Lima, Cuzco, and the Amazon

Colorful Cusco was once a vital Inca center, and the surrounding sites reflect the empire’s power. Begin your tour at Tambomachay, ritual baths likely used by nobility, where underground water bubbles over intricately carved stone platforms. At Qenko, priests once poured llama blood over a zigzagging stone to predict planting season luck. Puca Pucara, possibly a hunting lodge or imperial retreat, offers sweeping views of southern glaciers. You'll also visit the impressive Sacsayhuamán Fortress, known for its massive stone walls and strategic significance in Inca history.

Visit a Peruvian school to meet local students, practice Spanish and see the differences between schools there and schools at home. (Please note that school visits will not be possible on certain dates due to schools not being in session. WorldStrides will update you as early as possible.)

Discover ancient Incan rituals in one of the oldest traditions in the Andean World. With the help of Paqo, a wise man, participants 'pay' Mother Earth for everything she provides by gathering up and offering her a package filled with earthly gifts. The goddess is whimsical and the purpose of this ritual is to please her.

The train passes through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Aguas Calientes.

Board a train and travel through the Sacred Valley for a full-day excursion to Peru's most famous destination, the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Set on a mountaintop, deep in the jungle, Machu Picchu remained unknown to the outside world until 1912.

In the afternoon we will return by train to Cusco, the train journey itself is wondrous and the carriages' partially glass roofs offer great views upwards to the cliffs that form the walls of the deep valleys.

Travel to the town of Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, the biodiversity capital of the world. Keep a lookout for local wildlife as you travel by motorized canoe into the jungle.

This morning visit an Ox Bow lake. These jungle lakes serve as sanctuaries for a huge variety of animals, including dozens of bird species and fish. See parrots of all kinds, including the magnificent macaw.

Your flight home is overnight. You will return home the following day.

Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip with a five-day volunteer experience at an ecological reserve in Peru. Contribute to conservation efforts by researching wildlife, monitoring vegetation, and participating in development projects. Accommodations and meals are included during this immersive and rewarding extension.