Peru
Cultural Immersion in the Heart of the Andes
Immerse yourself in community life in Peru’s Sacred Valley on this high school service program. During your student travels in Peru, work alongside locals on meaningful construction and farming projects while you learn about the landscapes, cultures, and flavors of the Peruvian Andes. Throughout the program, visit some of the most iconic sites of the Inca empire, including Machu Picchu.
- Highlights
• Practice Spanish and play fútbol with new Peruvian friends
• Hike ancient Inca trails through the Andes mountains
• Explore Machu Picchu, a well-preserved mountaintop Inca city
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one of your leaders in Miami, and fly together to Cusco, Peru. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in the town of Pisac, nestled in Peru’s Sacred Valley in the towering South American Andes. Spend the first two days acclimating to the altitude while getting to know your group, leaders, and the spectacular Sacred Valley itself. Explore the imposing Pisac archaeological site to learn about the legacy of the Incas, a people whose influence is still woven into the fabric of modern Peru. Visit Pisac’s world-renowned artisanal market and learn about locally produced craft patterns and techniques.
Take a short bus ride from Pisac to your host community, tucked into a more remote part of the Andes. Live and work among local community members as you join in meaningful volunteer projects while getting to know the people, history, and culture of Andean Peru. In close partnership with local community organizations, specific volunteer projects are identified based on community need. Past projects have included building a classroom, painting a mural, constructing a community center, and volunteering in the local peach orchard. In the afternoons after the workday is finished, spend time playing soccer with your new friends, hike remnants of ancient Inca footpaths in the surrounding mountains, or relax and play music with your Peruvian peers.
During excursions, further explore the Sacred Valley.