8 Day Sustainable Moms and Daughters Small Group Trip in Peru

Day 1 Arrival in Cusco

1. 1

   Centro Historico De Cusco

   3 hours

   Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to your accommodation. You'll have the day to rest and acclimatize to the altitude. We will explore Cusco by foot (Plaza de Armas and the Santa Domingo Church).
   During dinner, we will meet our partner, Peruvian Hearts. This non-profit organization works to end poverty and gender inequality by educating young women and creating community leaders in Peru - one girl at a time. Peruvian-born Ana Dodson developed this nonprofit organization to enable young women to embrace education, believe in their own power, and dream of a life beyond the conditions into which they were born. $150 from each trip fee per person will be donated directly to Peruvian Hearts. Your donation will support one of the Peruvian Hearts scholars to help cover expenses such as her tuition fees, books, school supplies, uniform, school sponsored field trips, and transportation.

Day 2 Cusco Community Day

1. 1

   Cusco

   3 hours

   We'll spend the morning visiting the homes of some of the Peruvian Hearts scholars within Cusco. This will give you and your child a unique opportunity to get beyond the tourist trail to understand life in Peru. This experience will also provide context for the work of Peruvian Hearts as you will hear the stories of some of the young women involved in their programs and begin to understand the challenges and opportunities they face.

Day 3 Cusco - Aguas Calientes

1. 1

   Cusco

   3 hours

   Today we will visit communities in the city and rural areas of Cusco to understand the challenges and opportunities people who live in these areas face. We will learn about topics like education, health care, infrastructure and culture. We'll also visit an animal sanctuary which rescues animals and provides a safe home for them.

2. 2

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   In the afternoon, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes, a stunning 1.5 hour journey full of surprises through the magnificent Vilcanota Canyon. Arriving at Aguas Calientes, we will check into our accommodation before tucking in for an early night, in preparation for tomorrow's early start.

Day 4 Machu Picchu

1. 1

   Machu Picchu

   3 hours

   Rise and shine! After our pre-dawn wake-up call, we will take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu in order to appreciate this World Heritage Site and one of the Modern Wonders of the World in the early morning light. (For those wishing to hike up, this option can also be arranged.) Your visit to Machu Picchu will begin with exploring some of the alternative routes, like the Inca Bridge, after which your guide will give you a 2-3 hour walking tour of the historic citadel.
   After visiting Machu Picchu, you can take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy some time exploring the village and doing some souvenir shopping. You may also wish to visit the local hot springs to relax after our busy day of exploration!

2. 2

   Aguas Calientes

   3 hours

   After your morning at Machu Picchu, you'll spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring Aguas Calientes. You'll also have a chance to visit the town's namesake - the natural hot spring pools.

3. 3

   Aguas Calientes

   3 hours

   After your morning at Machu Picchu, you'll spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring Aguas Calientes. You'll also have a chance to visit the town's namesake - the natural hot spring pools.

4. 4

   Aguas Calientes

   3 hours

   After your morning at Machu Picchu, you'll spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring Aguas Calientes. You'll also have a chance to visit the town's namesake - the natural hot spring pools.

Day 5 Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley

1. 1

   Aguas Calientes

   2 hours

   We'll have an additional morning to explore Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes before traveling to the Sacred Valley in the afternoon.

2. 2

   Sacred Valley of the Incas

   5 hours Admission ticket included

   We'll be staying in a hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas called Las Casitas del Arco Iris. By staying here we will be helping to create a better future for the communities of the Sacred Valley. Casitas del Arco Iris donate their profits to the Niños del Arco Iris Foundation which provides education and health services to more than 160 children from the Sacred Valley and their families.

Day 6 Llama Pack Project

1. 1

   5 hours Admission ticket included

   We'll spend the day with Llama Pack Project taking llamas for a walk to learn about these (smelly yet gorgeous!) animals. We'll have the opportunity to learn about the inspiring work of Llama Pack Project and how they are using tourism as a tool for sustainable rural development and conservation of mountain ecosystems in the Urubamba mountain range.They work with high-Andean communities that are located between 3,200 – 4,500 meters above sea level with a focus on empowering communities so that they are able to hope for a better future and make it a reality.

Day 7 Final day in Cusco

1. 1

   Cusco Chocolate Workshop

   2 hours Admission ticket included

   We'll spend our final day back in Cusco where we'll have some free time to do some shopping and take part in a Peruvian chocolate workshop. We'll learn all about the chocolate making process, starting from the cacao tree in the jungle and we'll make our own chocolates with milk or dark chocolate and more than 15 different flavorings. The workshop will take place at the Choco Museo, a company with a strong focus on intrapreneurship, local production and transparency.
   In the evening, we'll have a farewell dinner with the Peruvian Hearts scholars. We'll have time to share our stories and aspirations for the future.

Day 8 Farewell Peru!

1. 1

   2 hours

   Today we'll say farewell to Peru and you will be transferred to Cusco's airport to begin your journey home.