2025 GSSM Peru Cultural Journey

Accommodations

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Group Flight

International Flight

-Baggage allowance: one carry and + one personal item. First checked bag is $40

Domestic Flight

Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.

Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.

Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.

We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.

FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION 
Air travel can be unpredictable.  Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc.  Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route.  Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night.  Our primary role will be to  keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a  quick and effective resolution.

Host Community and Project Details

Packing List

What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.

“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with.  We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.

Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination. 

CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :

• Underwear
• Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
• T-shirts (some quick dry)
• Long sleeve shirts
• Sweaters or sweatshirts
• Warmer jacket
• Warm hat
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Rain jacket
• Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
• Comfortable, everyday pants
• Durable athletic/walking shoes
• Sandals (optional)
• Hat/s

TOILETRIES: BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:

• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Band Aids and Neosporin
• Hand Sanitizer
• Medication in properly marked original container

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Notarized permission letter to travel
• Sunglasses
• Journal and pen
• Book
• Camera
• Universal power adapter
• Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $100-$200, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
• Durable water bottle
• Quick-dry towel
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Deck of cards or other portable games
• Student ID
• Spanish/English Dictionary

Support Team

At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.

Luke Mueller

Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO

[email protected]

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Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History

Luke’s path to student travel began in Mexico, during a year abroad in Mexico and Central America. This formative time led him to join an international volunteer program which, after graduating from college, sent him to the small village of San Gerardo de Rivas in south-central Costa Rica. Welcomed by the loveliest of host families, his experience in this tiny town is directly connected to the beginnings of Walking Tree five years later. His love for travel still burns bright, and today he’s lucky to have a wife and daughter who are equally passionate about exploring the world. Settled in Denver, he adores his family and colleagues, skies whenever possible, and is a devoted fan of all Colorado sports teams.

Juan Pablo “JP” Rabanales

Global Country Operations Manager

[email protected]

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Earlham College – B.A. International Studies, Minor in Economics

Born and raised in Guatemala in a big family, JP spent seven years living and studying in the U.S., where he was exposed to highly diverse communities. He worked as a Wilderness Leader guiding expeditions across the American Southwest and later attended Earlham College in Indiana after completing the International Baccalaureate in New Mexico. His passion for international affairs led him to study abroad in China and travel extensively throughout Asia and beyond. To date, JP has visited 33 countries, often combining travel with service projects and cultural immersion experiences. Today, he is based in Costa Rica and works full time with the Walking Tree team. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, art and design, hosting friends and travelers, and planning road trips across Costa Rica and Latin America.

Rafael Solorzano

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UIGV University, Cusco: Business Management/Tourism

Rafael comes from the city of Cusco in Peru. He enjoys being outdoors and is always eager to acquire new skills. In his early twenties, he had the opportunity to live in New Zealand, an experience that completely transformed his life. It was during this time that he decided to pursue a career that would allow him to be outside and travel.

When he’s not busy with work, Rafael can often be found learning about history, finance, and cars. He also loves embarking on hiking adventures and going on road trips. Traveling is an important part of his life. So far, he’s been to seventeen countries across four continents and hopes to continue exploring different cultures around the world. Rafael firmly believes that traveling is an unparalleled way to educate oneself and, in the process, broaden one’s perspective of the world.

Group Roster

Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.

• 1 Aishwarya Prabhakaran
• 2 Andrew Braddock
• 3 Christopher Champi
• 4 Crystal Nguyen
• 5 Ella Alexander
• 6 Emily Wilson
• 7 Gabriel Brown
• 8 Gael Valverde Taipe
• 9 Isaac Kanagy
• 10 Jennifer Brown
• 11 Kaitlyn Reeder
• 12 Kambell Summers
• 13 Kenneth Toussaint
• 14 Lucy Hartley
• 15 Makena Barker
• 16 Maxwell McBurney
• 17 Noah Coleman
• 18 Peter Steinmetz
• 19 Priya Raj
• 20 Roland Yang

Blog and Communication

During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program.  Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families back home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.

Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.

GLC Curriculum

Standards of Behavior

In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational.  As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.

IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL

1. Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
2. Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
3. Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE

1. Getting a piercing or tattoo.
2. Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
3. Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
4. Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
5. Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
6. Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
7. Breaking group rules.

These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.

Health and Safety

We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Peru website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before traveling.

Our in-country staff meticulously prepare for all programs. Walking Tree receives regular updates from the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to proactively stay ahead of any potential security concerns. Our in-country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families through in-depth interviews and visits, and stay informed about important current events in the region.

Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in comprehensive leadership training. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff, and U.S.-based staff.

We collect medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we can meet every student’s needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues not listed during your initial registration process. Leaders and in-country staff are prepared to respond promptly to any mental, physical, or emotional health concerns and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.

Insurance

While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel can be unpredictable. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) provision. Detailed explanations of plan options can be found via the link below.

To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry.  Begin by getting a quote here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage that includes CFAR, you must purchase the plan within 14-21 days of your first payment to Walking Tree. Be careful when you read the tenets of the policy to ensure you understand the required timeframe for purchase. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight. Please reach out to us with questions.