On October 1st 2019, we joined 50 members of Not Just Travel and flew out from Heathrow for an epic adventure that would push everyone’s abilities and endurance. Santa Marta, Colombia was our destination, with a few flights in between and an overnight stop in Bogota.

When we arrived in Santa Marta, we were split into 2 groups, Team Tiger and Team Scorpion, with the second starting a day later to stagger the groups. The trek would be 5-days into the jungle of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to reach The Lost City, this once-forgotten site is believed to have only 10% of it discovered and to be 650 years older than Machu Picchu. It can only be reached by on foot or via helicopter, so we knew it was no walk in a park (more like Jurassic Park!)

More like Jurassic Park than a walk in the park!

The gruelling 5 days saw us scrambling up mountains, battling intense humidity (91%), and clambering through mud all in the name of charity. Sleeping arrangements came in the form of bunk beds and hammocks with mosquito nets under a tin roof, and with no mobile phone signal the evenings were full of card games, rubbish jokes, singing and so much laughter that we nearly forgot that there was a whole world outside of the jungle. Our guides were local Indigenous People who allowed us into an insight of their incredible way of life and the beautiful area they get to call home.

Each day was a battle

Each day saw us battle a new obstacle, whether is was crossing a fast-flowing river that came up to our waists, climbing up 1,200 steps to The Lost City, staying on our feet as we trekked down sheer drops of mud slides in the dark or torrential rain thunder storms that lit up the night sky. But we took it in our stride. We laughed until we couldn’t breathe (although that might have been the uphill climbs that seemed to never end), we cried as we reached our goal of The Lost City, and we sang to our very apt ‘Jungle Playlist’.

The team all took on this challenge for a range of different charities, but most supported Mind for a very special reason. Co-Founder, Steve Witt’s, brother and business partner was diagnosed with rapid onset frontal temporal dementia aphasia at only 42. This rare form means Robin not only has dementia but quickly lost his ability to communicate. With head offices pledging to raise money for Mind, other members chose to raise money for their own charities close to their hearts.

John Lehnert chose Helping Angels charity in Stoke on Trent, who work tirelessly with families who have autistic members and help them adjust to society. John said he found the trip ‘amazing from a personal point, it was a great leveller as all backgrounds were forgotten as we pulled in 1 direction to achieve a common goal. Physically and mentally the hardest thing I’ve ever done but so rewarding’.

Mike Mackay raised an amazing £2,500 for Maggie Centre, and Ben Rood chose Claire House Children’s Hospice, an amazing charity who provide support for sick children and end of life care. Ben said he ‘didn’t really know what to expect when I signed up for the trek, but it was truly once in a lifetime experience! I would go and do it all again tomorrow.’

How much money did we raise?

A staggering £65,000 was raised collectively and we are all so proud of each other for this incredible amount.

It’s now 6 months on, and it’s still something we all talk about. The sheer pride of even tackling the challenge is something that will stay with us forever. The euphoria amongst all of us as we reached The Lost City together was incredible, it brought every single one of us closer and solidified us as a family. After all we’ve seen each other at our worst; plastered in mud, drenched in sweat and covered in bed bug and mosquito bites.

We cannot thank everyone enough who donated, those who took part, G-Adventures for arranging this awesome trip for us and anyone who supported us during this challenge.

If you want to read a full breakdown of the trek, then head to the link below: