2021 Seattle Academy Peru Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | March 10, 2021 - March 21, 2021 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,890 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $900 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow the option which works best for your family.
Program Tuition: $2,890
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All prices in United States Dollars.
Peru Service Adventure
Immense, rugged, colorful, vibrant and mystic. No one word or idea can embody a land so diverse in geography, culture and history. Peru is the destination for adventure. Whether tracking a wild boar in the Amazon Basin, dancing to salsa music in Lima, watching wheat sway in the shadow of the mighty Andes, or spying a rainbow forming above the ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru will take your breath away.
The contrasts of Peru permeate every part of the country. Despite its beauty, there are large discrepancies among socioeconomic classes and wide differences in standards of living throughout the country. Travel with us to Peru and explore this unique country, combining meaningful service with an unforgettable adventure.
Service Adventures
Service Adventures combine local homestays, adventure travel, and meaningful service projects. Students will be truly immersed in our host communities allowing them the time to reflect on their complex and important role as global citizens.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Experience the incredible ancient city of Machu Picchu
Tour the ruined complex of Saqsayhuaman above Cusco
Learn new moves in a Latin dance class
Navigate the region's largest market in Pisac
Explore the Sun Temple and other Incan ruins in Ollantaytambo
Visit the capital city's coastal neighborhoods of Miraflores and Barranco
Enjoy a photographic scavenger hunt of Cusco in the high Andes
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Lima, Peru | Today the group will travel from the USA to Lima, Peru. After arrival, the group will settle into their hotel and rest ahead of our connecting flight the following morning. | Mami Panchita |
| 2 | Lima - Cusco | Today we will leave Lima and travel to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Quechua empire. Once in Cusco, we will hold an orientation meeting at our hotel in the beautiful San Blas neighborhood to discuss the upcoming trip in detail. Later, 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. | Pension Alemana |
| 3 | 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. | Pension Alemana |
| 4 | Cusco - Homestay Community | 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. | Homestay |
| 5 | Homestay Community | 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. | Homestay |
| 6 | Homestay Community | Today we will work on our service project(s) and spend time with our host families. Evening activities will vary. | Homestay |
| 7 | Sacred Valley | The adventures continue as we set out for Chinchero, a small town just above the Sacred Valley, where we will enjoy 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. | Homestay |
| 8 | Homestay Community | Today we will finish our work on our service project(s) and spend time with our host families. Evening activities will vary. | Homestay |
| 9 | Pisac - Ollantaytambo | 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! | Homestay |
| 10 | Machu Picchu | 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, and continue onward up to the famous ruins. With our local guide, we will learn about the history and significance of this mystical 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. | Homestay |
| 11 | Cusco - Lima - USA | 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. Options include checking out some of Lima's more famous collections of art and Peruvian treasures, either in MALI or in the Larco Museum. We could also go to the historic center, walk around the plaza mayor and tour the catacombs under the convent of San Francisco, or grab dinner along the Malecón overlooking the Pacific Ocean, before catching our overnight flight from Lima to the USA. | Airplane |
| 12 | USA | We will arrive home! | Own bed |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience for travelers, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean, safe and wifi-enabled.
Pension Alemana
Situated in the hills of the San Blas neighborhood, Pension Alemana is a beautiful bed and breakfast overlooking the historic center of Cusco. Representative of the city’s history and culture, this hotel blends Quechua and Spanish colonial styles to provide a stunning setting to relax at 11,000 feet. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Mami Panchita
Mami Panchita is a family owned and operated colonial style guest house in San Miguel. Conveniently located between the airport and the attractions of the coastal neighborhoods, this hostel offers a cozy retreat from the bustle of the Peruvian capital that students will surely enjoy. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
Communication was excellent! We had absolutely all the info we needed from the moment we signed up. LOVED the blog with photos. The prep and follow up activities on culture shock, re-entry, etc. were fantastic!!! Thank you!!!
Erika
Parent of John, traveler on Peru Service Adventure
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. You will be invoiced for the flight once we are able to secure the group’s airline contract.
Program Tuition Excludes: Premiere Travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
Need to Raise Money? We Have you Covered.
Our travelers are provided with funding opportunities that are easy to implement and fun to take part in. Our flagship fundraiser involves selling fair trade, organic, carbon-neutral coffee from a women’s collective in Peru. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so get started now by clicking the link below!
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.