Weston High School Peru 2025
June 14, 2025
Today was a super eventful day. At around 6:00, we woke up in our Lima hotel, organized our things, and by 6:30 started to eat breakfast. Such foods included different types of bread, coffee cake, multiple fruits, and orange juice. After the scrumptious meal, we headed onto the bus and into the Jorge Chávez International Airport. We checked our bags, went through security, and in small groups, explored the airport. Many people went to get food, whether that be from familiar fast food chains or entirely new Peruvian restaurants! At around 11:00, we boarded our plane to Cusco, and before we knew it, we were over 10,000 feet above sea level in a charming and beautiful community. From the airport, we drove into town and generally stayed within a gorgeous plaza. We ate a lovely three-course meal in a comfortable restaurant and had a wonderful time! Almost everybody tried a new food today, whether that be ceviche or alpaca! Shortly thereafter, we gave ourselves around 40 minutes to walk around the plaza, and for most of us, convert our US currency into the Peruvian currency, the Sol. This, for many, was quite a challenging task, but ultimately it worked out.
Afterwards, we left Cusco and went to a stunning llama and alpaca farm. We got to feed these creatures vegetation while we learned lots of information about these interesting animals. Then, we went into the farm’s store and saw a couple of cool artifacts on the way, such as quipu, an Incan method of record keeping. Continuing through the store, we learned how to spot fake or inauthentic alpaca fur: if it’s cold, it’s legitimate. We then said goodbye to our new fluffy friends and boarded the bus which is taking us to Calca. The current mood on the bus is filled with excitement and anticipation. Everyone is so ready for the adventures to come tomorrow.
By Oliver L.
June 15, 2025
Today was a day filled with adventure, adrenaline, and exhilaration. We started our exciting day by eating a delicious breakfast at our hotel in Calca. To the surprise of many, we were surrounded by breathtakingly majestic mountains which were contoured by the intermittent clouds. We hadn’t seen it the previous night as it was pitch dark when we arrived at our hotel. It was great company for the meal. Before we knew it, we had to get moving so we boarded our bus. During the drive, we did a scavenger hunt, looking out the windows to spot interesting things, such as cattle, donkeys, dogs, cats, schools, and more! But shortly thereafter, we had arrived at the place which would force us to push ourselves far outside of our comfort zones: the zip line. We were all given harnesses and helmets in order to climb up the mountain which had the zip lines. We climbed for a little over an hour on extremely steep terrain. For a majority of the hike, we had to attach our harnesses to ropes connected to the mountain in order to not fall off. For most of us, it was really scary, exhausting, and new. After all, it’s not every day which you need to hike up a steep mountain which base is already at a high altitude. Once we reached the top, we braced ourselves for the experience of a lifetime. One by one, we boarded the first zip line. Even though it was one of the shortest of the seven lines, for most it was the scariest as we hadn’t yet gained the trust of the equipment. Obviously though, it was completely safe and after we finished the first line, we were exhilarated and excited for the next one. Each zip line became more fun than the previous one and each of us grew more and more confident. One of the zip lines was half a mile! It was absolutely amazing! About an hour and a half after we began going down the lines, we reached the bottom of the mountain and ended our time there.
We said goodbye to the staff who helped us conquer our fears and went on the bus towards a charming village where we met our new tour guide for the next few days, James. We briefly watched a few dance performances in the village, saw a cuy (guinea pig) farm in an old house from hundreds of years ago, and went to a lovely restaurant. The food, simply put, was exquisite! It was cooked at such high temperatures that by the time we were served our food, the broth in which it was cooked in was still boiling. It was an absolutely delicious experience. During our meals, we were given the opportunity to try cuy, a Peruvian delicacy. Some of us tried it, and the general consensus was that it was amazing! After the meal we split up into small groups and went shopping in the village for around a half hour. Many of us got cool souvenirs, such as jackets, sunglasses, or animal hats! Then, we left the town and boarded a train to the place where we would stay near Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes. On the train ride, there were performances by the staff on the train, telling stories and providing entertainment. Afterwards many of us played games, socialized, or slept. Once we arrived at Aguas Calientes, we settled into our hotel and had a delicious dinner. Everybody is so excited for tomorrow and ready to see the wonders which Machu Picchu holds.
By Oliver L.
June 16, 2025
Today was a really fun day of exploring and stepping out of our comfort zones to learn more about Peruvian culture. Our trip to Machu Picchu was really amazing. After our bus ride, we arrived and started taking the Circuito Dos trail. Although it was very misty, that gave the whole scenery an almost more serenic and majestic feeling. As we went up the paths that countless have traveled before us, we arrived at the top and looked down at the awe inspiring ruins surrounded by mountains. Even though it was raining a fair bit, things seemed a bit quieter, more intimate and personal because of it. One of our guides, John offered to give us a tour completely in Spanish. Immediately some of us raised our hands, and some with careful persuasion too mustered up the courage to join his group. As he began telling us the history in Spanish, in a strange way I felt that I was learning more than I ever had or could in English! Everything from describing the mountains in Quechua and Spanish, to explaining the purpose of the structures or duality used by the Inca in all of their philosophy, it was really cool to see. It felt really fulfilling to be able to understand so much Spanish from a native speaker! As time went on, the clouds began to open up and we got some really great views and pictures of the ruins.
After our tour, we went to the bus, and headed back to our hotel in town. There, we soon had lunch, and were able to sit with a lot of new people we hadn’t previously conversed with too much, and it was nice getting to know them through our unique question choices! The lunch buffet was very rich in flavor, especially in regards to Peruvian foods such as the sauce for Ceviche or Alpaca meat. We then had some time to explore around the town, going to markets and such, and it was a very pleasant experience. Not only did we get some cool souvenirs, but everybody was very kind, and there weren’t too many people which made things a lot more comfortable as well.
Soon, we boarded the train headed for Ollanta, and once on the train, we trained for our homestay by going through possible situations that could arise. Once in Ollanta, we went on the bus and searched for things all the way from a 40 km/h sign to a red tuk-tuk on the 40 minute ride to Calca. Soon, we arrived back in our hotel to retrieve our suitcases and finally meet our host families! To break the ice, we played a fun game trying not to spontaneously look another person in the eye after being arranged in a circle and quickly lifting our heads to look at somebody else. Once inside, we used a sort of circumlocution description activity to describe which animal we had so that we could find out who was our host family. It was super cool getting to see people of all ages getting to know one another, and I am very grateful for how hospitable and caring our host family has been so far, and we are looking to starting our service tomorrow!
By Austen y Curtis
June 17, 2025
Hi Everyone!
Today was such a fun and meaningful day. After our first night with our host families we got to sleep in a bit before meeting up at a local church. From there, we walked together to a nearby school for students with disabilities where we spent the morning doing some volunteer work.
Everyone got involved in different ways! Some of us were cutting and laminating learning materials, others were painting windows to brighten up the classrooms, and a few people worked on making foam stairs for the kids.
Afterward, we all headed back to our host families for lunch and some quality time. A lot of us spent the afternoon bonding, playing games, and hanging out with the families.
Later in the day, we met up again for some volleyball and soccer. Some of the host families joined us as well, making it even more fun!
Once we returned back to our host families, we had a delicious meal and are starting to settle in for the evening.
By Eme y Chloe
June 18, 2025
Today started off bright and early at 6:30 am. We woke up to the sound of the screaming rooster and got ready to eat breakfast with our host families. We talked about our plans for the day, the food we were eating, and more. We then headed out at around 7:15 to meet up with the rest of the group at the church in the plaza. Next, we had an hour and a half bus ride to the town of Kajllarakay, where we would help build water systems in order to provide water for the town. Once we arrived, we met up with the community coordinator, Anselmo, to discuss what our jobs would be for the next three hours. Groups then split up into four; one to level the ground to build a bedroom, and the other three to build the irrigation systems for the water. In order to build the systems, we needed to carry heavy materials to and from our work site and where the supplies were kept. After lots of neck cramping and yelling at each other to lift more on their side, we began our hands-on work. Some of us started by oil painting the metal bases for the water tanks, while others measured out the pipes. After all the individual pieces were put together, we began to assemble the water system. After the building, we all felt exhausted as we said our goodbyes to the community members and hopped back on the bus. 30 minutes later, we arrived at our lunch place in Urubamba where we were fed a buffet of many delicious traditional foods, including purple corn juice. After our stomachs were filled and we were replenished, we then headed back to Calca for t-shirt making with Gretel, a local friend and artist! We each designed a custom shirt of our liking where we traced, painted, and ironed. Along with this, we played with the kids and animals who were living there. After a couple hours of fun and focus, we parted ways to our home stay families. We ate dinner and played games with them, the most popular one being Uno. Soon, we all headed to bed in order to receive the best sleep for another exciting day tomorrow!
Buenas Noches!
By Kaylene, Winnie, & Annika
June 19, 2025
The day began in our homestays, where families warmly welcomed us with breakfast. While everyone enjoyed different meals, our group was served rice and steak—a simple but filling start to the morning.
We gathered as a group in the plaza and made our way to the school we had visited last Monday. There, the work began. Some painted shelves and chairs, others constructed stairs, and a few focused on cutting and laminating educational materials. Each project helped support the school’s mission to create a more engaging and supportive space for its students.
In the afternoon, we returned to our homestays for lunch and some well-earned rest. Many spent time with their host families—playing games like Uno, sharing stories, and enjoying the slower pace of village life. Later, we reconnected at the plaza and split into two groups. One went silver smithing, where everyone had the chance to design and create unique rings. The other group explored ceramics—painting vases and shaping clay on the wheel to craft creative, one-of-a-kind pieces. As the evening settled in, we returned to our homestays for an amazing dinner. Some spent more time with their families, playing games and laughing together, while others headed to bed early—resting and recharging for another meaningful day ahead.
By Annie and Addison
June 20, 2025
We spent the morning in the same indigenous community doing 2 hours in the life of a local. Most cut corn, shucked corn, prepped papas for dinner, and more. It was incredible to see how the people of this rural gem nestled in the Andes spend a Saturday morning. Groups got a chance to work alongside the locals, practicing their Spanish, and learning skills as well as leaving positive footprints behind.
Before lunch we walked up a large hill, harder than expected at 12,000 feet to learn about, observe, and participate in a very poignant celebration. The ceremony of Pacha Mama was a very special treat for everyone. Even the journey there, alive with music and a leisurely pace that allowed us to take in the beautiful scenery was a gift. Once the ceremony began, it was so intriguing how each person gave their own thanks to different parts of the earth, and the more you paid attention, the more you could actually understand what they were saying, and form sentences in Quechua. I personally took advantage of this opportunity, and in order to get the most authentic experience out of the ceremony as possible, I gave my thanks to Pacha Mama in Quechua, before thanking the locals in Spanish. That was a very special moment, and there have been few times in my life where I have felt that close spiritually with nature, myself and God. After giving thanks, we commenced with a dance, and it was nearly impossible not to have a smile come across your face. The joy of the locals, mixed with the confidence and freedom felt by each person to embrace their traditions really made everything even more poignant.
All of the families and students went to a Zumba class and came together as a community and it truly highlighted the connected and close knit relationships. The dancing brought high energy along with smiles and laughter, breaking down any remaining barriers between us. Even though many of us didn’t know all the moves, it didn’t matter, we were all in it together, just enjoying the moment. The music, movement, and shared joy created a bond that didn’t need words. After Zumba, we sat down for dinner with the families. As we shared food, stories, and laughter, the sense of community deepened. There was something powerful about eating together, it felt like we were no longer visitors, but a part of the community. That evening reminded me that connection doesn’t need a common language.
By Annika and Curtis
June 21, 2025
Today was a special and emotional day. We got to sleep in and enjoy a relaxed morning with our host families. Some people went to the plaza, some visited the market, and others played games at home. We shared one last delicious lunch with our families, took group photos, and said our final goodbyes. There were lots of hugs and even a few tears.
After that, we headed to a market on our way to Cusco, where we each had to buy a gift for a classmate using 50 soles. We practiced bargaining and speaking Spanish, which was both fun and challenging! Everyone tried to find something thoughtful and meaningful for their person.
We had a great dinner together and watched fireworks from a restaurant balcony. It was such a fun way to celebrate the trip!
To end the night, we exchanged the gifts we bought earlier and shared kind words about the person we were assigned. It was emotional, heartfelt, and something we’ll all remember. Now we’re winding down and getting ready for our last day in Peru.
By Chloe, Leah, Searcy, Annie, Addison
