9 days
On a Sacred Journey in Peru, spend some time in the cities of Lima and Cusco. Walk through the heart of Lima to see the colonial architecture. Follow the passageways beneath Museo del Convento de San Francisco on a guided tour of the catacombs. Just outside Lima, attend a Peruvian Paso horse dance with expert riders in traditional costumes. Spend an evening watching the Magic Water Circuit, a nightly display of interactive fountains that are illuminated and set to Peruvian music. Over in Cusco, explore foundations that date back to the city’s former designation as the capital of the Inca Empire. Step into the four main chambers of the golden temple of Qorikancha, where the Spanish constructed their Convent of Santo Domingo. Learn to prepare a traditional Peruvian dinner while staying in Cusco.
Go on an exploration into the culture and history of the Incas. Start with a hike at Tambomachay, where a natural spring is transformed into terraces, aqueducts and waterfalls. Experience a ritual demonstration at one of the ancient Inca shrines along the trail. See mysterious Inca sites that are covered in carvings, including the Temple of the Moon and the Q'enco Archaeological Complex. End the hike at Saqsaywaman, a site where three tiers of stonework were built without mortar and still stand strong. At Moray, experience the tiered stone rings with grass beds where crops may have been tested by the Incas. Take the train through the cloud forest to Machu Picchu. Explore the ruins where the Incas performed sacred rituals, including the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Three Windows and more stone structures dedicated to nature and primal creatures.
Engage in the heritage and traditions of Peruvians throughout the journey. Watch a weaving demonstration that honors every color in Chinchero, the birthplace of the rainbow according to the Incas. While here, taste a huatia meal of potatoes and beans, baked in a handmade earthen oven. Discover Maras Salt Mines, where families have passed down the salt mining tradition from generation to generation. Go on a shopping trip in Pisac to pick up handcrafted textiles and ceramics. Nearby, visit a llama farm to learn about these animals and pet them. On a stop in a Yucay village, participate in farming with locals, learning hands-on about agriculture practices and tasting the harvested crops.
Travel by plane from home to Lima, Peru.
View the colonial architecture on a walk in the heart of Lima, featuring the Casa Riva-Agüero, Casa de Aliaga, Casa de Osambela, Palacio de Torre Tagle, Casa Goyeneche, Casa Negreiros, Casa de las Trece Monedas, Casa de Barbieri, Casa de Pilatos and Casa de la Riva. Go into the Museo del Convento de San Francisco on a guided tour of the religious artworks and follow the passageways through the catacombs that travel beneath the cathedral and nearby churches. At the end of the day, watch Peruvian Paso horses dance, guided by expert riders in traditional costumes at a hacienda near Lima.
Travel by plane from Lima to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. On arrival in Cusco, listen to a lecture about the culture, history and geography of Peru. Stories say that Cusco was structured in the shape of a puma. Explore the foundations of the city that still date back to the Inca Empire. See what remains of the golden temple of Qorikancha, the religious center of the Inca Empire, which the Spanish constructed their Convent of Santo Domingo on top of. Step into the four main chambers of the temple, which were dedicated to the moon, stars, thunder and rainbows.
Journey from Tambomachay to Saqsaywaman, hiking through the sacred Inca sites. Start at Tambomachay, also known as the Bath of the Inca, a stone structure built over a natural spring to form terraces, aqueducts and waterfalls. The Andes Mountains are a breathtaking backdrop all along the trail and there are multiple opportunities to interact with local craftspeople as well as visit ancient shrines left behind by the Incas. At one of the shrines, witness a cultural demonstration that expresses the spirituality of the Andes people. After a picnic lunch, explore the Temple of the Moon caves, where there are carvings that portray mammoths, pumas and snakes. Next, explore the many mysteries of the Q'enco Archaeological Complex, carved out of a stone monolith. The final stop of the hike is Saqsaywaman, a marvel of Incan engineering and cyclopean masonry with three tiers of stonework that were fit together without mortar and still stand the test of time. Return to Cusco in the late afternoon for a cooking class, learning to prepare a traditional Peruvian meal for dinner.
Go to Chinchero today to see the city that the Incas believed was the birthplace of the rainbow. While here, visit the church, archaeological sites, agricultural terraces and meet the market craftspeople. Watch a weaving demonstration, where local weavers create masterful textiles that honor all the colors of the rainbow and traditional techniques. Over lunch at the weaver’s home, try a huatia meal of potatoes and beans, baked in a handmade earthen oven. In the afternoon, experience another example of Incan ingenuity at Moray, tiered stone rings with grass beds where crops may have been tested. Before returning to Cusco for the evening, discover Maras Salt Mines, where families have passed down the salt mining tradition from generation to generation.
The first adventure today is out to the Pisac Archaeological Park for the ruins and the stunning views. Back in town, go shopping in the Pisac market for handcrafted sweaters, ceramics and textiles. Afterwards, visit a llama farm to learn about these wonderful animals and have the opportunity to pet them. On the way back to Cusco, stop in Yucay village for a picnic lunch and participate in the farming process with local farmers, learning about agricultural tools and tasting samples from harvested crops.
Zigzag through the lush cloud forest from Cusco to Machu Picchu by train. On a guided exploration of the ruins, learn how they served as a religious center for sacred rituals for the Incas. Take a panoramic photo of Machu Picchu from the Guardhouse, also known as the Caretaker’s Hut. Trek up to the Temple of the Sun, constructed to capture the sun through the tower windows during the solstices. Similarly, the Temple of the Three Windows has its windows aligned with the sunrise. Stop to view the ancient stone structures of the condor and the massive sundial, known as the hitching post of the sun or Intihuatana. Until the train arrives for the journey back to Cusco, spend the extra time experiencing Machu Picchu.
Fly back to Lima in the morning and check in to local accommodations. Spend time in Miraflores during lunch, with a free afternoon to shop or wander along the Pacific Ocean shores. For the final evening in Peru, share a pollo a la brasa dinner, a dish of Peruvian chicken seasoned with salt and cooked in charcoal. Following dinner, experience the Magic Water Circuit, 13 interactive fountains that are colorfully illuminated along with a laser light show set to Peruvian music. Late this evening, pack up and head to the airport for an early morning flight home.
Climb aboard the plane just after midnight in Lima, Peru and journey home.
On this Peruvian adventure, explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World, journey through ancient ruins of the Incas and get to know the local craftspeople. Much of the foundations of Peruvian structures are preserved from the Inca Empire. See the colonial buildings from when Spain replaced many Inca temples with cathedrals and churches. Take time exploring and learning this history with the Tour Director and local guides, who know the anthropological and archaeological importance of each site throughout the trip. Get into the culture of weaving, farming and salt harvesting with families who have passed these skills down for generations. Journey through the cloud forest by train up to Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for the most breathtaking experience of natural beauty and human ingenuity that spans back hundreds of years. With a curated curriculum for educators to apply with the program, students are empowered to put their learning into practice before, during and after the trip.
Quality, safe hotels with twin or triple occupancy corresponding to the destination.
All transportation is provided throughout the program.
Airfare covers round-trip flights from major airports.
All three meals are provided daily, featuring local cuisine.
Interactive learning experiences designed to expand educational and career goals.
Scheduled activities, experiences and guided tours are all included.
Customized experiences developed by travel experts to promote learning and engagement.
Full-time Tour Directors are on site for the duration of the trip, for an all-inclusive experience.
Tips for bus drivers, guides, Tour Directors and meals.
International travel insurance is provided for protection in case of accidents, illness, flight interruptions or baggage loss.
Advanced student security software that integrates geofencing, logistics, communication and more optimized safety features.
Dedicated 24/7 staff availability, supporting students every step of the way.
