Description

Peru is a land of breathtaking beauty and radical contrasts. Imagine yourself seated amidst a herd of llamas atop the snowcapped peaks of the Andes looking down at as parrots float above the green canopy of the Amazon rainforest. In Peru the mystifying past of the Inca civilization perseveres in the vibrant communities of the Qechua today. Through extended service and community home-stays and rugged exploration of remote wilderness, our Peru course celebrates in the warmth of communal life while delving into complex community development issues, such as education, health, tourism, and globalization. In the city of Ayacucho we introduce critical development challenges and rich cultural heritage, working with an urban youth group before setting out to share in communal life with remote indigenous communities. Farming potatoes and wheat we learn from local artisans, spiritual healers, and community leaders about the Andean culture, past and present. With a rich background of the region and its culture we trek through dazzling snowcapped peaks, exploring the sacred valley, home of the Inca Civilization. Our journey culminates in a student led trek and service learning project before arriving full circle in Peru’s bustling capital city.

Highlights

Following is a sample itinerary for Dragons Peru: Sacred Mountains Summer Abroad Program. Our sample itineraries are based on past courses; in order to meet instructor team goals, as well as the goals and interests of particular student groups, future itineraries are subject to change.

Week One:
Orientation in Miami; Fly to Lima: museums, markets, NGOs. Bus to Huaraz for course orientation in the majestic Cordillera Blanca; celebratory feast, traditional music and dress.

Week Two:
Bus to Chiquian: extended mountain home-stay; sports with locals; wheat and quinoa harvest; traditional cooking; Collaborative community service project. Study Spanish.

Week Three:
Trek from homestays in Chiquian through the spectacular Cordillera Huayhuash

Week Four:
Bus and boat into Amazon basin: indigenous village visit, cultural preservation, traditional medicine and crafts, environmental conservation, diverse flora and fauna, inquiry into sustainable eco-tourism

Week Five:
Travel to Juliaca. Stay in village the on banks of Lake Titicaca. Boat to islands to camp and fish. Orphanage service project in remote village of Nunoa.

Week Six:
Explore Inca history in Cuzco, The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Possible hikes around Ausungate, a 21,000 foot peak near Cuzco. Travel from Cuzco to Lima for final service and development activities.

Travel Types

• 4th World Studies
• Camping
• Cooking
• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Language Immersion
• Mountaineering
• Overland Tours
• Volunteering
• Trekking

Type of Programs

• High School Study Abroad
• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Language Immersion
• Cultural Exploration

Languages

• Spanish

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

7,050

Program Fees Include:

Tuition includes everything except international flight medical insurance and small personal expenses (personal calls home personal snacks aside from meals laundry services, email/internet cafes, etc.)

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Asian and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Written Application
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Where There Be Dragons's Mission Statement

Dragons programs are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which we travel. Featuring extended itineraries, Dragons programs encourage deep immersion into strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, combining the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually challenging experiences. While programs vary in their focus - with some trekking and wilderness intensive, others strong on service and development studies, and still others language-oriented - all Dragons journeys are designed above all else to be fun, safe and honest educational experiences.

Year Founded

1993