Orientation and Cusco Exploration

Leaving home behind we fly together to our first country of the semester, Peru, and settle into our hostel in the heart of Cusco. We spend our first couple days acclimating to the altitude, exploring colorful plazas and markets, cobblestone streets, and the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman scattered atop the hillside overlooking the city. As we get acquainted with this new country, we also revisit our initial semester personal and group goals. During this time we map out our itinerary and set both individual and group goals for the duration of the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects, identifying points in the semester where each of our six global themes will be present. 

Homestay and Language School in Lamay

Leaving Cusco behind we make our way to the town of Lamay where we begin our week-long language school and jump into our first homestay of the semester. In the mornings we attend classes customized to our individual language abilities and in the afternoons we have the opportunity to practice our skills through lively intercambios with our local hosts and through explorations of this charming town. During downtime, we play soccer with our host siblings, explore the town of Lamay, and go hiking through the beautiful landscape of the surrounding area. 

Sacred Valley Exploration and Machu Picchu

Saying goodbye to our dear host families in Lamay, we spend the next two days exploring Peru’s beautiful Sacred Valley. Based in Urubamba, we visit a number of historical sites in the region, including Salineras Maras, Moray and Pisac. In our down time we may decide to participate in cultural activities, work on our Capstone Passion Projects, or participate in day hikes amidst the surrounding peaks. We then board a train for a stunning ride to the sacred Incan city of Machu Picchu, the “Gate of the Sun.” After spending a night in the town of Aguas Calientes, we set off on foot to the sacred temples, plazas and ceremonial baths of Machu Picchu. Learning from our local guide, we discover the majestic history of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Llama Conservation and Education Initiative

Partnering with an inspiring organization located in the town of Urubamba, we delve into the complex conservation issues surrounding the iconic llamas of the Peruvian Andes. This organization’s mission is to promote the sustainable use of llamas as pack animals to support the rapidly growing tourism industry. Llamas were traditionally pack animals in rural communities, and the organization’s belief is that through once again using llamas as pack animals, rural communities will have the tools to become economically self-sufficient. Through partnering with this organization we learn about sustainable rural development and help identify solutions to the degradation of these precious mountain ecosystems.

Lake Titicaca Homestay and Kayaking

Our final section in Peru takes us to Lake Titicaca, the largest high-altitude lake in the world. Upon arrival, we board a boat out to the floating islands, home to the pre-Incan Uros people. The Uros have made their homes on forty-two floating islands, maintained using bundles of dried totora reeds. We learn about their unique lifestyle on the lake, before continuing on to our homestays. Upon arrival back to the mainland, we are welcomed by our host families in a small community on the shores of the lake. We spend our days immersing ourselves in the lives of the community and digging deeper into public health issues facing the region. In downtime, we may choose to explore the lakeside area, play soccer with the local children or swim in the lake. To round out our time on Lake Titicaca, we head out on kayaks to explore the pristine waters, soaking up our final days in Peru.

Aysen, Patagonia and Rafting the Futaleufu River

Leaving Peru behind we catch our flight south to Balmaceda, Patagonia, where we begin our orientation to Chilean culture and customs and take in our first deep breaths of Patagonian mountain air. After a down day in the picturesque town of Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysen region, we venture out on the famed Carretera Austral, known as one of the most beautiful and breathtaking roadways in the world. Taking in spectacular scenery along the way, we wind our way to the beautiful town of Futaleufu, home to some of the greatest white water in the world. In Futaleufu, we explore our charming surroundings, spend two days rafting its turquoise waters, and then meet with the Futaleufu River Keepers where we learn about the contentious issue and ‘sin represas’ movement surrounding hydroelectric dams in Chile.

Permaculture Farm Stay and Parque Patagonia

Continuing south on the Carretera Austral, we make our way to the small town of Puerto Guadal, a bit off the beaten path of the Carretera. We set up camp on a plot of land nestled just above the town of Puerto Guadal, which hosts one of the most breathtaking views of the turquoise waters of Lago Carrera below. Here we learn more about what it means to live sustainably off the land as we dive into organic gardening, composting systems, resourceful building projects, and reforestation of native plant species. 

Next we take a day trip to Chile’s newest national park. Our time in Parque Patagonia provides us the opportunity to glimpse first-hand what privately-funded conservation looks like in Patagonia. In a historic donation to the Chilean government, the Tompkins Foundation facilitated one of the largest natural grassland revival projects in the world, recovering land from severe overgrazing that significantly threatened the unique ecosystems of this region of Chilean Patagonia. Once declared a national park, the Tompkins Foundation returned the land to the country of Chile as a protected area. 

Student Planned Module

Venturing south to the picturesque town of Puerto Natales we find ourselves surrounded by the snow-capped peaks and expansive fjords of the Region de Magallanes y Antartica Chilena. Here we dive in to our Student Planned Module. This section is completely planned, organized, budgeted and implemented by the students. We can’t wait to see what the group will do!

High School Language Exchange and Homestay

Back in Puerto Natales, we settle into our first Patagonian homestay with local families. We spend the next week partnering with the English department at the local high school to help the students practice their English with native speakers. We spend time shadowing the students, interviewing teachers, and growing accustomed to the slower-paced way of life. Though these students have grown up just a few hours drive from one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, many of them have never had the opportunity to venture outside of their small hometown in Puerto Natales. We host a movie night, popcorn and all, for our new friends at the local high school and take them out on a hiking excursion to one of the local reserves.

Torres del Paine National Park and Program Conclusion

As we begin to round out our time in Chile, we make our way to the world-renowned Torres del Paine, one of South America’s most beautiful national parks. Looming nearly 10,000 feet above the Patagonian Steppe, the spectacular granite pillars that make up Torres del Paine tower over the former sheep estancia, which is home to exotic birds, guanacos, and countless other types of wildlife. Celebrated as one of the best treks in the world, we spend five days hiking the famed W Trek and gazing at the incredible panoramas of Torres del Paine. 

As we soak up our final days together surrounded by the spectacular vistas and endless valleys of this region of Patagonia, we enjoy our last asados and dulce de leche, snap our final photos and reminisce on our favorite memories of the past three months. There is no doubt that our experiences during this semester will stay with us for the rest of our lives. As we savor our remaining time together, we are excited to head home to share our newly gained knowledge and insights from our firsthand look at the global issues facing Peru and Chilean Patagonia.

*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: