

PERU
SECRETS OF THE SACRED VALLEY
A 14-Day Cultural Immersion Program






Peru

Program Details
Dates: | Temporarily Paused |
Duration: | 14 days |
Tuition: | $3,995* |
Arrive: | Miami |
Depart: | Miami |
Grade | 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th (Students Grouped According to Age) |
*Airfare for group flight from Miami additional
Learn More About Us
Speak with a Director
You May Also Like




Program Highlights
- Immerse Yourself in Local Communities While Learning Age-Old Peruvian Traditions and Crafts
- Mentor, Teach, and Play with Local Students at a Rural Primary School
- Experience Traditional Welcome and Pago a la Tierra Ceremonies and Pachamanca, the Inca Feast
- Wander the Ancient Ruins and Cobblestone Streets of Ollantaytambo and Cusco
- Experience a Wonder of the World While Exploring the Breathtaking Vistas of Machu Picchu
- Splash Through Exhilarating Rapids on the Urubamba River on a Whitewater Raft
- Visit a Peruvian Wildlife Sanctuary to Learn About Endangered Species like the Peruvian Condor
- Learn to Cook Traditional Peruvian Dishes Alongside a Local Chef
Spotlight Project
Greenhouses for a Greater Good
Bring lasting change to Peru’s Sacred Valley while working to link sustainable agriculture and micro-finance to build a brighter future for underserved Peruvians. Nearly 8 million people in Peru live below the poverty line, and those in rural communities are the most deeply affected. Cut off from many basic services including running water, proper sanitation, and access to healthy food, these isolated communities struggle to improve their situation due to a lack of resources. Students on this summer service program will build greenhouses alongside locals to improve their access to essential fruits and vegetables that could not be grown without these crucial structures. The food grown in our newly constructed greenhouses will help nourish children and families in the community, and the surplus crops will be sold to travelers and locals at surrounding markets. The income from these sales helps fund education for children in the community and creates a cycle of growth and empowerment in the most remote corners of the Sacred Valley.
Program Overview
Explore a land bursting with ancient wonders of the world, friendly people and living history. Immerse yourself in the life of a Quechua villager, working hand-in-hand with the locals to build greenhouses that increase access to more diverse and sustainably grown foods. Splash through the exhilarating rapids as you navigate the legendary Urubamba River on a whitewater rafting adventure. Board a scenic train that zig-zags through the lush hillsides and snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian Andes. Experience a “Wonder of the World” while exploring the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu at sunrise. Witness the mesmerizing archaeological ruins perched high above the valley as they emerge from the clouds. Enrich the lives of Peruvian youth while tutoring students and making improvements to their village center. Visit remote villages once inhabited by the Incas and explore the labyrinth of cobblestone streets filled with colorful goods and smiling people. Discover all this and more as you unlock Peru’s hidden wonders and journey through the world-renowned Sacred Valley on this unique summer service program in Peru.
Photo Gallery
Program Details
Arrival In Cusco
Our summer program in Peru begins in Miami where we meet our leaders and travel together as a group through Lima to the Spanish colonial city of Cusco. Once there we settle into our accommodations and meet our guide to begin exploring the city’s intricate array of cobblestone streets on a walking tour. We visit colorful markets as we navigate stalls packed with a huge variety of foods and crafts sold by locals, and make a few stops to iconic locations like the Incan Sun Temple; an ancient stone ruin overlooking the sprawling rooftops of this colorful mountain city.
Sacred Valley & Peruvian Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sacred Valley of Peru stretches from quiet terraced city of Písac to the bustling gateway of Machu Picchu at Aguas Caliente. Over the course of our adventure filled two-week service program, we work our way through ancient ruins and breathtaking sites, retracing the footsteps of the Incas. Traveling to Písac, we explore the cities stunning landscape as we learn about the intricate system of terraces initially set up to provide food for the empire. Here we visit one of the countries largest markets, where families travel down from their high mountain villages to sell food, handcrafted goods, and clothing. We also take the opportunity to visit a nearby Peruvian Wildlife Sanctuary, where we get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe and help protect endangered species like the Peruvian Condor and the Lynx.
Cultural Immersion & Greenhouse Construction
From Písac, we make our way deeper into the mountains where we immerse ourselves in an indigenous Quechua community for the next several days and begin our spotlight community service project. After participating in a grand welcoming ceremony, we settle into a local guesthouse operated by the village leader. Here we learn about the high altitude of the village which limits the variety of food that can be grown and how greenhouses are necessary to grow essential fruits and vegetables and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Working directly with families from the community, we begin our greenhouse construction project, designed to increase the sustainable, healthy food production in the village and help generate income for youth education. Our downtime is spent engaging with the community through soccer matches with local children and hiking to breathtaking vistas high above the valley. After a few days of hard work, we are honored for our service and invited to take part in a traditional Peruvian “pachamanca” where potatoes, vegetables, and meat are cooked underground by hot stones in traditional Quechua style. We have a chance to enjoy some favorite local dishes and learn traditional dances with our new-found friends, which makes for an unmatched cultural experience on our final evening here.
Discover Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas
Saying goodbye to our remote Andean home, we make our way back to the Sacred Valley floor where we board a scenic train that winds its way through the Andes mountain range along the Urubamba River. After our ride, we arrive at the gateway city to Machu Picchu, Aguas Caliente, and settle into our hotel to rest up for our early start tomorrow. Rising early, we take a bus up the steep, winding road that deposits us among some of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the planet! Known as the Lost City of the Incas and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a labyrinth of mysterious stone palaces, towers, and temples. We wander alongside some of Machu Picchu’s famous residents as we explore this incredible wonder, learning how its various structures were constructed in accordance with the cosmos and used to enact rituals believed to bring prosperity to the Incan civilization. After taking in the breathtaking panoramic views of Machu Picchu, we hike down through the jungle to Aguas Caliente and board the historic railway back to Ollantaytambo where we settle into our guesthouse along the towns quaint cobblestone streets.
Education Project & Rafting the Urubamba River
After witnessing the majesty of Machu Picchu we dive back into our final community service project in Peru. We shift our focus towards community education and travel out of the Sacred Valley to a rural school with little access to the outside world. Here we spend a few days mentoring and tutoring students, through educational games and activities designed to improve literacy and English skills. Our adventure culminates with an exciting day of rafting on the Río Urubamba, where steep canyon walls and giant boulders surround us, as we navigate Class II to III rapids with the assistance of professional guides. Splashing and laughing our way through the rapids, our whitewater adventure eventually comes to an end, and we make our way back to Cusco. Our final night is spent celebrating our accomplishments and recounting the friendships we made during our time in Peru. We share a farewell feast where we recount stories from our experience and say goodbye to our Peruvian guides and friends, before taking our flight home to Miami the following day which brings our summer service program in Peru to an end.
Program Reviews
“The cultural experience is one that will stay with me for the rest of my life and through travels to come.”
— Liz L., ARCC Student“This was by far the most rewarding experience of my life. This was my first ARCC trip and it far surpassed my high expectations. I have gained an understanding of the impact a small group of individuals can make on the world.”
— Liz B., ARCC Student“This trip has given me new friends and new stories, but more importantly I am returning home with a sense of self I’ve never felt before.”
— Andrew R., Providence, RI – ARCC Student“I think that the trip was amazing at pushing my limits and helping me grow. Without ARCC I would have never realized how much strength I actually have.”
— Sophie K., ARCC Student“Thank you for the invaluable experience you afforded Carly. She had a great time and enjoyed every facet of the well organized and well orchestrated program.”
— Parent of Carly M.“In all regards ARCC ran an organized, instructive, fun filled adventure. Students learned lifelong lessons; all the while having a wonderful time.”
— Parent of Dustin F.
Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their summer program with ARCC:
Experiencing Machu Picchu!
We went to Machu Picchu yesterday! We woke up early to take a bus ride to a village called Ollantaytambo, where we caught the train and had a scenic ride that included incredible mountain views and a rushing river. We arrived in Aquas Calientes for lunch, and afterwards continued on a windy bus ride up…Read more
Helping Families in the Sacred Valley!
We spent the last four days in a village in the Sacred Valley. All of us slept in a room in the community center and ate delicious traditional Peruvian food. During the day we split up into three groups and built stoves for the locals. Before we came, families used inefficient burning stoves that filled…Read more
Thrilling Rapids & Good Food!
Yesterday, we rafted the Urubamba river! The group took a two hour bus ride through mountains along the river. Rafting was very fun. We learned how to trust each other, especially when several of us fell off the boats and relied on our friends to pull us back in. The scenery was beautiful! After rafting,…Read more
Work Hard, Play Hard
We have had an awesome time in Cusco so far. Today is the end of the third day of our trip. We had a wonderful time today at our “Helping Hands” community service project. We worked with the children and helped construct an addition to the school. Everyone worked really hard and gave it their…Read more
Common Questions
What is the packing list for Peru?
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Peru: Sacred Valley Service packing list.
What is the weather like in Peru?
We travel to Peru during the dry season, though there can be occasional showers. The climate will vary from warm and sunny during the day (60 – 70 degrees) to cooler temperatures at night (30 – 40 degrees). Since Cusco’s elevations is over 11,000 feet, the sun is strong during the day and it tends to cool down significantly at night.
What are the service projects like?
ARCC has been operating programs in Peru for several years, and we have built relationships with a variety of individuals and small communities who enjoy hosting ARCC student groups. The specific service projects that each group will work on depend on what is most needed in these communities at the time. This year we will be assisting the community in efforts to construct a greenhouse to increase food diversity, working with a school to tutor students and lending a hand in building a greenhouse.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling to Peru?
Peru is a relatively clean and safe place to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your trip. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
Where do we sleep?
During this program we sleep in a variety of accommodations: simple hotels, hostels and a village community house.
What is the transportation like once we are in Peru?
While in Peru, we will travel by private bus with a professional driver, and travel by train when visiting Machu Picchu.
What is the food like?
We will have the opportunity to sample traditional Peruvian cuisine such as chicken, rice, beans, soups and fresh fruit.
How much spending money should I bring?
For Peru, ARCC recommends that you bring an additional $150 of spending money and $50 for travel to/from Miami. You should bring this money in the form of cash (small bills are best) and also bring an ATM/debit card with you. Peru uses the Nuevo Sol. As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, all students traveling to Peru need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after you travel. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this program. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.
Do I need a visa?
No. US Citizens do not need a visa for this program.
What is the time difference between Peru and the USA?
Peru is GMT-5 which is the same as Central Time in the USA.
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on this program?
Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the program the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.
Do I need to speak Spanish to join this program?
No. You will be able to participate in all the activities even if you do not speak any Spanish. However, if you study Spanish in school, you will have many opportunities to practice your language skills with the locals you encounter during your program. Having some basic conversational skills will enable you to form stronger bonds with the local people you will be meeting and helping.
What kinds of goods and supplies can we bring to donate for the people we meet?
We have the chance to live amongst some people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles, ARCC would ask that every person bring no more than a gym bag of goods to donate.
You May Also Like




19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC
Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC