day 1-2
Arrive in beautiful and bustling Lima to meet your group and leaders. Enjoy the city while you can because you are about to be whisked away and seemingly back in time to Cusco – a city named the archeological capital of the Americas. With some of the most beautiful views in the world, Cusco is a city surrounded by 6 towering mountains dotted with legendary Inca ruins.
day 3-5
Next, switch gears for a rip-roaring adventure along the world-class rated Apurimac River. Bounce and splash as you navigate Class III-V rapids, but be sure to hang on tight! Spend two evenings relaxing and dining on extraordinary meals at beaches bordering the river.
day 6-11
Next, discover the best way to learn about the culture by living for a few days among local Peruvian families! After morning Spanish lessons in the Ccorca District, spend your afternoons immersing yourself in the culture of Peru with everything from day hikes among the ruins outside Cusco to ceramics, cooking and dancing classes! Offering your time and energy to some of the children of Peru will not only open your eyes, but fill your heart with joy. More than likely, you will learn as much from them as they will learn from you. You will also work side by side with the people of the villages working on sustainable projects throughout the community. On the last evening of your week in the Ccorca villages, you will meet your backpacking guides to prep for the much-anticipated Salkantay Trail and your journey to Machu Picchu! Make sure you get a good night’s sleep because the next 6 days are guaranteed to stretch you mentally and physically!
day 12-17
Rise and shine early in order to journey from Cusco to Mollepata where you will meet up with your guides, mules and horses and begin the trek of a lifetime! Hike along the ancient trail and be mesmerized by the stunning Inca ruins, tremendous mountains and beautiful vegetation. You will experience a wide variety of views as you venture over mountain passes and through cloud forests and subtropical vegetation. Each day will be filled with delicious meals, ancient stories and views that only get better as the days progress. On the morning of your final day backpacking, rise before the sun to climb to the Sun Gate “Intipunku,” the main entrance to Machu Picchu! Gaze in awe as the clouds and mist part to reveal one of the world’s greatest masterpieces. Be sure to have your camera in hand as the scenery rapidly changes! Descend into the ruins to mingle among the llamas and learn more about the secrets of Machu Picchu.
day 18-20
Awake with the sunrise as you prepare to spend the day traveling from Cusco to Puno in Southern Peru. While en route, you’ll enjoy places such as the “Andean Sistine Chapel” known as Andahuaylillas, respected for its beautiful architecture complete with magnificent carvings. You will also visit an enormous and magnificent Incan temple, Raqchi, dedicated to the God Wiracocha. Marvel at the size of this monument as it is 100 meters long, 26 meters and 14 meters tall! From Puno, you’ll travel to the small village of Llachon where you will find yourself surrounded by locals who will welcome the group to their homes for splendid meals. After a night of feasting with your new friends (and another delicious meal at breakfast time, of course!), you’ll have enough fuel to power our arms for sea kayaking on Lake Titicaca for the next 2 days, the world’s highest navigable lake. You are sure to see some beautiful sites on the rugged coastline and a spectacular sunset as another wonderful day winds down. In the afternoons you will have time to give a little back to the local comm by helping a local kindergarten school paint the inside and outside of the school. The days are wrapped up with a game of soccer, throwing around a Frisbee, and just relaxing and coloring with some local kids.
day 21
Depart Juliaca on a plane headed to Lima where you will end your trip with a grand finale banquet, Peruvian style!
day 22
It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 weeks already! Get ready to board your plane and head home with a lifetime of memories.
