Peru: Culture and Traditions

Depart Home for Lima, Peru

Arrive in Lima, Peru

Airport Transfer

Hotel check-in, Relax & Refresh

Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do incase of an emergency.

Welcome Dinner - The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a variety of menu options to cater all diets

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Full Day Lima Tour - This interactive city tour introduces students to Lima’s rich history, vibrant culture, and modern identity through a dynamic mix of exploration, storytelling, and hands-on learning. The experience begins in Lima’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and continues with a visit at Miraflores, one of Lima’s most dynamic districts.

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Early Morning Guided visit to a Traditional Lima Market - Discover the diversity of Peruvian ingredients and culinary culture. Accompanied by a local guide, participants will learn about native fruits, Andean products, aromatic herbs, and essential ingredients used in everyday Peruvian cooking. This visit provides an excellent opportunity to interact with local vendors, understand shopping customs, and gain insight into how food plays a central role in Peruvian culture. Time will be allocated for photos and optional tastings.

Late Morning Salsa Class - After returning to Miraflores, take part in a lively salsa lesson led by a professional local instructor. The class is designed for all levels and focuses on basic steps, rhythm, and coordination in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The lesson not only introduces participants to salsa dancing but also highlights the importance of
music and dance in Latin American culture, encouraging confidence, participation, and cultural connection.

Free Afternoon

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Transfer to Airport

Flight to Cusco

Transfer to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas - Here you will have time to rest and acclimate your body to the altitude. Tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills, the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley), is about 9 miles north of Cusco as the condor flies, via a narrow road of hairpin turns.
Long the home of attractive colonial towns and isolated weaving villages, in recent years it has become a destination in its own right. Star attractions are the markets and the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but the valley is also packed with other Inca sites. A traditional Andean textile and cultural center located near Cusco, offers the opportunity to see and learn about South America’s native camelids in a natural and educational setting. On the way visit a local shop to see the Andean camelid species llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and
guanacos and learn about their differences, habitats, and historical importance to Andean communities. The experience highlights the role these animals have played for centuries in transportation, textiles, and daily life in the Andes.
In addition to the camelids, visitors will gain insight into traditional textile techniques. Local artisans demonstrate ancestral methods of spinning, dyeing (using natural plants and minerals), and weaving, explaining how fine fibers—especially alpaca and vicuña—are transformed into high-quality textiles.

Lunch Box Included

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Hands-on Agricultural Activity - an authentic introduction to traditional Andean farming practices in the Sacred Valley. Guided by local community members, visitors learn how agriculture has shaped daily life in the Andes for centuries. Participants will take part in seasonal farming tasks such as planting, harvesting, soil preparation, or irrigation, using ancestral techniques adapted to the mountain environment. The activity highlights native crops including potatoes, corn, quinoa, and legumes, while explaining crop diversity, food
security, and sustainable land management. Throughout the experience, hosts share insights into the Andean agricultural calendar, respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth), and the importance of biodiversity and climate adaptation.
Lunch Included

Visit Maras Salt Mines - Here thousands of salt ponds have been harvested using traditional methods since pre-Inca times. A guided walk through the site explains the natural salt spring, the evaporation process, and the role of communal ownership in local economic life.
This combined experience offers a meaningful introduction to Andean agriculture, resource
management, and community traditions.

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Full Day Excursion to Machu Picchu - Seamless journey from the Sacred Valley to one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites. The day begins with an early transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo, followed by a scenic train ride through the Urubamba River valley to Aguas Calientes.
Upon arrival, board a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu, where a guided tour introduces the site’s most important sectors while explaining Inca engineering, history, spirituality, and daily life.
After the guided visit, there is free time for photography and appreciation of the surrounding landscape (subject to entrance regulations).
In the afternoon, the group returns by shuttle bus and train, followed by a transfer back to the Sacred Valley, arriving in the evening.

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Visit Saqsa Waman- This is an imposing Inca ceremonial and military complex located above the city. During the guided tour, learn about Inca engineering, the symbolic importance of the site, and its role within the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. The massive stone walls and panoramic views over Cusco provide an excellent setting for historical interpretation and
photography.

Visit Historic Center of Cusco - This is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the main square and surrounding streets, the guide highlights the fusion of Inca foundations and Spanish colonial architecture. Key sites include the Cusco Cathedral and
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), where visitors gain insight into the cultural transformation of the city following the Spanish conquest.

Farewell Dinner & Program Closing

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Transfer to Cusco Airport

Depart Cusco, Peru for Home