| Costs | £1750 / $3413 (US) / €2573 |
| Group Size | 10-16 |
| Countries Visited | Peru |
| Dates | 01 May to 28 May 2009 |
"I have this great feeling that I have left a footprint in the lives of so many special people."
Bob Reid, 2006 volunteer
Learn Spanish, help a South American community, visit the spectacular Machu Picchu, see the floating islands of Uros, witness amazing wildlife, trek, ride horses, kayak across the highest lake in the world, and explore a fantastic country having the experiences of a lifetime!
From building a community centre in one of the deepest canyons in the world to kayaking across the highest navigable lake in the world, from learning Spanish in the Peruvian Andes to exploring the Inca ruins of Machu Piccu, this four week Peruvian adventure is diverse, challenging, exciting, and will provide tales for you to tell for years to come! We begin with a five day horse trek through Colca Canyon (which is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon) to learn Spanish accompanied by language tutors, explore the spectacular scenery, relax in the hot springs, and witness the magnificent Andean condors.
With some Spanish under our hats and cameras full of photos, we will stay with families in the Colca Canyon to work hand in hand with the local community and build a sustainable, lasting community centre. Days will be long and challenging, but the resulting satisfaction of constructing vitally required buildings for the area (from digging the foundations, to laying the bricks, and erecting the roof) will make all the hard graft all the more worth it! After a celebration with our new friends to mark our achievements, we will head to the Lake Titicaca to kayak across the highest navigable lake in the world, and trek on foot and on horseback through the surrounding scenery.
Heading to the Andean city Cuzco will give us a chance to relax and wander around a fascinating place that was the capital of the Incan Empire, and contains a plethora of museums, churches, galleries, bars and restaurants. Then our final Peruvian adventure will take us exploring one of the most spectacular ruins on the planet, Machu Picchu, which many travellers agree is the highlight of their trip to South America. Only rediscovered in 1911, measuring over five square miles, and including a temple, fortress, and terraced gardens, the city is accurately described by Chilean poets as a ‘miracle’ and ‘one of the greatest marvels of South America’. Perched 1000ft above the Urumbaba River we can explore the ruins and reflect on the adventures we have had on this true stomper of a Yomper Stomper!
