The Lata Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to support the Peruvian porters of Machu Picchu who have been unable to work during the pandemic.
The charity said the famous archaeological site has been closed for most of 2020 and remains shut, along with most of the surrounding tourist sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
Called ‘Peru 25 for 25’, the fundraiser asks supporters to take on a 25-mile challenge – the length of the Inca trail – to help porters and their families.
Participants can cover 25 miles with “a run, swim, walk or whatever format they prefer” during March.
Each £25 raised will cover an essential food parcel for one porter and their family for one month.
Jude Berry, chair of the Lata Foundation, said: “Many of the porters have returned to their villages and communities in the Andes.
“They are ‘surviving’ but they are struggling without any income from tourism.
“We want to urge all those who have previously trekked the Inca trail and the wider public to support this important initiative either by challenging themselves to take on 25 miles in March or pledging £25 to this cause.
“Many of our regular donors are travel companies and, understandably, not all are in the position to support us right now so we hope this campaign has a wide-and far-reaching impact.”
The foundation is urging the social media community to back this campaign using the hash tag #Peru25for25 and tagging @LataFoundation.
For details visit www.latafoundation.org/25for25.
The Lata Foundation was founded by the Latin America Travel Association and the two organisations work closely together.
More details about Peru are available on the Travel Weekly Restart & Recovery Hub.
More: UK-based charity Canning House supports Lata Foundation