2025 GSSM Peru Cultural Journey

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2025 GSSM Peru Cultural Journey!  To learn more,  you have two webpages at your disposal. The Pre-Enrollment page shares exciting highlights and important info that you will want to know before signing up. Once enrolled, you'll begin using the Post-Enrollment page which offers a greater level of detail.  Please be sure to review the information thoroughly and get excited for Peru! 
Travel Dates: January 8, 2025 - January 18, 2025
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $3,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Confirmed Airfare: $1,149

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan.  Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $3,490

Pay in Full

$3,490.00

due today

Payment Plan

Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:

$199.34

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

All prices in United States Dollars.

Peru Cultural Journey

Viva Peru! Here is a country with so much to offer a curious traveler: dazzling culture, world-famous landscapes, compelling history and friendly and hospitable people. Whether you’re strolling the cobblestone streets of Cusco, watching the sun rise from the splendor of Machu Picchu or working on a meaningful service project in a small community in and mountains of the Sacred Valley, Peru is sure to leave you wanting more.

Program Highlights


Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!

Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends

Experience the grandeur of Machu Picchu

Tour the Saqsayhuaman complex above Cusco

Learn new moves in a Latin dance class

Practice your Spanish language skills with locals

Hike through the Amazon jungle

Visit the capital city's coastal neighborhoods of Miraflores and Barranco

Canoe through Lake Sandoval in the Amazon

Wander the cobbled stone street of Cusco, the former capital of the Incan empire

The Itinerary


We do everything possible to abide by  itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group. 

DayLocationActivityLodging
January 8USA - PeruToday the group will travel from the USA to Lima, Peru. After arrival, we will settle into our hotel and rest after the long day of travel.Girasoles Hotel Miraflores
January 9LimaWe will start our day with our orientation meeting to help us prepare for the days ahead. We will then make our way to the historic center to explore the plaza mayor and the catacombs underneath the convent of San Francisco. Later on, we will explore the Miraflores neighborhood, including the Parque Kennedy, and dine on some of Lima's famously delicious delicacies.Girasoles Hotel Miraflores
January 10Lima and CuscoToday we will leave Lima and travel to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Quechua empire. 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.Hotel Rojas Inn
January 11CuscoOur day will begin touring the famous Quechua ruins of Saqsayhuaman. After lunch, we will practice our moves in a Latin dance class before continuing exploring the the cobblestone streets around the central plaza of Cusco and visit the market and stores in smaller groups. In the evening, we will enjoy local and international food and the comforts of our quaint hotel.Hotel Rojas Inn
January 12Cusco - Sacred Valley - Aguas CalientesThe 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) before we drive back to Cusco. This evening we will catch a two-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu, where we will spend the night.Vista Machu Picchu Hostel
January 13Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - CuscoToday we will have an early start. First, we will catch the bus to the ruins of Machu Picchu. 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. After a quick visit Aguas Calientes, we will catch our train back to Cusco to prepare for our departure to the Amazonas tomorrow.Hotel Rojas Inn
January 14Cusco - Puerto Maldonado- AmazonToday we will fly to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway city to some of the most biodiverse pockets of the entire Amazon rainforest. Upon arrival, we will make our way by bus and boat to the eco-lodge, our home for the next three nights in the jungle. We will receive an orientation from the lodge's guides, then set out for a night hike in the forest to experience the vibrant nocturnal wildlife all around us.Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge
January 15AmazonWe will begin today by exploring the jungle's canopy by hiking through a series of suspension bridges. We will continue onward to a wildlife rescue center, where we may see jaguars, monkeys, bush dogs, tapirs and more, to learn about the work being done to rehabilitate displaced wildlife back into their habitat. Later, we will hike around an agroforestry farm in the area before searching for caiman on the river's edge this evening!Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge
January 16AmazonThis morning we will venture even deeper in the rainforest to Lake Sandoval, a stunning palm-ringed lake in the heart of the Tambopata reserve. We will paddle around the pristine lake, keeping our eyes peeled for howler monkeys, macaws, hoatzin, and the endangered river otter. Back near the lodge, we will enjoy a relaxing afternoon floating the river, watching for turtles, heron, and capybara. We will end our adventures in the Amazon tonight with lectures from local conservationists on the projects they are working on to preserve this delicate ecosystem before falling asleep to the sounds of the forest.Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge
January 17Puerto Maldonado - Lima - USAThis morning we will say goodbye to the Amazon basin and begin our journey back to the USA. We will take an afternoon flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the city where we will enjoy our final dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean before heading back to the airport to catch our overnight flight from Lima to the USA.Airplane
January 18USAArrive home.Your own bed!

Accommodations


In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe.  We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your program, subject to availability. 
Girasoles Hotel Miraflores

Located in the picturesque Miraflores neighborhood, Hotel Girasoles offers a restaurant and modern rooms with free Wi-Fi. Rooms at Girasoles Hotel have a tasteful red décor and are all equipped with an LCD and cable TV, work desk and private bathroom with toiletries and towels. A breakfast buffet with buttered croissants, fruit salads and scrambled eggs is available daily. The restaurant at Hotel Girasoles serves both international cuisine and Peruvian specialties.

Hotel Rojas Inn

Conveniently located in Cusco, Hotel Rojas Inn offers rooms equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towels. Rooms come with a safety deposit box, while certain rooms include a balcony and others also offer city views. Guest rooms will provide guests with a closet and an electric tea pot. The hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service, a concierge service, a tour desk and currency exchange for guests. It also provides a buffet breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property.

Vista Machu Picchu Hostel

Located in the base town of Machu Pichhu, Vista Machu Picchu Hostel offers a convenient stay for a day of exploration. This hotel offers private rooms equipped with a private bathroom, TV and Wifi. The accommodation also offers 24 hour reception desk,  a pool and great terrace views.

Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge

The rustic lodge at Corto Maltes is a collection of beautifully finished wood bungalows, common spaces, kitchen cabin, pool and garden areas. This low-impact, eco-friendly lodge provides an important balance of comfort and style while enjoying the wild of the Amazon. Free Wi-Fi access is available in the common areas during certain times of day. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

Safety and Support


EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

Lovett’s trip to Morocco was a once in a lifetime trip for a lot of our students. It was great to hear how the students raved about the trip to their parents upon return. Overall a wonderful trip that the students and staff loved!

Sabrina
Group Organizer on Morocco 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. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel. 

Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.

 

Resource center

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.

Learn More

Top