Peru

The itinerary depicts the typical 25-day program. The flow of the schedule may change slightly due to impromptu community events, weather, or other factors that keep us flexible.

Day 1: High school volunteers arrive at the Lima airport, where VISIONS leaders meet participants and fly with them to Cuzco. All teens make a quick call home before the group drives to Urubamba.

Greeted by our professional driver and project coordinator, Nico, we make the gorgeous hour-long drive into the Sacred Valley and our homebase in Urubamba. We settle in and begin our program orientation, including our first Circle meeting to start getting to know each other.

We then come together for a Cena de Bienvenida with community members and an Andean folklorico band! Our dinner cook prepares a delicious Peruvian meal.

Circle meetings continue every other evening throughout the program.

Day 2: Orientation and workshops to get grounded in the experience ahead! We meet our maestros, who begin to show us how to mix cement and adobe, lay bricks and use tools properly. One of our projects includes building a network of irrigation canales in the rural community of Yanahuara. We also do construction projects at local preschools and work with kids at a primary school.

On the first day of work at the canales, we take part in a Pachamama ceremony (a gift to the earth), led by a local spiritual leader, and involving the entire community.

Day 3: We jump fully into our projects and participants get to choose their worksites most days. We also begin our “homebase crew” days with rotating groups that prepare breakfast and lunch, deliver laundry, clean our living space and shop at local markets to purchase fresh produce.

After work ends around 2:30 pm, we do a scavenger hunt to familiarize with Urubamba and our boundaries.

Days 4 & 5: During our first full weekend, we explore the archeological ruins at Moray. We then take a scenic hike downhill to Salineras de Maras, where more than 3000 natural salt ponds that have been mined since the Incan Empire transform the landscape.

On another weekend day, participants are put into pairs or groups of three for day stays with local families. From late-morning until evening, immerse in the culture of agricultural village life with one of our partner families in Yanahuara. You might help on their farm, spend time with their kids, share stories, or even help to milk a cow! (We try to mix participants with varying levels of Spanish skills.)

Days 6 – 10: Worksites really get off and running, as do our afternoon cultural and recreation activities. We begin our rotating workshops (“talleres”) that continue through the program on select days that include pottery, chocolate-making, jewelry-making and carpentry. Afternoons will also include options for short hikes, “Bamba time” to explore town, pickup soccer games and other activities with local friends.

Read more about daily life on VISIONS programs.

One evening we will drive to the open area near Moray for stargazing, which will perhaps be the most stars you’ve ever seen in the night sky.

During Circle meetings, our group transitions into the “working stage,” delving into activities to learn more about constructive feedback and effective community building.

Day 11: Explore the Saqsaywaman ruins in the hills overlooking Cuzco, then head into the bustling colonial city to visit artisan markets and sightsee around the renowned Plaza de Armas. On this special full-day excursion, we will also stop at Cocha Wasi animal sanctuary for endangered and injured animals to learn more about unique species of the Andes and meet some of the people working to protect them.

Day 12: Another fun adventure awaits, as we drive an hour south through the Sacred Valley to the mountainside village of Pisac. We begin at the Pisac archeological ruins and then make a downhill hike to town, passing other ruins and farms along the way. Once there, we have lunch and take time to explore the large artisan market and shops, featuring traditional Peruvian textiles, crafts and jewelry.

Days 13 – 16: We make additional progress at the worksites and afternoon rotations continue with our artisan talleres and other recreation and cultural activities rooted in the Urubamba community. One afternoon is spent at the ruins of Ollantaytambo and an evening is contrasted with modern day karaoke.

Days 17 & 18: Our Machu Picchu excursion! After putting in a few hours of work in the morning, we head to the town and archeological site of Ollantaytambo to explore and then hop on board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. After a two-hour trip, then settling into our hotel and having dinner, we hit the sack early!

We wake early the next morning for a sunrise hike to the world-famous ruins. We learn the history of the Incas with a guide before having some time to walk around on our own. After an exhilarating day, we return on an afternoon train and head to a local stone fired pizza place for dinner.

Days 19 – 22: A packed few days of service projects with our community partners, who have now become good friends. In the afternoons and evenings, we practice salsa dancing, visit the studio and shop of a famous ceramicist, have a Talent Show, and make time for some of our favorite Urubamba activities.

Part of a day is carved out to reunite with our day stay families to help them on their farms and simply spend time together to relish the successes of the shared project goals and experiences.

By our final week, you know how to mix cement, pass baldes down the line at the irrigation site, properly lay bricks, and how to understand and be understood by new friends who speak little or no English. We complete our projects and reflect on our successes together..

Circle meetings and our time bonding as a group also take on new meaning as we transition into thinking about how the summer experience might continue to play into our lives back home.

Day 23: A trip to the Sacred Valley wouldn’t be complete without visiting the impressive artisan market at Chinchero. One of the most traditional in all South American, with Quechua people adorned in their beautiful clothing, we have time to buy alpaca sweaters, blankets, weavings, and more.

Return to homebase for a Cena de Despedida celebration to say goodbye to friends in the community.

Day 24: Pack up, clean our living space, and head to Cuzco for late afternoon flights to Lima, where most departures begin late-night and continue the next morning. Two leaders accompany the group in order to see everyone off safely from Lima.

Day 25: Program departures continue.

Hasta la proxima!

The itinerary depicts the typical 12-day program. The flow of the schedule may change slightly due to impromptu community events, weather, or other factors that keep us flexible.

Day 1: High school volunteers arrive at the Lima airport, where VISIONS leaders meet participants and fly with them to Cuzco. All teens make a quick call home before the group drives to Urubamba. 

Greeted by our professional driver and project coordinator, Nico, we make the gorgeous hour-long drive into the Sacred Valley and our homebase in Urubamba. We settle in and begin our program orientation, including our first Circle meeting to start getting to know each other. 

We then come together for a Cena de Bienvenida with community members and an Andean folklorico band! Our dinner cook prepares a delicious Peruvian meal.

Circle meetings continue every other evening throughout the program.

Day 2: Orientation and workshops to get grounded in the experience ahead! We meet our maestros, who begin to show us how to mix cement and adobe, lay bricks and use tools properly. One of our projects includes building a network of irrigation canales in the rural community of Yanahuara. We also do construction projects at local preschools and work with kids at a primary school. 

On the first day of work at the canales, we take part in a Pachamama ceremony (a gift to the earth), led by a local spiritual leader, and involving the entire community. 

Days 3 & 4: We jump full into our projects and participants get to choose their worksites most days. We also begin our “homebase crew” days with rotating groups that prepare breakfast and lunch, deliver laundry, clean our living space and shop at local markets to purchase fresh produce. We begin our rotating workshops (“talleres”) that continue throughout the program on select days and include pottery, chocolate-making, jewelry-making and carpentry. 

After work ends around 2:30 pm, we do a scavenger hunt to familiarize with Urubamba and our boundaries. 

Read more about daily life on VISIONS programs.

Day 5: Participants are put into pairs or groups of three for day stays with local families. From late-morning until evening, immerse in the culture of agricultural village life with one of our partner families in Yanahuara. You might help on their farm, spend time with their kids, share stories, or even help to milk a cow! (We try to mix participants with varying levels of Spanish skills.)

Day 6: We explore the archeological ruins at Moray and then take a scenic hike downhill to Salineras de Maras, where more than 3000 natural salt ponds that have been mined since the Incan Empire transform the landscape. 

Days 7 & 8: Worksites remain in a flow, as do our afternoon cultural and recreation activities, including talleres. One evening we will drive to the open area near Moray for stargazing, which will perhaps be the most stars you’ve ever seen in the night sky. At some point during the program, we will also carve out time to visit the ruins and artisan market of Pisac or Chinchero. 

Days 9 & 10: Our Machu Picchu excursion! After putting in a few hours of work in the morning, we head to the town and archeological site of Ollantaytambo to explore and then hop on board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. After a two-hour trip, then settling into our hotel and having dinner, we hit the sack early! 

We wake early the next morning for a sunrise hike to the world-famous ruins. We learn the history of the Incas with a guide before having some time to walk around on our own. After an exhilarating day, we return on an afternoon train and head to a local stone fired pizza place for dinner.

Day 11: Pack up, clean our living space, and head to Cuzco for late afternoon flights to Lima, where most departures begin late-night and continue the next morning. Two leaders accompany the group in order to safely see everyone off from Lima. 

Day 12: Program departures continue. 

Hasta la proxima!