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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
In the student travel program, venture across Peru’s most famous destinations and complete unique service projects.
Journey across southern Peru from the high Andes mountains to the depths of the Amazon rain forest on this exceptional service adventure. Get to know your group through community service, breathtaking mountain views, and an unforgettable visit to Machu Picchu. Say goodbye to the mountains as you travel deep into the Amazon rainforest and truly experience nature. See wildlife up close as you volunteer at an animal rehabilitation center, then journey to an ecolodge and work alongside the jungle community on conservation projects to help protect this treasure. The perfect trip for adventurers looking to experience parts of Peru on—and off—the map.
Students love visiting secluded Peruvian villages and spending time in the jungle!
Costa Rica: Surf and Service
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Thailand: Thai Elephant Conservation Project
Elephant care and conservation
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Meet your fellow travelers in Miami and take an overnight flight to Peru, arriving in Lima the next morning.
Welcome to Peru! After clearing customs and meeting your program leaders, catch a one hour flight to Cusco, the old Incan capital located high in the Andes Mountains. Once we arrive in Cusco, we will jump on a private bus and be transported to Ollantaytambo, a small town located in the heart of the famous Sacred Valley. Upon arrival, learn more about the adventure ahead from your program leaders.
Settle into a comfortable hotel for the next three nights. You will have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
We’ll dive into service today, spending the day working on educational projects. Complete infrastructure tasks and tend to an organic garden at a dormitory for indigenous girls. Share lunch and connect with Peruvian students. Then engage in an educational exchange with local students to learn more about their culture and the schooling opportunities available in Peru.
Today we will see a completely different side of this beautiful region. We will head up early for a morning paddleboard outing on a pristine mountain lake. With views of the surrounding glaciers, this will be a morning that you will never forget. Bike through the rolling hills to the site of our picnic lunch before arriving to explore the historic salt terraces that have been producing salt for the region since pre-Incan cultures populated the area.
Today is a full day adventure to Machu Picchu. Wake up early and take a scenic train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Hike from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu and take a guided tour of the ancient citadel. After an incredible day of exploring Machu Picchu, take the bus back down to Aguas. In the evening, you will re-board the train and return to Ollantaytambo where you will spend the night.
Start the day with an exhilarating challenge of scaling the rocky valley walls. Harnessed in, the group will ascend hand over hand up an iron ladder attached to the granite walls. From the top enjoy incredible views of the Sacred Valley, and zip line back down. Truly a unique and thrilling experience. After lunch we will ride to Cusco and with a stop in Chinchero for a workshop on the traditional methods of weaving and dying that the area is known for.
You will check into your hotel in Cusco where you will be staying for two nights. Students will sleep in beds and have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
Enjoy this mix of the past and present as you explore Cusco’s 16th century cathedrals, ancient Inca temples, and colonial streets—a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, visit the Chocolate Museum and make your own handmade chocolates from Peruvian cacao. This evening, enjoy the opportunity to sample some of the traditional delicacies and international fusion Peru’s food scene has become famous for.
Today we will journey to the rural community of Pacchanta at the base of the Ausangate Mountain. The ride to Ausangate will be split up with an exhilarating white water rafting trip on the class II and III rapids of the upper Urubamba River. After the 3 hrs rafting trip and lunch along the river, we will continue to climb into the Andes past the high Abra Cuyuni pass. In the evening we will arrive at the small hamlet at the base of the glacier and take a quick dip in the hot springs before bed.
Today you wake to the view of the magnificent peak of Ausangate. With a warm breakfast the group will gear up for the day’s adventures. Leaving Pacchanta we will hike to a few of the glacial lakes at the base of the glacier. At an elevation of over 13,000ft we will walk slowly, but have the chance to see turquoise lakes, towering glaciers, and wildlife such as Andean geese, deer, and with luck an Andean condor—the biggest flying bird in the world. After a rewarding day outside we can relax our muscles in the all-natural hot springs before climbing into bed.
After spending our last night at altitude we will journey down the eastern slopes of the Andes through many microclimates and deep into the Amazon Basin. Students will watch as the landscape changes dramatically as the group loses altitude on the descent into the basin.
Head up to a secluded jungle lodge located in the spectacular Las Piedras watershed. Upon our arrival to the lodge, we will get settled into our accommodations. Relax and listen to the sounds of the Amazon until it is time to prepare for our first excursion into the jungle in search of animals and insects. After dinner, we’ll head out on a guided tour in search of the forest’s nocturnal life. The next three days will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly experience and learn about the Amazon rainforest.
For the next 3 nights you will stay in the jungle lodge where you will sleep in beds on open-air platforms. Students will have access to toilets, cold showers, and limited electricity. All students will be provided with bug nets.
Each day we’ll head out on excursions to learn about the forest and those that live there. The daily schedule will vary based on weather and local conditions, but below are some activities you can expect to do during your time in the jungle. These excursions will be led by experienced local guides and conservationists excited to help you explore the jungle. Colpe Visit: Rising before sunrise, head to the local clay lick, where parrots and macaws come to feed on the mineral rich clay to help counteract the toxins in the fruit they eat. Listening to the forest come alive with sound and movement is truly an unforgettable experience. Caiman Excursion: Explore the river at night in search of caimans and nocturnal fauna. Floating Down Las Piedras: Constructing a raft and floating down the river as macaws fly overhead and the sun sets over the Amazon is the perfect way to end the day. There will always be a support boat with us as well for safety. Visiting with Local Communities: The forest is home to amazing wildlife, but it is also home to people who make a meager living off the land. Learn about how they live their daily lives and the challenges they face in this remote area.
Today we will pack up our things and say goodbye to the friendly jungle staff before we return to Puerto Maldonado. Head back to the airport and catch a plane back over the Andes to the Peruvia capital of Lima. Enjoy a last meal with your group before boarding your overnight flight back home.
Wake up in Miami and make your connecting flight home.
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for day trips.
A 50-70 Liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
It is winter in the southern hemisphere and we’ll be spending significant time at high altitude and camping. Come prepared for cold winter nights. Think of how you can pack for wearing layers to allow you flexibility depending on how warm or cold it is.
Toiletries
(travel sized in ziplock bags)
Hotels and Hostels: For the majority of the program, students will stay in hotels and hostels where they will sleep in beds and have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
Jungle Lodge: While in the jungle lodge, students will be sleeping in beds on open-air platforms and will have access to flushing toilets, cold showers, and limited electricity. All students will be provided with bug nets.
Huayllampi Shared Rooms: students will stay in communal rooms (separated by gender) outfitted with bunk beds. Students have access to flushing toilets and non-heated showers, and limited access to electricity.
This program involves adventure activities that require students to be physically active.
Students will eat at a variety of locations and will enjoy both Peruvian and international fare. Breakfast is the lightest meal of the day which usually includes eggs, bread, fruit, tea and coffee. Lunch is usually a soup followed by a main course (a typical meal called a “menu” in Spanish), and dinner is usually just a main course. Peruvian food incorporates a lot of potatoes, quinoa, and chicken, but most importantly, it’s all delicious! Come ready to try new foods, along with plenty of juice and tea.
Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – Vegetarians and gluten-free students are easily accommodated on this program. With advance notice, most allergies are able to be accommodated on this program. Please note all allergies and food restrictions on medical forms so our team has time to arrange different food options if necessary.
Students will be provided bottled and purified water while in Peru–as much as they can drink! Tap water is fine for showering/brushing teeth. Please remember to bring your reusable bottle water so we can minimize our plastic usage.
In Huayllampi, it is hot and dry during the day (75-85F/23-27C), cooling off substantially at night. In the jungle, it is hot and humid during the day (80s and 90sF/30-35C) and cools off once the sun goes down.
Occasionally, there are cold fronts that pass through the jungle, which always happen suddenly and are hard to predict. Knowing this, it would be a good idea to bring a hoodie/set of long underwear should this occur while you are in the jungle so you are well prepared.
Flights: Rustic Pathways uses LATAM for our escorted group flights from Miami, FL (MIA) to Lima, Peru (LIM). Flight time from Miami to Lima is approximately 6 hours. The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA.
Visa: There are no visa requirements in Peru for students traveling on United States passports. Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.
Internal Travel: There will be 2 internal flights on this program. These are included in the program price. Students will fly from Lima to Cusco on their first day, and from Puerto Maldonaro to Lima. Students will travel via private bus from throughout the program as they travel around Peru. To get to Machu Picchu, students will travel via train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
Students will have occasional access to wifi on the program, but we want everyone to come to Peru excited to disconnect and fully immerse themselves in this incredible experience. Reception for international plans is spotty due to the mountains and remote locations, so we do not recommend purchasing one for this trip. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff over the course of the program.
Personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price.
We recommend $150 per week to cover souvenirs and incidentals. We highly encourage students to change money to local currency prior to their departure date. Any money that needs to be changed back is best done in the airport on the return home.
Students will be able to do laundry during the overnight in Cusco (~15 soles/kilo).
Both Huayllampi and the jungle can be quite hot during the day, but because of sandflies and bugs in the jungle, please pack more pants than shorts. A good outfit is sneakers, long, light and loose non-cotton pants, t-shirt, and a hat for sun. The bugs usually come out around dusk so a light but long-sleeve shirt for nighttime is ideal. Also, bring high socks to protect your ankles from the bugs.