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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
August 7, 2025
June 19, 2025
Contribute to sustainable development projects, explore Machu Picchu, and explore the historic city of Cusco.
Trade in a typical spring break at the beach for a meaningful service experience in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Contribute to a potable water project in a rural community while immersing yourself into life in the Andes. Round out your Peruvian adventures with an unforgettable trip to Machu Picchu. Camp in a rural community, create bonds with community members and have an incredible spring break among the mountains of the Peruvian Andes.
Students must arrange their own international airfare for this program. This program will begin and end in Peru on Saturdays. Please do not book any flights until confirmed travel details are provided after enrollment.
Students love getting immersed in village life and experiencing authentic Peruvian culture!
Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project
Hands-on work to save sea turtles
Age 14-17
$2,895 plus Airfare
Costa Rica: Pura Vida Service
Perfect start to service adventures
Age 12-18
$2,495 plus Airfare
Depart from the United States to Lima, Peru’s capital. Upon your arrival you will be met by Rustic Pathways staff. After a group orientation, ice-breaking activity, and review of the week to come, enjoy a good night’s sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s adventure to the Peruvian highlands.
Your first night will be spent in a comfortable hotel in one of Lima’s nicest neighborhoods. Students will stay in shared rooms separated by gender and will have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
Welcome to your first full day in Peru. After a continental breakfast it is off to the airport to 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 Urubamba, a small town in the heart of the famous Sacred Valley. In Urubamba we will have a delicious buffet lunch before continuing on to Soccma, a small community from where we will begin our hike to Pilkobamba. The day will wind down with a group discussion about life in rural Peruvian communities and the service work that you will begin tomorrow.
Pilkobamba will be your home for the next three nights. While camping, students will sleep on sleeping pads inside tents (both provided by Rustic, remember to bring your sleeping bags!) Students will be able to take occasional bucket showers and use a camp toilet, but will not have access to electricity.
Today you will begin work on a service project that has been pre-approved by the community members and is supported by the local government. This year, students are continuing work on a potable water project that was started in 2015. One of our most ambitious service projects, providing access to clean drinking water to multiple villages in the Sacred Valley will help improve health conditions and quality of life. While many of the inhabitants of Pilkobamba still speak the native language of Quechua, many also speak Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish though, don’t worry, we have Spanish speaking staff and with a little imagination, it won’t be long until you master the art of non-verbal communication.
Today will be dedicated to service as you complete work on the potable water project. Work your hardest to provide access to clean drinking water to your host community members. This day will culminate with a farewell celebration. The group will share a typical Incan meal and enjoy roasting marshmallows around a bonfire with the community members and local children. On this day, you will also have the opportunity to try the specialty of the region, guinea pig!
Head down from Pilkobamba to Ollantaytambo and board the train for a scenic ride along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Along the way, the group will pass under the majestic Veronica Peak and along the intense bottom section of the Urubamba River. Nestled in the cloud forest amidst jagged peaks, it is amazing to think that you are just a short ride from the drier alpine village of the past week. The rest of the day will be spent in and around Aguas Calientes. The activities will vary based on the interested of the group, but may include shopping at the local market, visiting the Machu Picchu museum, or hiking to a nearby waterfall.
Spend the night in Aguas Calientes in a hotel. Students will have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
You will wake up early in the morning and travel the windy road up the mountain to the world famous ruins of Machu Picchu. The group will be there in time to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu and long enough to explore the magnificent ruins. In the afternoon, you will re-board the train and return to Ollantaytambo.
You will spend the night in Ollantaytambo in a comfortable hotel. Students will have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
Upon arriving to Cusco, you will go on a walking tour. As part of the tour, you will explore the cobblestone streets of Cusco and visit temples and cathedrals that date back to the Incas and colonial period of Peru. Spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs and Peru’s world famous textiles and handicrafts at the local artisanal market. In the evening, enjoy a final dinner with your group and reflect on the last week in Peru.
You will spend tonight in a hotel in Cusco. Students will have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
On the final day, it’s time to say goodbye to Peru. Head to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima and then board your flight home. We hope you had an incredible time in Peru and hope you take away more than just souvenirs from your time in the Land of the Incas.
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for day trips.
A 50-70 Liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
Toiletries
(travel sized in ziplock bags)
Miscellaneous
Camping: While camping, students will sleep on sleeping pads inside tents (both provided by Rustic, remember to bring your sleeping bags!) Students will be able to take occasional bucket showers and use a camp toilet. Students will not have access to electricity during the camping portion of the program.
Hotels/ Hostels: All other nights on this program will be spent at hotels and hostels where students will sleep in beds and have access to electricity, showers, and flushing toilets.
We have partnered with several communities in the Sacred Valley on a large-scale potable water project that aims to bring drinking water to 5 communities. Students and community members have secured a fresh water spring and installed pipes, and this year will focus on building reservoirs and break boxes, and installing water tanks depending on the speed of our progress.
This program involves service that requires students to be physically active (e.g. construction).
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, vegans, and gluten-free students are easily accommodated on this program. Vegans – please bring snacks as options will be limited, and also your understanding and flexibility as veganism is not a widely understood concept in Peru. With advance notice, most allergies are able to be accommodated on this program as well. 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 the Sacred Valley, where you will be spending most of your time, the weather is usually warm and sunny during the day (60s and 70s F/18-23C) and then at night the temperature drops quickly because of the altitude (20s and 30sF/-3 to 1C). As you will be coming during the end of the rainy season, rain a few times while you are in Peru is highly likely.
Flights: Students joining our Spring Break programs are responsible for arranging their own travel to their destination. You will be provided with specific arrival and departure time windows. Arriving or departing outside these windows may incur special transportation arrangements and fees. 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 are 2 internal flights on this program. These are included in the program price. Students will spend their first night in Lima and then return to the airport the following day for the short flight to Cusco. Student will fly back to Lima on the last day of their program and then make the connection for their flights home. During the program, students will travel to Lima, Cusco, Urubamba, Pilkobamba, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes. Students will travel via private bus throughout the program as they travel around Peru. To get to Machu Picchu, students will take a scenic train ride along the Urubamba River 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 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.
All activities in this itinerary are included. Checked luggage fees, personal gifts, laundry, and snacks are not included. We generally suggest $200 of spending money for souvenirs and snacks.
Students will not have access to laundry and should bring enough clothing for the duration of the program.
The key to Peru is layering! During the day, sneakers, jeans/leggings, a t-shirt and a hoodie/zip up is a safe go-to. At night, swap the t-shirt for a sweater and add a puffy jacket and you will be warm and comfortable. For camping, a set of long underwear is a great idea. Remember, you will be coming during the final days of the rainy season so a rain jacket and water-resistant footwear is a must.
Remember to bring your sleeping bag. A stuff sack is also a great way to condense it in size so it’s easier to travel with.