History & culture: Peru

Overview

Expand your students’ knowledge and understanding of the rich history and cultural traditions of Peru’s spellbinding Sacred Valley.

Life-changing experiences don’t get much better than a 100% immersion into Quechua culture and a unique homestay that includes community cooking, sustainable house building, sacred bag weaving, and Andean farming.

On our unique Peru trip, your students will connect with Andean traditions through specially designed challenges, group reflections, and of course a visit to Machu Picchu.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Impacted

Your experiences

Train journey through Sacred Valley

Hike Temple of the Moon

Tour Machu Picchu

Peruvian homestay

Traditional cooking underground

Ceramics workshop

Learn about Inca Empire

Immersion in Quechua culture

Develop sustainable living techniques

Example Itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals & introduction to the program (Cusco)

Our friendly team will meet you at international arrivals before a private airport transfer. After check-in at the hotel, there’ll be a welcome dinner, a brief walking tour of Cusco’s beautiful historical center, and an introduction to the exciting program ahead.

Day 2: Local market visit & cooking class (Cusco)

Students will gain a great understanding of local culture through our specially-designed market challenge during which they will get acquainted with local produce. Under the guidance of experts, students will learn how to cook typical Peruvian food – noted to be among the continent’s finest cuisines.

Day 3: Visit Temple of the Moon (Cusco)

The group will set off with a local guide to visit an archaeological site with many insights into Inca culture and history. Students will learn about this ancient civilization and the barely believable engineering techniques they mastered. You’ll enjoy some free time in Cusco before a traditional dinner in the UNESCO-listed historical center.

Day 4: Immersive life-changing Quechua homestay (Pisac)

Ready for a life-changing experience? Students will live the life of a Quechua community member as they join our partner families for a two-day homestay experience. After meeting up in the community square, students will take part in an adobe brick-making activity and ceramics workshop. They’ll also enjoy home-cooked meals with their new families.

Day 5: Community cooking & Andean farming (Pisac)

Ever heard of cooking underground? Students get the unique opportunity to join community members in preparing a meal usually reserved for special occasions. Afterward, they’ll head into the surrounding Andean hills to learn how this self-sustainable community uses the land to produce vegetables. The day concludes with an evening meal with host families.

Day 6: Epic train journey through the Sacred Valley

Be prepared for a tearful goodbye as the group departs the community. Students will then enjoy one of the continent’s most breathtaking journeys – a train ride that winds through the Sacred Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes. Here, students will have some free time to explore the market before an evening meal and an early night.

Day 7: Explore the iconic Machu Picchu

Today students will explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World and an archaeological site shrouded in mist and intrigue. Led by an expert guide, they will discover the extraordinary history of this ancient city and the remarkable construction methods the Incas used. You’ll enjoy some free time in the suite before a hike back to Aguas Calientes for lunch and then a train journey to Cusco.

Day 8: Ancient bag weaving with women's weaving co-op (Cusco)

Today, students will learn ancient bag-weaving techniques from a pioneering group of Quechua women who have redressed the balance of uncontrolled tourism in their village. Fighting to protect their culture and way of life, this community offers an insight into how a collective can become self-sustainable. Students will also enjoy a home-cooked lunch with the community before a transfer back to Cusco for our last night.

 

 

Day 9: Departures (Cusco)

Students will enjoy some free time in the center before our dedicated team takes the group to Cusco’s airport in plenty of time for the flight home.

Essential information

  • Locations visited: The Sacred Valley, Cusco, Aguas Calientes
  • Duration: 4+ days
  • Cost: From $799 per person (international flights not included)
  • Teachers: Teachers travel for free
  • Language: Spanish or English
  • Alternative destinations we offer: Colombia, Bolivia & Mexico

Your students will:

  • Understand the importance of preserving cultural heritage in the face of tourism and globalization
  • Learn about the history and culture of the Incas
  • Learn how to create self-sustainable communities
  • Gain a greater understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

 

  • ​All meals (we’ve chosen varied dishes to give a real taste of Peruvian cuisine)
  • Accommodation (rooms are shared but privates are available on request and at an extra cost)
  • Private transport – buses and small jeeps depending on the size of the group
  • All scheduled excursions and activities
  • Local guides and translators
  • Safety documents – risk assessment, safety protocols, liability cover
  • Health Insurance
  • One Kagumu guide for every 10 students

Carbon emissions: 87 kg of CO₂e p/p – we offset 100% of these emissions plus your flights here! Click here for more details.

Fully Customizable

Remember we customize every itinerary to your curriculum. If you have a specifc academic focus in mind, allow us to tailor a trip for you.

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