PERU: MYSTIC MOUNTAINS

ACTIVITIES

• Explore: The ancient Incan capital of Cusco (a UNESCO World Heritage site) including the temples and winding cobblestone streets

• Bike: Explore the Andes by bike

• Paddleboard: Relax on the water of a pristine alpine lake, or just try not to fall in!

• Natural dyeing and weaving workshop: Learn the techniques of weaving and dyeing that have been passed down for generations

• Hike and camp in the Sacred Valley: Hike to our rural camp nestled in this iconic valley

• Machu Picchu: Take a guided tour of the ancient citadel

• Train: Take a train to Ollantaytambo

• Via Feratta: Climb 400 meters up the face of the mountain tackling various challenges along the way

• Zip Line: To see the incredible mountain views

• Chocolate Museum: Learn about and make handmade chocolates from Peruvian cacao

• Taste: Traditional Peruvian meals in Lima

SERVICE

A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work could include some of the following:

• We will work side by side with a small, local community deep in rural Peru on a potable water infrastructure project. We will help with various basic construction tasks to assist the project.

• Working with a local education based non-profit, the second part of our service involves supporting and educating local kids, learning about issues of access to education in the Andes, and have the opportunity to meet the inspiring young women who lead this project.

WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION

The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING

Accommodations are mostly in rustic hotels at various locations along your journey. Bedrooms will be divided by gender, and participants will sleep slumber party-style – in sleeping bags, rotating available beds nightly, and sharing beds as needed. In The Sacred Valley, we sleep in tents for 2 nights. For tent camping, we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage. Bathrooms are mostly flush toilets with the occasional latrine in some of the more rural parts.

Bathrooms and showers can be rustic so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 3-4 days even when showers are readily available in private housing accommodations. On days with water-based activities, participants will be able to rinse off with fresh water.

FOOD

All meals on this trip are planned and prepared by our in-country community partners. There may be opportunities to assist in food preparation depending on the preference of the partner.

Expect to eat meals that are consistent with the culture we are visiting. While other food options may be available, we will be sharing meals with our community partners, and eating what they eat as part of our cultural exchange. Meals are often filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Rice and beans are also a common feature as the base of many meals.

We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.

TRAVEL

Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their students from home to Lima (LIM) on the first day of the trip, and from Lima (LIM) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.

A leader-escorted round-trip flight will be available between a major US airport and Lima (but is not required) for those travelers who wish to fly with a leader. Booking information for the escorted flight will be available after enrollment. There is also an internal flight which will be an additional cost for families apart from tuition. For more details, please contact the office.

ADDITIONAL IN-COUNTRY FLIGHT

For this program there is also an internal group flight that will be booked by RLT that is additional to the trip tuition. This flights are purchased by RLT and invoiced to families; you do not need to take any action to book this portion of the travel.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.

VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION

We always encourage families to review the CDC website regarding recommended vaccinations and medications for international travel. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.

TECHNOLOGY

As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.