Location
- Multi-Country: Locations in South America; Peru: Arequipa, Cusco, Incan ruins and 2 other cities
Program Duration
9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program
9-12 weeks
Dates
Please contact us for details
This 12 week detailed exploration of Ecuador and Peru allows us to really get under the skin of these countries, their history, culture and traditions. Peru is a country you must experience if you want to comprehend exactly what makes it such a colourful yet profound part of the world and Ecuador manages to cram in both cultural and natural wonders of a range and calibre you might expect to find strewn across an entire continent into its modest borders. We can't hope to convey the full depth of the experience here, but we can tell you that this venture absolutely makes the most of the mind-boggling variety and unparalleled potential for serious adventure that the whole region offers.
Cultural introduction & Language school (Weeks 1-2 + 11)
Your adventure begins in the lively Ecuadorian capital of Quito, where you will learn the basics of Spanish. Your afternoons are free to enjoy the clubs, bars and café culture of the city at leisure. A refresher language course in Cusco is also included giving you the opportunity to stay with a local family and practice your new-found linguistic skills in an everyday context. Savour the lip-smacking local cuisine and learn first-hand how to cook the Ecuadorian and Peruvian delicacies Ceviche and Cuy, otherwise known as marinated fish and guinea pig! (optional)
Volunteer Project (Weeks 3-4 + 6-7)
Time to build on the Spanish skills you began to develop in weeks 1-2. In the dream setting of Machalilla Parks' coastal forests and beautiful beaches. You will help the people of the fishing village of Puerto Lopez, building the day-care centres and classrooms its population needs. It will be hard work, but well worth it - and keep an eye out for the humpback whales migrating to the regions seas. For the next stage of your volunteering work, in Peru, you'll become part of local work on the Great Inca Road project, which aims to establish a new trekking route to provide sustainable sources of income to remote villages in the Andes.
Adventure and exploration (Weeks 5, 8-10 + 12)
White-water rafting your way through the Amazon jungle is another experience that you will remember for a lifetime. You'll get the chance to try surfing the world's longest wave on the coast of Peru, before trekking along a traditional Inca road and making a crossing of Lake Titicaca. Next up is an exploration of one of the world's deepest canyons, home to the mighty condor. You'll fly over the mysterious Nazca lines, giant desert geoglyphs constructed over a thousand years ago, in small planes before a final unforgettable trek to the lost city of Machu Picchu, 2,400 metres above sea level.
* Learn Spanish in colonial Quito
* Spectacular Otavalo Market
* Cotopaxi Volcano
* Mountain biking
* Volunteer on the beach helping the local community
* Whale spotting (seasonal)
* Amazon jungle and white-water rafting
* Raft building and living with an Amazonian community
* Surfing the worlds longest wave
* Volunteer in the high Andes
* Great Inca Road trek
* Colca Canyon-the worlds deepest canyon
* Marine safari to spot dolphins, penguins and sea lions
* Nazca lines
* Colonial Arequipa
* Lake Titicaca
* Trek to Machu Pichu
* Cusco
No qualifications are required.
6,150 USD for 12 weeks
* All food, transport and accommodation
* Two language tuition courses
* Volunteer projects
* Expedition activities including mountain biking, white-water rafting, offshore marine wildlife visit, Nasca lines over-flight, treks as per itinerary
no
Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.
Independently or in Groups
in Groups of maximum of 16
7 days
1999