Being in a wheelchair has its benefits, five are as follows:
Unfortunately, I have not quite sussed the method to procure free holidays other than competitions! (It will happen)
But, and there is a but – being in a wheelchair has its drawbacks. Let’s look at holidays for one. I found this fantastic competition for a walking holiday to Peru with Active Holiday company Pura-Aventura where you would experience the Inca trails in this mysterious Latin American country. The problem is, it’s a ‘walking holiday‘, which means my four wheels and I are pretty much out of the equation.
That said, one can but dream, and I have to say I would find this type of holiday fascinating, but for all the benefits of a wheelchair as mentioned above, you have to say restrictions such as walking up a steep Peruvian hillside to get to the top to experience the views and breathe in the culture.
You will see from the following image how difficult it maybe to get my sorry disabled backside up a mountain, although it would be one hell of a challenge, and one that would surely be the ultimate test of Man, metal, guts and determination.
Personally, I’d love to meet a wheelchair user who has seen this view or achieved something similar, what an inspiration!
Is this trip possible for wheelchair users? I would say not, and not because the holiday suppliers cannot accommodate wheelchair users, you have to look at this from a practical perspective, it would just be so difficult for a full-time wheelchair user to take this trip on their own. Here are some snippets:
Day 4 – Start a four-day hike (with a gentle walk) alongside the Urubamba River. This 5km walk would take 2 hours.
Day 5 – 10km walk taking 6.5 hours.
Day 6 – 15km walk taking 8 hours
I’m just tired writing about this – let alone having to complete 30km in three days!
If you are not in a wheelchair, and like the idea of winning a Peru Holiday, then check out the fabulous competition at responsible travel specialists Pura-Aventura who are running this in conjunction with CafeDirect. I’d love to see the sights, but ultimately you have to know your limits. But if any wheelchair users have completed a holiday like this, let me know I would love to know how you did it and what obstacles you faced. Incidentally, if there are any TV production companies that wabt to film a man in a wheelchair attempting the feat get in contact – it could be insipration viewing.
8 Responses
Frank Lynch
October 15th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
1ohh wow, is it so ? i wish i could visit Peru one day, i was always attracted to such places since childhood, beaches and seas have always drawn my eyes, can you please describe the way to reach there.
MrCrip
October 15th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
2Frank, if you spam my site again with your pathetically naff comments, I’ll explain exactly how to get there with the aid of a size 12 boot.
Sandie
October 16th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
3This is not strictly true, if you really want to do it you can.
Yes, it would’nt be easy but it is definitely possible! I came across this website that has had the vision to arrange tours and holidays all over the world, Peru included, which cater for wheelchair travellers. http://www.disabilitytravel.com/grps_exotic/peru/accessible-peru-travel.htm
They say on their site that they provide accessible adventure holidays tailor-made to give you a taste of the local cuisine, music, folklore etc. They provide specially trained assistants to make your visit to the Andes a memorable one.
No need to worry about getting up the steep Peruvian hillside, you have your own porters to help you up there whilst us so called able bodied people struggle up on foot.
Although this particular tour is quite a challenge its also meant to be amazing and imagine the feeling of achievement when you reach the top.
The Peruvians are well known for the hospitality and make great efforts to make the trip a comfortable one. Nevertheless you would have to cope with the high altitude and have good overall stamina.
So, theres nothing to stop you! You’re right it would surely be the ultimate test of Man, metal, guts and determination but you can do it!
So no excuses not to have a go and enter the competition http://www.pura-aventura.com/peru-holiday-competition
MrCrip
October 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
4Yeh right, like I would trust a group of people with carrying me up a mountain. I know what it is like to be lifted into a pub, let alone up a mountain!
Check out what happened to this poor guy in Wales – and this was with people he knew! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8313108.stm
Ben Nevis
October 19th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
5Incredible………..what a bunch of tossers!
Quite gutsy of him to volunteer to be carried up the mountain but bet he wished he hadnt bothered when this bunch of martial arts enthusiasts left him stranded and decided they were all too tired to get him down.
Wonder how they managed to show their faces when they got home and surely they didnt have the cheek to claim their sponsership money for this fund raising event.
Edward
November 8th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
6Been there, done it. Just spent two weeks out in Peru and not on a disabled persons tour. Just myself and my wheelchair (Tetra) partner. Based in Cusco and Puno, and we used trains, local buses ,planes and boats. If MrCrip would like images, he has the e-mail address
Edward
November 9th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
7So you want to go to Machuu Pichuu.
No problems, except you need to be a lightweight and have a folding set of wheels with a stong , fit able assistant, who does not suffer from altitude sickness , the pysical excertion does not help with that as lots of lifting /pushing involved.
Cusco to Poroy by bus as train no longer travels to Cusco, so its lift partner on to bus, fold wheels and stow, leave bus at Poroy Station, put wheels together, lift Claire off bus into wheels, wheel into station, get alocated seat on Vistadome train, first on board, lift Claire aboard train, fold wheels and stow, (about 4 hour journey on train) no disabled loo (no use any way).
Get off train at Aquas Calientes Station (Machu Pichuu), and put wheels back together, lift Claire off train into wheels, wheel/push out of station to bus depot, lift Claire onto small bus, fold and stow wheels, 30 minute journey up switchback dirt road to the Machuu Pichuu Citadel, now this is where you earn your bread as a extreme pusher. Bear in mind no one is aware we are travelling with a set of wheels, ground conditions are rough terrain, no self propelling here, not that she can as as a tetra (C4-5-6 incomplete)) with only limited finger use.
So we get into the entrance to Machuu Pichuu, get wheels and lift off Claire,( lots and lots of steps , (Incas did not do ramps, just steps, thousands of them!!!)and I do my reccy bit first to see how we will cope , no problems, site staff arive and with Claires little Spanish we get told ” as she has made the effort to get to Machuu Pichuu, she will see Machuu Pichuu” with their assistance we carried, pushed , pulled, lifted up steps, where the wheels could not pass I carried Claire, and they lifted the wheels, over narrow ledges with hundreds of feet drops till we got into the Center Plaza and then they aranged to return after 2 hours , so we got around with lifting and carrying, ie ,carry Claire ,place her down and then fetch wheels, lift her back into wheels, so on, bus back down mountain to Aquas Calientes and push round the town , rough terrain/cobbles ( on side of mountain) and did it all in return, and we retraced our journey back to Cusco, getting back to the hotel about midnight, an 18 hour day !!!!!!!!!!!. And we will do all again as we are returning to Peru !!! ( we DO NOT do disability holidays).
MrCrip
November 10th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
8Edward – This sounds awesome. I have emailed you for some pictures; would love to do a follow-up post.
Fair play to you both for attacking a once in a lifetime trip with obstacles that would prevent most from attempting it.
Top marks and respect from MrCrip!
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