty in the Salkantay region within 20 years.
With this aim in mind they set about building four lodges along the remote Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. It took ten long years of fighting Peruvian beuarocracy to get permission.
During that time the company was also the subject of a lot of local rumours – first that they were actually building a dam to create a water supply and then exploit the locals by selling it on at extortionate rates.
Then came the story that were in fact building a brothel.
And next, possibly the most pernicious rumour of all, was that the company was run by Chileans. Chile and Peru have a long history of mutual dislike. The Peruvian owner was out on his horse one afternoon when he came across some locals who called him ‘The Chilean’. He was so incensed by this he jumped down from his horse and got out all the ID he had on him to prove otherwise.
So with this as a back story it is a real testament to the owners that they battled on. The lodges are now a big part of the local community and fully accepted. The integration and social responsibility is probably the best I have seen anywhere in South America.
Read more about our lodge based hike to Machu Picchu.
A surprisingly exotic looking family adventure holiday in Europe
This photo is too good to have been taken by me. This belongs to one of my colleagues Jaime Lahoz who happens to be a real photographer. This was taken last summer during one of our Pyrenees family adventure holidays which take place in the Pallars Sobira Valley.
The subject of the photo is the lower part of the Pallars River, Collegats, which is one of the most famous rafting spots in Spain. This is one of our families who have been kind enough/lucky enough to try out our family adventures in both the Picos mountains and the Pyrenees.
What I love about this photo is that it just looks so dramatic that I don’t think anyone would guess that this is relatively close to home (if you’re here in the UK). In fact it’s only 3 hours from the crush of humanity that is Barcelona.
I actually went to this particular valley for the first time this past spring. As ever, I was blown away. I’ve been going to Spain regularly for about 15 years now, for some of that time I spent more time there than in the UK. And yet, Spain still manages to suprise me pretty much every time I go.
In the case of the Pallars Valley, what amazed me was the variety. At the top of the valley is the Aigues Tortes National Park and some of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees. At the bottom of the valley is this river, great for not just rafting but also kayak, canyoning, hydrospeed and all sorts of other watersports.
One big advantage the Spanish have in terms of their landscape is that the country is pretty under-populated, outside of the main cities at least. With a population density around 1/3 or even 1/4 that of the UK, getting away from people is relatively easy. That much of Spain is mountainous and beautiful helps.
However, I personally would normally associate with remote, sparsely populated mountain areas with banjos and bad food. In Spain, nothing could be further from the truth. Here in the Pallars Valley there are some absolutely stunning places to eat, and sleep for that matter. Take Fogony – a father and daughter outfit in a small mountain town/village surrounded by beautiful mountains which is turning out exquisite cuisine.
I know I should want to explore new places but since Spain still manages to surprise and delight me, why wouldn’t I keep visiting? As long as my colleagues over in Spain (Xabi, Diego, Jaime, Alex, Peter, Tolo, Migel Angel) keep discovering and revealing new treats I think I’ll just keep going back.
In fact I’m off to the Picos in January, James is off to the Pyrenees in February…
Browse our full range of holidays to Spain or specifically our family adventure holidays.