This journey takes students from Lima’s colorful streets to the communities and landscapes of the Sacred Valley, with time to explore Machu Picchu and Cusco. Along the way, they’ll meet local artisans, learn about Andean traditions, take part in conservation work, and discover Peruvian food through hands-on experiences. The outline below includes travel from the United States; the exact timing will depend on the flights selected.

Depart the United States for Lima. Depending on the flight schedule, travel may continue overnight.

Arrive in Lima and transfer to the hotel, where you’ll have time to settle in after your journey. Peru’s capital sits along the Pacific coast and is celebrated for its food, art, and blend of historic and modern neighborhoods. In the evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner and an interactive mocktail class featuring local fruits—your first taste of the flavors you’ll discover throughout the trip.

Explore Lima’s historic center, where grand plazas, churches, and government buildings tell the story of the city’s colonial past. At the Larco Museum, discover Peru’s pre-Columbian history through its collection of ancient art and take part in Warmikuna, a program exploring the roles of women in ancient Peruvian societies. In the afternoon, head to Barranco, a coastal neighborhood known for its colorful murals, artists’ studios, and the Bridge of Sighs. Finish with a guided cacao tasting at El Cacaotal, learning how Peruvian chocolate connects local growers, traditions, and flavors.

Fly from Lima to Cusco, once the heart of the Inca Empire, then travel through the Andes into the Sacred Valley. Along the way, stop at the Sulca textile workshop to see how artisans turn alpaca and other Andean fibers into woven pieces using techniques passed down through generations. Learn how natural dyes create their colors and how patterns can reflect local traditions. After arriving at the hotel, enjoy a relaxed afternoon to settle in and adjust to the altitude before dinner.

Explore two remarkable places in the Sacred Valley. At the Maras salt ponds, see thousands of small pools that local families still use to harvest salt, continuing a tradition with deep roots in the region. At Moray, look down into enormous circular terraces and learn how their different microclimates may have helped the Incas experiment with crops. Then visit the community of Misminay, where residents will welcome the group and share aspects of Andean daily life through music, activities, and a traditional ceremony honoring Mother Earth.

Begin in the Choquechaka Conservation Area, where you’ll learn about the Andean forest and help care for it through a hands-on reforestation activity, such as planting trees or tending young plants. At lunchtime, discover pachamanca, an Andean cooking tradition in which food is prepared with hot stones in an earth oven. Then travel to Ollantaytambo, where cobblestone streets and an impressive Inca archaeological site offer a glimpse into the Sacred Valley’s past. In the late afternoon, board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.

Begin with a short bus ride from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu. With a guide, explore the stone buildings, terraces, and pathways of this Inca site while learning what historians know—and are still discovering—about the people who built it. The surrounding mountain scenery makes the visit especially memorable. Afterward, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and some time to explore the town before taking the train back toward Cusco. For travelers seeking an additional hike, entry to Huayna Picchu may be available at an extra cost, subject to availability.

Spend the morning discovering Cusco through its food. Visit the Cascaparo market to learn about local ingredients, then join Seledonia and her team in the kitchen to prepare and enjoy traditional dishes. The experience also introduces students to Seledonia’s work creating employment opportunities for women in the community. In the afternoon, explore Cusco’s layered history: visit Koricancha, an important Inca temple later incorporated into a Spanish convent, and travel to nearby Sacsayhuamán to see its enormous stone walls. End the trip together with a farewell dinner and a folkloric performance.

Fly from Cusco to Lima and connect with your international flight to the United States.

Arrive home if the return flight travels overnight. With a daytime flight, arrival may instead be on Day 9.