November 2018
Intrepid DMC South America has enabled two wheelchair-bound travellers to complete a one-day trek of the Inca Trail in partnership with accessible travel company Wheel the World.
“To empower people with disabilities to explore the world without limits.”
This is the mission of travel company Wheel the World, who this month partnered with Intrepid DMC in order to enable two wheelchair-bound travellers to traverse a one-day section of the Inca Trail.
Álvaro Silberstein and Isabel Aguirre were part of the 14-person group who participated in the eight day tour, which in addition to the Inca Trail also explored Cusco and the Sacred Valley - including a 10 km cycling tour and a kayaking trip on Piuray Lake.
These activities were made possible by special adaptive equipment provided by Wheel the World, who alongside the Intrepid DMC team aim to unlock accessible travel experiences for people with disabilities to visit and explore Peru.
Strong bonds were formed between the WTW travellers, local porters and Intrepid DMC operations staff during the 11-kilometre trek from KM104 to the Sun Gate on the Inca Trail, including the formidable challenge of navigating 320 near-vertical steps. The experience was transformational for the entire group.
“Completing the Inca Trail was both beautiful and hard – at many exhausted moments we wondered if we would make it but reaching the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu from on high was probably the most beautiful moment in my life,” says Alvaro, co-founder of Wheel the World.
For Gary Cohen, Regional General Manager for Intrepid DMC South America, “In my ten years in the adventure travel industry I’ve never done anything as challenging or rewarding as this.”
For passengers interested in travelling on a similar accessible itinerary in Peru, bookings are now available on a private group basis through the Wheel the World website. A documentary of the trip will also be made available early in 2019.
Wheel the World and the Intrepid DMC team would also like to thank the many other businesses whose support made this trip happen, including Columbia, Misiones de Rengo, Jetsmart Airlines, Inca Rail, Casa Andina Hotels, Habitats Peru Travel, San Agustín Hotels and the Piuray Outdoor Center.