Machu Picchu and the Amazon

Arrive into Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head by private bus to the Miraflores neighborhood and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Rise from a good night’s sleep and head back to the airport for the final leg of your journey. Leaving from the coast, the group will fly high into the Andes to the historical capital of the Inca Empire. End your day at a comfortable hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Hike to rural communities, visit families, explore Inca ruins, and witness majestic mountainscapes to better understand life and culture here in Peru. Participate in a meaningful service project that in the past has included assisting on a potable water project and helping at a girl’s dormitory. Play soccer and enjoy the beautiful surroundings after service.

Start your day with a picturesque train ride to Aguas Calientes, the base town of the Machu Picchu ruins. The group will have some time to explore the town, shop and even go on a short hike to a nearby waterfall and butterfly garden. Finish the day with a delicious meal and then check in at our hotel.

Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Wake up early and experience the grandeur of Machu Picchu in the early morning mist. After a guided tour to orient the group with the site’s history, spend the morning exploring the intricate stonework of this magnificent structure or steal a moment of relaxation with the breathtaking views of the perched terraces. Afterward, the group will take a train back to Ollantaytambo.

Travel to Cusco and explore the ancient Inca capital and UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, we’ll have the chance to visit the Chocolate Museum and even make our own handmade chocolates from Peruvian cacao.

Wake early and fly to Puerto Maldonado, our gateway to the Amazon. Head up river to a secluded jungle lodge deep in one of the worlds most biodiverse ecosystems. After having the opportunity to relax, venture into the jungle as a group in search of animals and insects.

Learn about many of the complex issues that threaten the Amazon and about creative ways to combat deforestation. At night, go on the river and look for nocturnal wildlife.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Bid farewell to the jungle before you start the journey home. Before boarding your departure flight, enjoy one last night together as a group and reflect on your experience in Peru.

Note: Depending on flight path, departure may be the following morning.