SECRETS OF THE A 14-Day Cultural Immersion Program

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Discover the Wonder and Breathtaking Vistas of • Build a Greenhouse and Increase Food Sustainability in a Remote Quechua village • Tutor Students at a Local Primary School • Whitewater Raft the Exhilarating • Walk in the Footsteps of Incas in the Famed Sacred Valley • Experience Age-Old Traditions of Peruvian Culture • Wander the Cobblestone Streets of • 30 Hours of Community Service

Spotlight Project: Greenhouses for a Greater Good

Bring lasting change to Peru’s Sacred Valley while working to link sustainable agriculture and micro-finance to build a brighter future for underserved Peruvians. Nearly 8 million people in Peru live below the poverty line, and those in rural communities are the most deeply affected. Cut off from many basic services including running water, proper sanitation, and access to healthy food, these isolated communities struggle to improve their situation due to a lack of resources. Students on this summer service program will build greenhouses alongside locals to improve their access to essential fruits and vegetables that could not be grown without these crucial structures. The food grown in our newly constructed greenhouses will help nourish children and families in the community, and the surplus crops will be sold to travelers and locals at surrounding markets. The income from these sales helps fund education for children in the community and creates a cycle of growth and empowerment in the most remote corners of the Sacred Valley. SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1 Travel to Cusco Participants meet at the Miami International Airport (MIA) in Miami, Florida. After a brief orientation, we board our overnight group flight to Cusco, Peru, a high-altitude city nestled at over 11,000 feet in the mountain range. Accommodations: Overnight Flight

Day 3 Cusco Exploration After a brief layover in Lima, we land in Cusco and settle into our accommodation. Soon after, we take the day to explore this historic capital of the . We wander around the traditional artisan markets, experience our first taste of Peruvian food: delicious soups, potatoes, yucca, and spicy peppers, and discover the many hidden plazas and side streets with colorful balconies overhead. We get to know each other through games, activities, and icebreakers and introduce the role of “Leader of the Day,” an essential component of every ARCC program. Accommodations: Hostel

Day 4 Travel to Patabamba Today, we begin our journey into the heart of the Sacred Valley and get acquainted with the local culture in Pisac, home to the largest fortress-city complex of the Incas. We take in the fascinating ruins including the Temple of the Sun and other religious, agricultural and military structures. Later we venture into the centuries-old Pisac market full of colorful textiles and vibrant people. This evening we settle into the small community of Patabamba where our Greenhouse Construction Project begins tomorrow. Accommodations: Guesthouse Day 5 Greenhouse Construction Project This morning we awake in a small, rural community located on the plains of the Pampa de Anta region. Surrounded by awe-inspiring, glacier-capped mountains, this village is home to about fifty Quechua families. The Quechua live off the land, dedicating themselves to farming, sheep and cattle- herding, and cultivating native crops. We relish the opportunity to experience the everyday life of true descendants of the Incas and we are welcomed into the community with open arms. We roll up our sleeves to help community members build a greenhouse that will greatly expand their food options. All our efforts will supplement school lunches and community meals with fresh fruit and vegetables otherwise unavailable due to the high altitude and remote location of the village. During down time, we may hike out to the lake or teach informal English lessons.

After successfully completing our project, we say goodbye to this incredibly warm and welcoming community. We are sad to go but thankful for the positive and lasting impact we leave behind on the village. Accommodations: Guesthouse

Day 8 Urubamba River Whitewater Rafting Our rafting adventure down the Urubamba River is an exciting day of play in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We start the day getting outfitted with all of the necessary safety gear and complete our safety briefings from the river guides. We then jump in our rafts and experience the thrill of conquering Class III and IV rapids! We have lunch at a scenic spot along the river and explore the surrounding land. Accommodations: Hostel

Day 9 Zig-Zag Train to Aguas Calientes Today we descend into the Sacred Valley to , once the royal estate of the ninth Inca, , who expanded the Inca Empire throughout South America. Ollantaytambo still retains the original street plan and foundations designed by the Incas. We explore the cobblestone streets and observe the Fortress and remains of the sun temple, taking time to soak in the local culture. In the afternoon, we board our train headed for Aguas Calientes, a small village and entry point to Machu Picchu. We take in the beauty of the famous zig-zag train route, gazing through the expansive windows that extend overhead. Upon our arrival in Aguas Calientes, we enjoy dinner and rest before our full day in Machu Picchu tomorrow. Accommodations: Hostel Day 10 Machu Picchu Our day begins as we watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu; one of the most breathtaking scenes in the world! After lots of photographs, we begin our guided tour of Machu Picchu to get an insider’s look at this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. We learn about the ancient civilization of the Incas and revel in the structures made from precisely placed stones. As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu’s majesty takes us back in time as we step into the Temple of the Sun and crawl through endless stone passageways. This once-in-a-lifetime experience provides us with a newfound base of Inca culture, knowledge and traditions. After a full day, we board our train back into the Sacred Valley and enjoy beautiful views of the Andes. Accommodations: Hostel

Day 11 Sacred Valley We explore more of the Sacred Valley and its wonderful treasures as we make our way to our final service project. Our first stop is at the Inca’s mysterious crop laboratory, . Possibly built to study different climate conditions’ effect on crops, the Moray are three massive amphitheaters of incredible engineering precision and stern, magnificent beauty.

After lunch, an easy stroll through rolling farmland and views of the high Andes brings us to one of the best-kept secrets in the region, Salineras, a still-functioning Inca salt mine. This surreal and beautiful patchwork of pools and paths carved out of the side of an Andean mountain is an incredible sight you won’t soon forget. Later in the afternoon we head to Chinchero, a quiet little town known for its outdoor weaving studios, terraced Inca ruin, and intricately-frescoed colonial church. We get a good night’s rest before diving into service tomorrow. Accommodations: Hostel Day 12 Urubamba Service Project For the next two days, we join in on a community effort to tutor elementary school children in Urubamba. Just like the community with the greenhouse construction project, this area is one with which we have an ongoing relationship. We spend our days working at an elementary school where we are welcomed by lots of excited children. The school provides a haven of supportive teachers and resources for the students. We become mentors to the children as we engage in different activities like English lessons and facilitating games and activities.

We say goodbye to our friends in Urubamba and make our way back to Cusco, taking in the scenic vistas through the Sacred Valley along the way. We relish in the experiences we’ve shared together thus far as we enjoy a festive final feast of traditional Peruvian dinner before we begin our special closing ceremonies. Accommodations: Chinchero – Hostel / Cusco - Hostel

Day 14 Departure Eventually all good things must come to an end. We wave goodbye to Cusco and begin our journey back to Miami. Once we arrive in Miami, we get everyone to their connecting flights home. The memories of the experience and the group will carry us through to next summer!

Want to Learn More? Contact the Regional Director:

Eben Coenen | Regional Director: Peru [email protected] 415-332-5075 Ext. 227