Peru Trek Expedition: 3 Weeks

Day	Activities	More details
Day 1	Arrive in Peru	After arrival into Cusco airport, you will be greeted by a member of our Camps staff and taken to your accommodation in the city for the evening. We will use our time to give you briefings about the itinerary and to make sure that you are well set for the coming adventures.
Day 2	Head to your first camp	This morning, you’ll be transferred to your first camp. Once you arrive you will be greeted by the Camp Manager who will give you a camp and community tour and explain more about the projects you’ll be getting involved with over the coming days – the group will have the opportunity to set their own goals for those projects within a broader set of objectives. The camp is at around 8,000 feet altitude in an area famous for growing avocados, and there is a small orchard inside the camp itself. In the evening, you’ll have the chance to relax, take in the scenery and catch up with your travel journal. Each evening will also involve a Reflection session in which the group think about what they are doing, how they are learning and what the potential impacts of their activities are on their host community.
Day 3	Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture	Time in camp is shared between service work, cultural activities and interaction with the community. Often those three things blend together. You will be involved in community development projects to help improve infrastructure within the village: this could include building communal structures for community events or other important facilities in the primary school. In the afternoon you will perhaps learn to make tortillas or get involved a little local dancing.
Day 4	Community project work	Each day you will make some more progress toward the project goals that the community and Camps have identified. Typically, most of that work is done in the mornings, working alongside ‘maestros’ from the community. However, it is not all work and no play and soccer and volleyball games with the local children fill many an afternoon.
Day 5	Community project work	The community is about a 15 minute walk from the camp, and each day you will head out along the river to the project site. The primary and pre-primary schools share a space and Camps has worked with both Head Teachers to improve their facilities for their children. The projects have included building greenhouses, creating a proper entrance to the school itself and creating shelters to give the children respite from the sun in the recess periods.
Day 6	Trek to archaeological site	As a break from all the hard work, we will take a day off and trek to a local Inca archaeological site. The camp is in a steep sided valley with fantastic views up to surrounding peaks and down the long valley into the distance. The trek takes us a little way down the valley and at its end you will have your first chance to marvel at the phenomenal stone work of that ancient civilization.
Day 7	Environmental project work	In this community we are also working in environmental projects. The river has been identified by the national government as being at risk and protecting its banks, and the flora growing along them, is vital work. We have also developed a community greenhouse to grow native species. In the evenings, members of the community will visit the camp to talk about their lives and play volleyball with our groups. This evening there will also be some time to reflect on your achievements so far before you head to your next camp.
Day 8	Transfer to next camp	Today we move to a camp at higher altitude. The flow of the expedition is important, as you acclimatize yourself to the altitude before starting your trek to Machu Picchu the next week. At the new camp, the Camp Manager will give you a tour of your living space and the community itself. It is a great privilege to be in this remote community and the views from it are staggering. In the evening, the group will establish its project goals for this camp.
Day 9	Community project work	The community and Camps are working on several initiatives to improve infrastructure and provide safe and productive learning environments for local children. In addition to the projects in the school, we are building a toilet for each house in the community to improve sanitation. We will also investigate local traditions such as cooking techniques and fabric making.
Day 10	Community project work	As you become increasingly more used to the altitude you will find the project work easier. Alongside local ‘maestros’ and accompanied by the sound of the many donkeys who live in the community, you will start to feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction as you see the progress you are making. This is a remote and quite poor community and the impact you can have in supporting their own initiatives is not to be underestimated.
Day 11	Practice trek	Today it is time to get in some proper trekking practice, as you head out across the mountains to see the Moray archaeological site. This is a great opportunity to trek at altitude and for the group to get used to trekking together.
Day 13	Community project work	As you reach your own project goals, that you identified when you arrived in the camp, you will start to think about the next adventures. However, before leaving, there is time for some traditional food and dancing with the community and to say good bye to some life-long friends.
Day 14	Cusco	A day in the ancient city of Cusco to prepare for the trek to Machu Picchu.
Day 15	Salkantay Trek	You will leave Cusco very early in the morning, by bus, to embark on an adventurous journey to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Your start point sits in the shadow of the massive Salkantay peak and the first day’s trekking takes you to more than 14,000 feet, just under its glacier: you will be grateful for all the time you have had to acclimatize and for the practice treks that you have done together. Each evening you will sleep in a different campsite along the route.
Day 16	Salkantay Trek	Continuing through the high Andes, you will head down into a long valley. As you walk in the footsteps of the Incas, there are awesome views around very corner. Later on, you will pass through small, remote villages and have the opportunity to buy drinks and snacks in small shops.
Day 17	Salkantay Trek	A day to gain some altitude as you head toward the campsite for the fourth night. Weather permitting, you should get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu itself this afternoon.
Day 18	Salkantay Trek	Heading out of the campsite, and down into another valley, you will end you day under Machu Picchu itself. The almost vertical cliff faces and narrow valleys explain well why the Inca built where they did and why the citadel remined hidden from the conquistadors.
Day 19	Machu Picchu	You may have seen hundreds of pictures of this famous site, but nothing will prepare you for the magic of seeing it in real life – and the challenging trek of the last few days will make the experience even more rewarding. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one not to be missed! The day ends with a journey by train back to Cusco.
Day 20	Cusco	Following the exertion of the trek, this is an opportunity to explore the Inca capital. You will have some time to wander its streets, buy some souvenirs and have your last great Peruvian meal.
Day 21	Ciao Peru	After saying goodbye to our Camp Peru crew, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.

Day

Activities

More details

Day 1

Arrive in Peru

After arrival into Cusco airport, you will be greeted by a member of our Camps staff and taken to your accommodation in the city for the evening. We will use our time to give you briefings about the itinerary and to make sure that you are well set for the coming adventures.

Day 2

Head to your first camp

This morning, you’ll be transferred to your first camp. Once you arrive you will be greeted by the Camp Manager who will give you a camp and community tour and explain more about the projects you’ll be getting involved with over the coming days – the group will have the opportunity to set their own goals for those projects within a broader set of objectives. The camp is at around 8,000 feet altitude in an area famous for growing avocados, and there is a small orchard inside the camp itself. In the evening, you’ll have the chance to relax, take in the scenery and catch up with your travel journal. Each evening will also involve a Reflection session in which the group think about what they are doing, how they are learning and what the potential impacts of their activities are on their host community.

Day 3

Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture

Time in camp is shared between service work, cultural activities and interaction with the community. Often those three things blend together. You will be involved in community development projects to help improve infrastructure within the village: this could include building communal structures for community events or other important facilities in the primary school. In the afternoon you will perhaps learn to make tortillas or get involved a little local dancing.

Day 4

Community project work

Each day you will make some more progress toward the project goals that the community and Camps have identified. Typically, most of that work is done in the mornings, working alongside ‘maestros’ from the community. However, it is not all work and no play and soccer and volleyball games with the local children fill many an afternoon.

Day 5

Community project work

The community is about a 15 minute walk from the camp, and each day you will head out along the river to the project site. The primary and pre-primary schools share a space and Camps has worked with both Head Teachers to improve their facilities for their children. The projects have included building greenhouses, creating a proper entrance to the school itself and creating shelters to give the children respite from the sun in the recess periods.

Day 6

Trek to archaeological site

As a break from all the hard work, we will take a day off and trek to a local Inca archaeological site. The camp is in a steep sided valley with fantastic views up to surrounding peaks and down the long valley into the distance. The trek takes us a little way down the valley and at its end you will have your first chance to marvel at the phenomenal stone work of that ancient civilization.

Day 7

Environmental project work

In this community we are also working in environmental projects. The river has been identified by the national government as being at risk and protecting its banks, and the flora growing along them, is vital work. We have also developed a community greenhouse to grow native species. In the evenings, members of the community will visit the camp to talk about their lives and play volleyball with our groups. This evening there will also be some time to reflect on your achievements so far before you head to your next camp.

Day 8

Transfer to next camp

Today we move to a camp at higher altitude. The flow of the expedition is important, as you acclimatize yourself to the altitude before starting your trek to Machu Picchu the next week. At the new camp, the Camp Manager will give you a tour of your living space and the community itself. It is a great privilege to be in this remote community and the views from it are staggering. In the evening, the group will establish its project goals for this camp.

Day 9

Community project work

The community and Camps are working on several initiatives to improve infrastructure and provide safe and productive learning environments for local children. In addition to the projects in the school, we are building a toilet for each house in the community to improve sanitation. We will also investigate local traditions such as cooking techniques and fabric making.

Day 10

Community project work

As you become increasingly more used to the altitude you will find the project work easier. Alongside local ‘maestros’ and accompanied by the sound of the many donkeys who live in the community, you will start to feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction as you see the progress you are making. This is a remote and quite poor community and the impact you can have in supporting their own initiatives is not to be underestimated.

Day 11

Practice trek

Today it is time to get in some proper trekking practice, as you head out across the mountains to see the Moray archaeological site. This is a great opportunity to trek at altitude and for the group to get used to trekking together.

Day 13

Community project work

As you reach your own project goals, that you identified when you arrived in the camp, you will start to think about the next adventures. However, before leaving, there is time for some traditional food and dancing with the community and to say good bye to some life-long friends.

Day 14

Cusco

A day in the ancient city of Cusco to prepare for the trek to Machu Picchu.

Day 15

Salkantay Trek

You will leave Cusco very early in the morning, by bus, to embark on an adventurous journey to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Your start point sits in the shadow of the massive Salkantay peak and the first day’s trekking takes you to more than 14,000 feet, just under its glacier: you will be grateful for all the time you have had to acclimatize and for the practice treks that you have done together. Each evening you will sleep in a different campsite along the route.

Day 16

Salkantay Trek

Continuing through the high Andes, you will head down into a long valley. As you walk in the footsteps of the Incas, there are awesome views around very corner. Later on, you will pass through small, remote villages and have the opportunity to buy drinks and snacks in small shops.

Day 17

Salkantay Trek

A day to gain some altitude as you head toward the campsite for the fourth night. Weather permitting, you should get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu itself this afternoon.

Day 18

Salkantay Trek

Heading out of the campsite, and down into another valley, you will end you day under Machu Picchu itself. The almost vertical cliff faces and narrow valleys explain well why the Inca built where they did and why the citadel remined hidden from the conquistadors.

Day 19

Machu Picchu

You may have seen hundreds of pictures of this famous site, but nothing will prepare you for the magic of seeing it in real life – and the challenging trek of the last few days will make the experience even more rewarding. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one not to be missed! The day ends with a journey by train back to Cusco.

Day 20

Cusco

Following the exertion of the trek, this is an opportunity to explore the Inca capital. You will have some time to wander its streets, buy some souvenirs and have your last great Peruvian meal.

Day 21

Ciao Peru

After saying goodbye to our Camp Peru crew, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.

Peru – Sanitation, Education and Food Security

The remote nature of this region means there is little to no support from nearby towns. As part of your experience, you’ll contribute to projects aimed at enhancing educational facilities for local children, including ongoing efforts at the high school, elementary school, and kindergarten. Additionally, you’ll assist in building greenhouses to support sustainable food production.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Peru – Sanitation and rural housing improvement

The small rural community in Moray is extremely poor with no basic sanitation or sewerage. You’ll get involved with projects such as renovating houses and constructing toilet blocks in each of the houses in the village, providing families and vulnerable elderly residents with proper sanitation facilities.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

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Peru – School improvements

Over the years we are proud to have made some real improvements to the school in the community, and that is work that is still going on. Dining rooms, toilet facilities and improving classroom infrastructure is our focus. The community also has difficulties with water supply and sanitation, and we are working with the community in those areas.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Peru – Community Development and Conservation

The river running through the community is in the Peruvian government red “at risk” list and we are working to protect its banks. That involves building protective structures and working in reforestation of the hillside above it. Additionally, we are engaging with the community by working closely with the local school and establishing greenhouses that are integrated with the reforestation project.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Discover Peru on a 3-week trek that blends community service with adventure, from village projects in the Andes to the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu.

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Sample itinerary

Day

Activities

More details

Gallery

See what life is like on expedition

Your impact

How you’ll make a difference

Peru – Sanitation, Education and Food Security

Peru – Sanitation and rural housing improvement

Peru – School improvements

Peru – Community Development and Conservation

Our camps

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Camp Moray

Camp Sacred Valley

Camp Maras

Camp Tarawasi

Tried, Tested, Loved

Our crew

Our local camp legends

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