Peru Program Details

The Peru program is a fascinating journey through a beautiful country that boasts a capital city, Lima, on the Pacific coast, the soaring peaks of the Andes where the Inca civilization flourished, and the western reaches of the Amazon rainforest that is home to indigenous Peruvian tribes. The program offers outstanding opportunities for discovery, service learning, profound cultural immersion with indigenous people and a wealth of eclectic activities.
 
Meet your Teacher Counselor and fellow students on arrival in the International Departure City. There is time to explore the local sights, complete your orientation and enjoy dinner together. The next day you travel together on the flight to Lima, Peru, where you will meet your Program Director on arrival.

• Sightseeing tour with local guide includes the 16th century colonial cathedral, Convento de San Francisco, an 18th century baroque monastery and the Larco Herrera Museum chronicling pre-Columbian Peruvian history.
• Lunch at the Larcomar Mall in Miraflores.
• Teambuilding and leadership-oriented activities at the beach which may include raft building, team challenges and much more.

• Flight to Cusco, the Inca capital, situated in the Andes at 11,000 feet.
• Sightseeing tour with local guide includes Cusco’s 17th century colonial Cathedral and the Koricancha Temple, the most important temple of the Inca Empire. 
• Visit to a university campus.
• Explore the Urubamba Valley, the historic heartland of the Inca empire also known as the Sacred Valley. Includes Sacsayhuaman, a walled Inca complex overlooking  Cusco, Awanacancha, a traditional Andean weaving center housing different species of llama and alpaca and a Pisac market selling handicrafts and clothing.
• Learn to spin, dye, and weave fabrics and create a souvenir to take home.
• With the help of Paqo, a local shaman, take part in a traditional ceremony to "pay" Mother Earth for everything she provides by gathering up and offering her a package filled with earthly gifts.

The Willoqs are an indigenous people who serve as porters on the Inca Trail. Work with children in a local school, play soccer with them, assist at a trout farm, help harvest vegetables and make adobe bricks.

The Urubamba mountain range and its snow-capped peaks provide a spectacular background for the two-day trek (lunches included) through the beautiful scenery of the Quechua region at its high, medium and low levels, the archeological site at Moray and the salt pens in Maras. Stay in a local guesthouse and enjoy delicious food, comfortable rooms and a charming fireplace. The next day, trek to the archaeological site of Unu Orqo, a center for astronomical observation, and the worship of water and fertility. Continue through cultivated fields, beautiful Ccoroqocha Lake, the archaeological site of Rumi Wasi with its chincana and beautiful views of the Apu Ausangate. The level of difficulty of the trek is low, covering 10 miles in two days with no significant altitude gains.

• Explore Ollantaytambo, an Incan archaeological site with a steep terraced city that was a stronghold for Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest of Peru.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Train ride to Aguas Calientes, the base for visiting Machu Picchu.
• Travel to Machu Picchu for an extraordinary exploration of the site.
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes, then transfer to Cusco.

• Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, and transfer to the eco-lodge by boat.
• Lunches included at the eco-lodge.
• Visit to Monkey Island with a naturalist guide to see five species of monkeys along with sloths, birds and other wildlife.
• Boat ride to Cocha Perdida, the Lost Lake, a largely untouched ecosystem that is home to many animals including giant river otters, turtles, tortoises, tapirs, jaguars and many species of birds.
• Visit to an indigenous rainforest community known as the Harayos.
• Transfer by boat to Puerto Maldonado airport, then fly to Lima via Cusco. 

Throughout the program, you'll engage in discussions and debates related to what you are seeing and its significance. You'll work in study groups to create “tapestries” describing your experiences and discoveries infused with contemporary and historical themes.

Board your return flight to the United States. After clearing customs and immigration, you will be checked in to your connector flight (if applicable) to return home.

Note: Your program may differ in some areas due to scheduling conflicts, unforeseen changes and new opportunities. Your program's final itinerary will be confirmed closer to departure. The International Departure City is subject to change.