ITINERARIES

LIMA

Our adventure begins when we land in the capital city of Lima. A large, vibrant metropolis, Lima has everything from glitzy seaside resorts to decrepit shantytowns. During our first full day, the group will take Latin dance lessons and a walking tour of central Lima. We will gather at the top of Cerro San Cristobal as the city unfolds in front of us and talk about the differences in wealth and prosperity among Limeños, as the residents are called.

THE AMAZON JUNGLE

The Amazon jungle constitutes the largest collection of animal and plant species in the world. From the comforts of our eco-lodge our group will explore the jungle by day and night. Guided by local experts, we will search for monkeys, caimans, wild boars, capybaras and more, fish for piranhas, canoe through tropical lakes and marvel at the abundance of wildlife and raw energy of the Amazon Basin.

LAKE TITICACA

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake and forms the border between Perú and Bolivia. Students will travel across the Peruvian altiplano, or high plains, to reach the shores of the lake. We will visit the famous floating islands of the Uros tribe before arriving at Taquile, a remote island where students will learn about unique customs and enjoy sweeping views of the lake.

CUSCO AND THE SACRED VALLEY

Cusco was once the capital of the Incan Empire before being conquered by the Spanish. Today, it’s a thriving city with charming cobblestone streets, lazy courtyards, great restaurants, world-class museums and endless displays of its Incan pride and dynamic history. It’s also the gateway to the Sacred Valley where our travelers will visit indigenous markets, mountain bike in the shadows of the Andes, explore an ancient agricultural laboratory and walk through thousands of cascading salt pools.

MACHU PICCHU

One of the seven man-made wonders of the world, the name Machu Picchu conjures images of misty peaks and impossible ingenuity. We will take a guided two-day hike through cloud forests, along the banks of the Urabamba River and up to this mountain citadel, a route far less traveled than the traditional Incan Trail. Once among the ruins, we will learn about the history and importance of Machu Picchu and climb to the top of Wayna Picchu for a time of silent reflection as our program nears its end (Discovery and Explorer Programs will take a train to Machu Picchu).

COMMUNITY SERVICE & HOMESTAY

The true focus of our adventure in Peru is the time spent in homestays and working on community service in a small village. Students will live with Peruvian families in a picturesque village in the famous Sacred Valley. At the base of the Andes and in the heart of the Incan world, this promises to be an unforgettable and enriching experience. For the duration of our time in the community, students will live either on their own or in pairs and will significantly improve their Spanish while learning the basics of Quechua. While we understand the thought of living with another family can be intimidating, we are confident that homestays are extremely rewarding. Walking Tree has carefully selected each host family to ensure a safe, nurturing and enriching environment.

Days in the village are spent working on a variety of community service projects that are decided upon in conjunction with the community to ensure their usefulness. Some projects will necessitate construction while others will be less labor-intensive. The days will begin early and end in the afternoon, broken up by a midday break. They promise to be long and rewarding. Students will eat all three meals with their family and try local dishes such as quinoa, guinea pig or one of the hundreds of types of potatoes that grow in Peru.
When not working on the community service projects, our students will have free time to spend with their families, practice Spanish, play soccer, make friends with local youth, explore nearby Incan ruins and attend community gatherings.