Location
Cusco is the the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent and its legacy as the seat of the Inca Empire is apparent. Considered the capital of the Sacred Valley region, it is a tourist hotspot and the starting point for the Machu Picchu trail. The city streets are lined with original stone walls and crowded with Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas as well as museums.
Included
- A total of 8 nights accommodation at local hotel.
- A total of 16 Meals, including daily breakfasts: B-8,L-6,D-2
- Local English/Spanish-speaking, on-site group leader accompanying the group for day-time activities in and case of emergencies.
- Group transfers to/from airport
- Daily transportation to projects.
- Welcome Orientation and Health and Safety Overview
- Excursions and entrances fees; City tour
- US liability insurance
Not Included
- International flights and/or Domestic flights
- Travel & Medical Insurance
- Spanish classes, offered at $12.50 per hour
- Machu Picchu overnight excursion – $385 additional extra or 1-day options for $305 extra
- Recommended and/or required vaccinations and medicines
- Visas, (Tourist visas days are available to US citizen at no additional cost, fees may apply for other nationals)
- Police background checks (may provide own)
- Not including a total of 10 meals, L-3, D-7
(Meals are relatively inexpensive, average $5 USD.) - Personal expenses, such as snacks, souvenirs, & meals outside of itinerary, or baggage fees
- Tip and gratuities
Project Overview
Working in collaboration with a local NGO and community health centers in the communities of the Sacred Valley surrounding the city of Cusco, we will engage in a project working with 2 elements;
Public Health Campaign & Workshop:
Public Health campaigns to occur in rural clinics in different areas of interest. Our participants will engage in outreach campaigns such as nutrition, maternity, healthy kids initiatives, therapy, and other topics identified by local health centers in the communities.
Healthy Kitchens:
This initiative supports local families by addressing hygiene and sanitation issues on the Healthy Kitchens Volunteer Project. Often kitchens in lower income communities are dirty, do not have clean water, ways to keep food refrigerated, or storage options. They also contain smoky open-fire cookers which cause respiratory and ocular issues This project has three elements; firstly cleaning the kitchens, secondly providing a ceramic water filter, building a cleaner burning stove, installing ecological refrigerators and installing cupboards for food storage, and thirdly educating families about hygiene and sanitation good practice. These elements aim to improve the lives of family by tackling the current problem and providing solutions.
Itinerary – Public Community and Health Education
Day 1, Saturday
Arrive in Cuso, Orientation, & Project Introduction (L,D)
Overnight: Local Hotel
Arrive into Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) and be met by your Kaya representative. After collecting luggage, we will have a group lunch and then be transferred to our accommodation. With a few hours to settle in, the group will meet up in the late afternoon for Program Orientation, receive an overview of our projects, and go over important health & safety information. The group will then head to a local restaurant for dinner. During dinner, we will touch on leadership training and journals will be handed out.
Day 2, Sunday
Cusco City Tour & Free Afternoon (B,L)
Overnight: Local Hotel
After breakfast, we will head out for a City Tour to help us catch our bearings on our new community as well as visit some important archaeological sites within Cusco. The group will have an opportunity to have lunch together at the end of the City Tour. There will be free time in the afternoon to explore Cusco on our own and possibly check out some more sites, such as local markets, museums, craft store, or even grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the surroundings!
Day 3, Monday
Health Campaign in Rural Community (B,L)
Overnight: Local Hotel
We will start our morning off with breakfast then head out to a community 40 min outside of Cusco to take part in a health campaign. Around 3pm, we will depart the community and return to Cusco. Volunteers will have a chance to take part in Spanish Lessons in the late afternoon for an additional charge. Volunteers can also take the time to explore Cusco some more and scope out the best restaurant for dinner.
Day 4, Tuesday
Healthy Kitchens Project (B,L)
Overnight: Local Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to the Healthy Kitchens Project site about 30-40 min outside of Cusco. This will be a full day of project work within the community. Upon our return to Cusco, volunteers have another opportunity to take part in Spanish Lessons. The remainder of the evening is free to do as we please and check out another restaurant for dinner.
DAY 5-6, Wednesday to Thursday
Health Campaign in Rural Community & Project Work (B,L)
Overnight: Local Hotel
For both days, we will depart our accommodation after breakfast and head to a rural community for a health campaign. Topic TBD. Afterwards, we will go back to our project on the Healthy Kitchens worksite. In the late afternoon, we will return as a group to Cusco, where again we can sign up for Spanish Lessons or head out into the downtown for dinner.
DAY 7-8, Friday to Saturday
l before the crowds for a guided touriMachu Picchu Excursion options (optional) (B)
Overnight: Local Hotel
For the next 2 days you have 3 options
1. No excursions
If you opt not to add on the Machu Picchu excursions, this Friday we will continue one more day of service work and you will have a free Friday evening and full; day Saturday to enjoy the city or book your own activities. Saturday night we will enjoy a farewell dinner together.
2. 1-day Machu Picchu excursion
If you opt for the 1-day Machu Picchu excursion option, this Friday we will continue with one more day of service and a free evening. Then on Saturday we will have and early morning start (around 4-5am) where we will head to Aguas Calientes by bus and train to give us a full morning at the Machu Picchu Site for a guided tour, returning later in the afternoon for a late evening return to Cusco to enjoy a farewell dinner together
3. Overnight Machu Picchu excursion
If you opt for the overnight Machu Picchu excursion, we will have the morning off on Friday to do as we please. In the afternoon, we will head out towards Machu Picchu via train to Aguas Calientes, and spend the evening here, with the option of visiting the natural hot springs (entrance fees for hot springs not included – cost about $2). We will stay for the night. Early Saturday morning, the group will visit Machu Picchu before the crowds for a guided tour, returning in the afternoon to Cusco, where we will enjoy a farewell dinner together.
DAY 9, Sunday
Departure (B)
Transfer to airport for flights home.
Accomodations
For this program we will be staying in a local, Cusco city center Hotel with twin or triple rooms with private bathrooms, A/C and Wifi. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
Costs
$2345 per person. Not including international flights.
Machu Picchu overnight excursion – $385 pp
Machu Picchu 1-day excursion – $305pp
Spanish classes offered as optional extra for $12.50ph
A non-refundable deposit of $315 will be required on application, to be deducted from the program fees. (Participants joining both Ecuador and Peru programs are offered a $500 total discount)
Application Deadline – Extended to June 30th 2019