Description

Amid the beauty of the Andes and Amazon, a rare language and service experience awaits. Get set to journey back in time to discover Peru in a way that few can.

Machu Picchu is just one incredible stop along the way as we explore the ancient Incan empire. Hike to breathtaking Andean summits as llamas stampede by. In the Sacred valley, live at a hacienda and learn Spanish from local instructors. There we also team up with local elementary school kids, to help with their latest community project. Lastly, travel to the Amazon River Basin to participate in service projects with local volunteers, working on conservation awareness and environmental education. Ruins. Rainforests. Rewarding experiences.

Earn 3 Spanish credits through Lesley University. Complete up to 35 hours of community service. From cultural exchange opportunities to real world field-based learning and service, Peru will fill you with memories and experiences that will guide you forward.

Day 1-4
Your flight from Miami to Cusco is more than just a flight into Peru. It's an exploration into a once powerful society, whose ruins still stand in once majestic cities. It's an examination of ancient and modern cultures, and how their collision continues to play out on the cobblestone streets of present day Peru. All the history that exists here is prologue to a journey and story that you will ultimately write. It's a story that ends with you developing a greater sense of self, and experiencing true selflessness. Visit colonial cathedrals, the historic Plaza de Armas and the bustling Mercado Central. Investigate the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Qenko and Tambomachay. Work your Spanish, bargaining for crafts with Quechua Indians in colorful markets. This is only the beginning.

Day 5-8
Get ready to experience the kinds of things other anthropology students only read about. After a relaxing dip in natural hot springs, we set off on a challenging trek on the Inca Trail, winding through mountains, valleys and rural villages. Hike past cliff hugging ruins in a valley speckled with cloud forests and walls of stone (we swear we're not making this up). Visit ancient cities and well-preserved archeological sites. Camp under star-filled skies. Until at last, you arrive at Machu Picchu, the world's most awe-inspiring archaeological site.

Day 9-12
The goal of the language studies program is to develop enough working Spanish conversation and comprehension skills to be able to go out into the local community and take part in service projects. After spending a few days at the Amauta Lang School, we pick up a paintbrush and pitch in to decorate and help improve the condition of a local elementary school. Giving back and improving the day-to-day lives of ordinary Peruvians is incredibly rewarding, considering that we are now a part of their communities. In Pisac, explore local markets where artisans sell their colorful wares. Plus, spend an afternoon exploring a llama and alpaca farm. Como te llama?

Day 13-17
Gear up for hands-on research at the Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station. This is Peru's only permanent field station, focused on cloud forest ecology. Encroaching expansion is threatening treasured ecosystems and weakening the cloud forest's ability to mitigate flooding, protect fish spawn, and keep habitats safe for countless species. This is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots, where the slopes of the Andes meet the Amazon lowlands. Your work here will focus on the interactions within the ecosystem and how climate change is affecting the cloud forest. It's an environmental education that can't be replicated anywhere else.

Day 18-25
Travel to Puerto Maldonado where we take a boat up the Amazon to Picaflor, an environmental education center. Assist in trail development and maintenance, organic gardening, and plant and animal identification. host a school group for an overnight camping adventure, teaching them about environmental issues. Everyone has a blast painting murals at the schoolhouse and sharing a few laughs. In the Amazon, the work can be challenging yet intensely rewarding. For our last few days, we travel downstream to a breathtaking eco-lodge. Capuchin monkeys provide the entertainment while we relax in hammocks under the shade of Kapok trees. Leave with an undeniable sense of accomplishment.

Highlights

* Earn 3 Spanish credits through Lesley University
* Hike the famous Inca Trail to breathtaking Machu Picchu
* Study Spanish at a hacienda in the beautiful Sacred Valley
* Do much needed service work in the Andes and the Amazon
* Visit local communities and learn all about sustainable tourism
* Take cooking class, salsa lessons, and visit local cultural sites
* Horseback ride to the rarely explored Inca city of Huchuy Quosqo

Travel Types

• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Language Immersion
• Mountaineering
• Volunteering

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education

High School

Subject Areas

• Community Service
• Ethnic Studies
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Call for details

Experience Required

yes

• 1 year Spanish Experience
• Minimum 18 years old
• High school Graduate
• Minimum GPA: 2.50
• Completed at least one semester at college or graduated high school over a year ago

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Scholarships are Available

If you have any questions about scholarship availability, please email us. Applications for next summer are due May 1. Scholarship awards will be made May 15th.

Application Process Involves

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-3 days

Year Founded

1993