After landing in Peru and meeting your Program Leader, settle into your hotel where you will recover from a long day of travel before beginning your service learning abroad adventure.

This morning the school trip to Peru is dedicated to exploring the incredible city of Cusco. Situated high in the Peruvian Andes and once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Located around 3,400 metres, your body will begin to acclimate to this unique city's high elevation.

In the afternoon, you will travel out to the Sacred Valley to explore the living Inca village of Ollantaytambo. Set on the Urubamba River amid snow-capped mountains, it's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. It is believed to have been a refuge for Inca royalty and nobility.

Today on the Peru school tour, we will immerse ourselves in the Andean highlands. The towering mountain landscape, with ancient archaeological sites tucked around every corner, provides an abundance of natural wonders to explore.

We will spend the day hiking through small mountain communities, enjoy a picnic lunch and learn about the cultural and natural history of the region.

The next 5 days of the Peru school trip is all about adventure: we’ll conquer the Salkantay Trek! The Salkantay Trek is a challenging and awe-inspiring expedition through the mighty Andes Mountains. It offers breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural history.

Along the way, you can see snow-capped peaks, including the towering Salkantay Mountain, diverse ecosystems, turquoise lakes and remote Andean villages.

This unforgettable experience connects you with nature and pushes your limits. The trek will end with a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the world-famous citadel of Machu Picchu.

Today you will begin the service learning abroad portion of your school tour to Peru as you travel to the community of Calca and meet with local community members to learn about the ongoing service projects you will be supporting over the next 6 days.

Infuse builds long-term partnerships to support community goals and promote global citizenship amongst expedition participants. We strive to create well-defined roles for students to make meaningful contributions and provide ongoing service learning abroad project support to ensure that our programs achieve sustainable outcomes for the communities that we work with. One of your service learning abroad projects will be supporting an educational initiative focused on providing access to education for girls from remote villages.

While in Calca, you will be paired with a homestay family where you will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about Peruvian culture and family life. These 6 days will likely be some of the most impactful and rewarding parts of your school trip to Peru. In your downtime, explore the surrounding area and tackle some adventure activities like stand-up paddle boarding and mountain biking.

After breakfast, bid farewell to your host families as you make your way back towards Cusco. Today will have the opportunity to test the extent of your courage on a high-adventure rock climbing and zip line course. Climb 400 metres up the face of the mountain, enjoy incredible views of the Sacred Valley and zip line back down. This is truly a unique and thrilling experience and one we know you’ll love on this Peru school trip.

Later this afternoon, stop at a local textile cooperative this morning to learn about the ancient processes of dying and weaving.

Your group will take the reins today as you have the opportunity to discover more of Cusco and the surrounding area. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will enjoy this mix of the past and present as you explore Cusco’s 16th-century cathedrals, ancient Inca temples and colonial streets.

Find a local restaurant for dinner tonight and play games as a group.

We will have the morning to visit the Cusco central market and an artisanal centre to purchase souvenirs for home. The afternoon will be spent with a workshop at the Chocolate Museum where we will learn to make our own handmade chocolates from Peruvian cacao! Yum!

Learn and eat your way through the City of Kings as we spend the day immersing ourselves in the rich culture and history of Peru’s capital. You'll also have the opportunity to indulge in its world-renowned cuisine.

In the evening, experience the vibrant metropolitan scene, sampling and capturing photos of unique dishes from Peru’s flourishing international community.

Today is your final day on your Peru school tour! Explore Lima, then head to the airport to board your flight and begin your journey home.

As we come to the end of our service learning abroad journey we like to think, reflect and share memories of the trip that has been. At Infuse, we finish our programs by allowing you to reflect on your experiences and the issues you engaged with and talk about how to apply this new understanding to your own worlds.

During or after your closing discussion, you’ll participate in a closing ceremony, a unique and powerful activity that allows you to capture the memories and learning moments of your service learning abroad program to process and share with your communities back home.

Finally, make your way to the airport to bid farewell to your local Peruvian program leaders and begin to make your way back home. Adios Peru!