Peru Language Immersion Cultural Exchange Program | Peru Equador Travel Camp

High School Students

Cultural Exchange &
Service Programs

Language Immersion,
Cultural Exchange &
Service Programs

(For High School Students)

Aventura de los Incas

3.5-Week Language Immersion, Cultural Exchange & Service Program

Session : June 25th - July 18th (24 days)
Average size of group : 18 - 20 students
Grades for session : 10 - 12
Tuition for 24 day program : $5895 (plus RT airfare for group flights from Miami to Lima, Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Quito, and Galapagos)

* This Program Offers Staff Escorted Group Flights

Service Projects*

Earn 40-60 community service hours
Help construct community facilities in a Peruvian and Ecuadorian village
Present English language lessons to local community members
Work on reforestation projects

Language Immersion*

Practice your Spanish with Peruvian students
Experience a homestay in a small Peruvian village
Engage in numerous leader-led language exercises and activities

Adventure and Cultural Activities*

White-water raft the Rio Urubamba
Visit the majestic lost Inca city of Machu Picchu
Barter for artisan goods in indigenous markets in Pisac and Cusco, Peru
Two Day camping Trek in the beautiful pristine Andes of Peru.
Explore by boat and snorkel throughout the Galapagos Archipelago

*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Lima and Orientation (2 days) - The group flies together into Lima, and spends a day participating in introductory activities and learning more about the history and culture of Peru. We will explore the many museums, cathedrals, and cultural centers in the city. A stop for ceviche, a typical Peruvian dish, is a must in Miraflores. A brief team scavenger hunt gets the group speaking Spanish. Our bed and breakfast will provide clean and comfortable accommodations in addition to meals during the night.

Cusco and Rafting (2 days) - After a short flight to Cusco, a bus ride brings us to our community stay in the Sacred Valley. The group will stay together at a centrally located lodge while we get to know the locals through service projects and adventure activities. An exciting day of rafting on the Urubamba River will provide further opportunity for team building with the group.

Homestay in Urubamba (8 days) � We continue our stay in Urubamba with homestay families. For the next week, our friendly and hospitable host families will open their hearts and homes to us; you will quickly feel a part of the family! As most of the families do not speak English, your Spanish language skills will improve daily. While meals, evenings, and weekends are reserved for homestay family time, our group gathers daily to work on projects. The remaining days will be spent collaborating with our host community and local schools on projects that they deem necessary. Previous projects have included constructing playgrounds, building a community center, painting a school classroom, and working with local youth on educational activities. We spend our afternoons exploring the region, hiking, learning local arts and crafts, and engaging in cultural activities with new local friends. On the last day, we throw a final fiesta to celebrate our hard work and thank our new friends and families.

Machu Picchu (2 days) � We arrive by train to the small scenic town of Aguas Calientes. With our informative local guide we rise early to behold the majestic lost city of the Incas.. Machu Picchu lays nestled in the high peaks and is a phenomenal and dramatic way to finish this adventure of a lifetime in Peru!

Cusco and Ecuador (2 days) � We spend our final the day souvenir shopping and exploring important cultural sites. We fly from Cusco to our second destination, Ecuador!

Galapagos Archipelago (6 days) � We take a short flight from Quito to Guayaquil and directly on to the �Capital of Paradise,� the Island of San Cristobal. After settling into our cozy hotel, we�ll visit the Galapagos Interpretation Center to get orientated on the geography, social and natural history, and wildlife of the archipelago. Our guides accompany us on boat rides each day where we�ll encounter an amazing diversity of marine and land species. Later, we travel to Santa Fe where we will enjoy snorkeling in the radiant green waters where sea turtles gracefully swim by and sea lions frolic around us. White sand beaches, sunbathing seals and panoramas of lava rocks await you!

Quito (2 days) � We settle into a new country capital, Quito Ecuador (at 9,500 feet) for a few of days of language study. We explore sites, tastes and sounds of the capital Ecuador city of Quito. Our final night is spent back at our Bed & Breakfast where the group will enjoy a celebratory final dinner. The next day, we fly home to the United States. Our friends and family greet us when we arrive to share our new experiences. It is the end of a trip, but a beginning to a new awareness about yourself and new cultures. Few countries are able to boast of the geographic and cultural diversity that Peru and Ecuador hold. Join us for ultimate South American adventure!