Today we'll have an orientation meeting before exploring one of the cosmopolitan cities in all of Latin America! We'll check out the posh neighborhood of Miraflores as well as the Parque Amor and, if time permits, we will end the day with a tour of the temples of Huacapucllana, a set of adobe ruins in the heart of the city.

This morning we will head to the airport to catch our flight to Juliaca. Once we arrive we will transfer to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We will spend the rest of the day relaxing to acclimatize to the altitude and catch a lively demonstration of indigenous dances in town over dinner this evening.

After breakfast and watching the sunrise over the lake, we will depart on bicycle taxis for our boat. We will navigate the lake with our guide to Taquile, a remote island with stunning views and unique cultural traditions. Afterwards we will share a traditional meal with some of the lake's indigenous inhabitants before making our way to the floating islands of the Uros people, who continually construct these homes using the lake's reeds. We will return to Puno for dinner and relaxation after a fulfilling day.

Today we will travel overland to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Quechua empire. Once in Cusco, we will take a guided walking tour of the historic center and marvel at how Quechua, Spanish and modern influences have molded current day Cusco.

Our day will begin with an adventurous photographic scavenger hunt in the cobblestone streets around the central plaza of Cusco. Next, we will practice our moves in a Latin dance class before touring the famous Quechua ruins of Saqsayhuaman. In the evening, we will enjoy local and international food and the comforts of our quaint hotel.

Today we will depart Cusco and arrive at our homestay community. We will meet our families in the central plaza and after a short introduction, we will settle in with our hosts. In the afternoon, we will have a walking orientation of the community and get ready for our first day of service the following day.

Our service days will be spent in our homestay community, which represent the heart and soul of our program. We will volunteer on meaningful service project(s) during the day while also enjoying sufficient free time to interact with our host families and fellow travelers, practice our language skills and explore the surrounding area.

Today we will continue work on our service project(s) and spend time with our host families. Evening activities will vary.

We'll start the day with a weaving demonstration from the women famous for these local textiles. We will then make our way to Salineras, where thousands of salt pools cascade down the mountains, and Moray, an ancient Quechua agricultural laboratory. From there we will descend the Sacred Valley in bikes (or vans) and return to our host community.

Today we will finish our work on our service project(s) and spend time with our host families. Evening activities will vary.

Today we will head out to the town of Pisac, home to the largest regional market.  We will use our Spanish language skills to negotiate good prices on world class crafts in this colorful market! This afternoon, we will either explore the ruins above town or in Ollantaytambo, where brave Quechua warriors once staged a rebellion against the Spanish conquistadors. Tonight we will have a fiesta de despedida with our families to celebrate our time in the community together. The bravest among us can try cuy , the andean guinea pig eaten on special occasions!

Today we will wake early and make our way to the train station to take the beautiful two-hour ride to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu. We will then either hike or bus to the famous ruins. With our local guide, we will learn about the history and significance of this citadel set high in the Andes, and take time to reflect on our journey thus far. We will head back to our host community this evening.

This morning we will say goodbye to our host families and begin our journey back to the USA. We will take an afternoon flight from Cusco to Lima. If time permits, we will leave the airport to explore the capital's historic center, including the plaza mayor and the catacombs under the convent of San Francisco, before catching our overnight flight from Lima to the USA.

We arrive home!