QUOTE
Experience Peru – 9 Day Tour
Summerfield Waldorf | Isabel Vallejo
Empowering Students Through Travel Since 2006
Explore a country with vibrant cultural heritage and distinct geographical zones
Activities & Attractions
- Explore Lima’s colonial historic quarter
- Discover limeño flavours in a local cooking class
- Learn about textile traditions in Cusco
- Explore Incan ruins surrounding Cusco
- Participate in a local community’s weaving ceremony
- Learn about Incan agricultural methods while visiting Incan terraces in Pisac
- Travel through the breathtakingly beautiful Sacred Valley
- Buy souvenirs in Ollantaytambo
- Visit one of the man-made wonders of the world, Machu Picchu
- Learn about pre-Incan salt mines at Maras
- Get acquainted with a local Quechua scholarship student and their rural community, including a weaving class and home-prepared meal
- Visit Huaca Pucllana in the centre of Miraflores, Lima, to learn more about pre-Incan civilizations
- Santa Catalina Monastery: Explore a colorful, historic monastery city.
- Plaza de Armas: Visit the main square with colonial architecture.
- Juanita Museum: Learn about Inca rituals and sacrifices.
- Yanahuara District: Enjoy views of Misti Volcano.
- Sabandia Mill and Founder’s Mansion: Explore historic colonial sites.
- Colca Canyon: Experience stunning landscapes and Andean condors.
- Chachani Volcano: Trek for panoramic mountain views.
- Culinary Tour: Taste traditional Peruvian dishes.
- San Camilo Market: Discover local goods and delicacies.
- Cultural Performances: Attend traditional music and dance shows.
Trip Details
Accommodations
- Nightly accommodations at centrally located, student friendly hotels (3 star minimum)
- Triple accommodation for students
- Single accommodation for chaperones
- Night 2: Lima
- Nights 3: Cusco
- Night 4: Ollantaytambo
- Night 5,6,7: Cusco
- Night 8,9: Arequipa
- Night 10: Lima
Meals
- Breakfasts and dinners are included while in Peru
- Participants will have opportunity to buy extra snacks or meals on their own
Transportation
- Return Intl Economy Airfare from Vancouver to Lima
- Economy airfares within Peru as needed
- Private coach bus as needed for duration of tour
Additional Personnel
- 1 Evolve Tours Director for duration of tour
- Local guides and staff as needed
Exclusives
- Creative trip programming and leadership activities
- Pre and Post Trip Curriculum
- Forever Green by Evolve Tours- Carbon Offset this whole trip (ask for details)
Insurance
- Add $150 per student for medical, baggage, cancellation and trip interruption coverage from Manulife Youth Deluxe Policy.
Package Price is based on
- Prices subject to availability and change until contract signed
- Total Package price may vary if number of paying customers changes
- Does not include airline baggage fees if applicable
- Tips for drivers and guides are appreciated
- Happy with what you see? Sign a 2-year contract with Evolve and pay the same rate for two years. Ask us for more information. *Based on same group size
Itinerary
Day 1:
Travel to Peru
Depart on our overnight flight to Lima, the capital of Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and now one of the biggest cities in the Americas.
Day 2:
Lima
Morning
In the morning, dive straight into the city center to take a guided tour of Lima’s historic quarter. See monuments and sites of importance such as the Convent of San Francisco, the vast Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral and more. Learn about the colonial charm of the city and the multiple different stages of its historical development.
Afternoon
Head to a cooking class with Sky Kitchen to make causa, ceviche, lomo saltado and more. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is becoming as famous as French, Chinese and Indian given its distinct flavours and delicious recipes. Lima is a great place to experience this given the prominence of seafood and the original fusion dishes popular in the city.
Evening
In the evening, enjoy a quiet stroll around Barranco, a picturesque area with views over the Pacific and large houses with picturesque balconies and interesting street art. After dinner, head back to the hotel.
Day 3:
Cusco
Morning
Wake up bright and early to board a flight to Cusco, imperial city and centre of Tawantinsuyu, the Incan Empire which reigned for three centuries before the Spanish invasion. Cusco, with its extensive archaeological remains and historic buildings, tells many stories of the Incan past, the Spanish conquest, and the modern history of cultural fusion.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to the remains of the Temple of the Sun at Qorikancha, now the site of Spanish church Santo Domingo. Then, visit the Main Square and its Cathedral. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit some of the major archaeological sites around Cusco – Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo , and Puka Pukara. Many of these sites served as guard communities where messengers headed out to spread news of the Incan Empire, or traders and visitors arrived and gained entry to Cusco.
Evening
In the evening, head to San Cristobal church overlooking the iconic red tiled roofs of the city for wonderful views right down the valley. Enjoy a delicious dinner of Andean staples like potato, corn, and (if you’re feeling brave!) guinea pig. Settle into the hotel after a busy day of sightseeing.
Day 4:
Ollantaytambo
Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, head through the twists and turns of the Andes towards the Sacred Valley. After visiting Pisac’s impressive, almost vertical terraces that clearly demonstrate the labour intensive farming methods of Incan and pre-Incan civilizations, visit Amaru, a local community’s weaving association, to see one of the Andes’ most important cultural traditions in action and a meal of local ingredients all grown by the community as part of their self-sufficient lifestyle. Here, the women of the community will guide you on a tour of their land, where they will teach you about their deep connection to Pachamama (Mother Earth); treat you to a delicious meal, made with fresh organic “zero-mile” ingredients directly from the land; and show you the step-by-step weaving process – from natural dyes to setting the warp to backstrap weaving.
Afterwards, continue the breathtaking drive at the base of sheer mountain slopes and lush fields through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Enjoy an easy walk through the small town centre with its small buildings and overhanging balconies. Visit the bustling town market for some souvenirs
Evening
Enjoy a delicious dinner near more imperial ruins, including impressive terraces overlooking the town.
Day 5:
Machu Picchu
Morning
Wake up bright and early: today we will visit one of the “New” Seven Wonders of the World and a prominent UNESCO World Heritage Site; Machu Picchu.
We’ll travel from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes. En route, our train journey will take us alongside the Urubamba River, with incredible scenery of towering mountains and colourful forests.
Afternoon
When we arrive in Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu town, we’ll opt to take a short bus ride up along the switchbacks to the Machu Picchu citadel and begin our day visit. After an introductory walking tour, the morning is free for exploration and discovery of this magnificent site, which was built on a mountaintop and surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River.
Evening
Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch and shopping time before jumping in the train back to Ollanta and a further transfer to Cusco. Enjoy a good rest after a busy day.
Day 6:
Cusco
Morning – Afternoon
This morning, head to Maras. Take a short walk through the countryside to the seldom-visited town of Maras and its pre-Columbian salt mines– still in use today with salt being collected with traditional techniques- as well as the Incan agricultural terraces of Moray. We will learn about how methods from the ancient past remain relevant to food production today in this private tutorial. See the salt pools up close, and bring some mineral-rich salt back home with you. After, explore the textile centres in Chinchero before heading back to Cusco.
Late Afternoon
Once we return to Cusco, enjoy some more time in the city centre and then head to a chocolate making workshop with ChocoMuseo, where we will learn about the cacao bean and its production from bean to bar.
Evening
In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with our own homemade chocolates for dessert. Return to the hotel.
Day 7:
Day on the Land: A Quechua student's life
Morning – Afternoon
This morning, return to the Sacred Valley to meet a scholarship student from a local youth development program.
Come visit the student’s families on their farm in the rural community of Socma, near Ollantaytambo, for a traditional family feast, an opportunity to try out their farm tools, and a day on the land. There’s even an option to go on a short hike to witness the majestic waterfalls that are Socma’s pride and joy!
INCLUSIONS
- Round-trip private transport from Cusco to the community in the Sacred Valley
- Home-cooked Andean meal
- Tour of the student’s property
- Guided walk to the Socma waterfalls
- English-Spanish-Quechua translators
- Experienced tour guide with first-aid certification
Evening
Return to Cusco to pack up for the next day’s flight to Lima.
Day 8:
Lima
Afternoon
In the afternoon, head to Huaca Pucllana, the impressive pre-Incan archaeological site used as an administrative and religious centre of the Lima culture between 200 and 700 AD, as well as by later civilizations such as the Wari. Enjoy the guided tour over this extensive site and learn more about the many different cultural traditions that ruled through the eras on this land.
Evening
In the evening, enjoy some time to shop and relax before returning to the hotel and packing for the next day’s flight.
Day 9:
Return Home
Morning
Arrive at Lima airport for the trip back home, ready to share the many details of what we learned about Peruvian history and culture.
