Peru Experience

This week will be your introduction to the Peruvian culture and the Spanish language as well as being a great opportunity to get to know the other people on the project with you. You will be based in the city of Cusco, the Incan Imperial capital and colonial stronghold, perfectly based to explore the sights, markets, bars, restaurants and clubs that the city has to offer.

This week you will:

• Get to know Cusco and your fellow travellers
• Take an introductory city tour of Cusco
• Learn the language
• Visit the most famous Andean market at Pisac
• Visit an Alpaca farm
• Learn to haggle South American style!
• Take Latin Dance classes
• Visit the Temple of the Sun

Sunday:

Arrival into Cusco. Your host family will meet you at the airport.

Monday:
Your first day at the Spanish school. You will have a placement exam to make sure you are in the correct class for your level. City tour of Cusco and orientation giving you information about your Experience.

Tuesday:
Spanish lessons in the morning. Free afternoon

Wednesday:
Spanish lessons in the morning. Evening dance classes.

Thursday:
Spanish lessons in the morning. Visit to the Temple of the Sun.

Friday:
Spanish lessons in the morning.

Saturday:
Free day

Sunday:
Visit to a Llama- Alpaca farm. Head to the most famous of the Andean highland markets, Pisac, where you can learn to bargain and take in all the rich cultural sights. Back to Cusco. 

This week you begin your work on a volunteer project based within Cusco. You will be given the opportunity to visit the projects before deciding which you would like to work with. All voluntary projects work with deprived children from all walks of life, with the aim of offering them with a better future. Each of these choices will involve working to develop the children’s education and self-confidence, as well as giving you the chance to get back in touch with your inner child by playing and interacting with the children.

You will volunteer from Monday to Friday with evenings free to socialise in the many bars, restaurants and Latin dance clubs in the centre of Cusco.

You have 2 options for our volunteer week

Option A:

On Saturday, you have a visit to the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu. You’ll have to get up early to get the train up to the site with your anthropologist guide.

Sunday is a free day to spend as you wish.

Option B:

You have the option of doing an exciting trek to Machu Picchu if you are feeling adventurous; this trip leaves on Thursday and arrives at Machu Picchu four days later in time for sunrise over the city.

The incredible lost Inca city in the clouds, Machu Picchu, awaits you at the end of the trek. Machu Picchu is a mysterious place built in a staggering landscape for reasons forgotten with the passing of the Inca Empire. It is believed to have been constructed by the great ruler Pachacuti around the middle of the 15th century. The Spanish conquistadors never found the site, probably because it was abandoned before the conquest.

Because the Incas left no written records, historians can only speculate on the purpose of Machu Picchu. Some believe that the dramatic location may have held religious, geographical or astronomical significance to the Incas.

Trekking - The trek is 43km (27 miles) long and, depending on which campsites are used, the approximate hours hiked per day are:

Day 1: Five hours

Day 2: Eight hours
Day 3: Seven hours
Day 4: Four hours

On the final day you will wake up early to trek up to the 'Sun Gate' and view Machu Picchu at sunrise - this is truly a sight to behold.

Monday to Friday:
You continue to work at your chosen volunteer project.

Saturday:
Afternoon visit to the ‘Oracle of Saqsayhuaman’ and the amphitheatre of O’enqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay.

Sunday:
Day trip into the sacred valley and to some of the most famous Inca ruins and breathtaking scenery in South America.

In your final week of your Peruvian experience, you will spend time exploring the South East of Peru close to the border. Here you will experience some of Peru’s most spectacular sights…

This week's highlights include:

• Trip to Lake Titicaca- the highest navigable lake in the world
• Take a boat trip around the lake
• Spend two nights in the indigenous village on Amantani island
• Learn about the culture and customs of the people of the extraordinary reed islands
• Free day for some last minute shopping and to try out your new found haggling skills

Your schedule this week will probably follow this:

Monday:
Free day in Cusco for last minute shopping

Tuesday:
Head to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca by bus. Stop off at Incan sites along the way.

Wednesday:
Take a boat from Puno out to Uros and Amantani Islands. Spend a night with the local villagers on Amantani Island.

Thursday:
On to Taquile Island to spend sometime with another indigenous community and to learn about their culture. Tonight you will be staying on Taquile.

Friday:
Hop on a boat back to Puno for some free time and relaxation.

Saturday:
Bid farewell to Peru as the end of your Experience arrives. You will be transferred from Puno to the airport.