Peru Winter Break 2011
What a trip! Check out the blog to see how it went…
WINTER BREAK 2011
PROGRAM DATES: DEC 26 – JAN 8
PROGRAM FEE: $1,399
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience everyday life in the real heart of Peru.
- Hike the Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world!
- Work on earthquake disaster relief projects in Pisco.
- Visit local hospitals to get a glimpse of global health in action.
Click here for sample itinerary
PERU…
THE WAY WE SEE IT
Peru isn’t really the country you might expect it to be. While everyone has heard of Machu Picchu and the Incan civilization, very few know that 60% of the country is the Amazon and much of the rest of the country is coastal desert. But that’s just the geography.
For adventure travelers, Peru’s canyons, mountain ranges, glaciers and beaches are a playground unlike anything they’ve ever seen. For history buffs, the Spanish colonial architecture sitting on top of traditional indigenous temples literally jumps out of the ground at you. But for true OGers, Peru is the place where we prove that “backpacking with a purpose” really works. While most travelers simply pass along the ‘Gringo Trail’, hopping from overpriced tourist trap to party hostel, that isn’t our style. To experience the real Peru, you need to get lost in the countryside, be invited into a random home while waiting out a storm over coca tea. Because in the end, its always about the people.
ACCOMMODATION
WITH OG YOU LIVE LIKE THE LOCALS.
Traveling as much as we do on the Peru program, there will be a number of different styles of accommodation. In cities, we’ll usually be sleeping at clean, safe and secure guesthouses that will feel like a second home in no time. When we’re trekking or in rural communities, we’ll generally be sleeping under the stars or with families in very basic houses. This gives us a chance to delve deep into local culture. We’ll also be staying at a cool, converted volunteer house in dorm rooms care of our friends at Pisco Sin Fronteras, but Western comforts such as continuous electricity should not be assumed. However, cold-water bucket showers and cramped sleeping conditions should be embraced!
HEALTH & SAFETY
Health, safety, and security are of the utmost importance to Operation Groundswell. We take every possible step to keep our groups safe and secure throughout the program. With that in mind, it is important to remember that every OG trip prides itself on taking participants directly into the experience of living in that region. We DO take public transportation, we DO meet real people, and we DO experience real life. OG and its local partners are familiar with these realities and their risks. Trip Leaders are trained in wilderness first-aid, proficient in Spanish, and have undertaken the trips before group arrivals to ensure that all of the people and places to be visited are safe and secure. OG also maintains near constant communication with its headquarters, its partners, local contacts, and in-country officials. To help mitigate health risks, Operation Groundswell expects every trip participant to meet with a travel doctor before leaving their country of origin. They must be up-to-date with all necessary vaccinations and equipped with any necessary medications for travel in-country.
TRIP ITINERARY
December 26-28: Ceviche, Cuy, Anticuchos oh my!
Our program starts in Lima, capital of Peru and the gateway to the colonial Spanish empire of South America. Here we have our in-country orientation: a crash course in Peruvian culture, politics, Spanish language and of course, the cuisine. Highlights include a historical walking tour in downtown Lima, a briefing with the Canadian embassy on Canada’s role in Peru and much more. We will also hit the streets learning how to bargain hard in local markets and how to navigate local transportation all while experiencing true Latino hospitality. In Lima, we will be staying in the coastal district of Miraflores in a backpacker’s hostel whose hosts quickly make it every one’s home away from home!
December 29: Arequipa – The Volcano City
From Lima, we head into the Andes towards Arequipa, the “White City”. Sitting at the foot of the volcano, El Misti, the city’s beautiful Spanish colonial houses are made with white volcanic rock giving the city its nickname. Here we will explore the San Camilo market in the main plaza, the Convento de Santa Catalina, and prepare for our next adventure into the deepest canyon in the world.
December 30-Jan 1: Colca Canyon!
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, its walls hold ancient agricultural terraces, villages, orchards, and stunning views, all under the watching eyes of the Andean Condors. Beyond the amazing sense of accomplishment after a good days hike, we will be rewarded each night sleeping with the Colca River below and the stars above our heads.
January 2-7: Disaster Relief Volunteering
After conquering the canyon, we head west to the coastal town of Pisco. More than just a namesake for Peru’s trademark spirit, Pisco was a town devastated by the massive earthquake that shook Peru in 2007. Located directly at the earthquake’s epicenter, Pisco experienced the greatest devastation in the area and is still recovering today. Participants will spend five days volunteering with a local NGO, Pisco Sin Fronteras, which has been in the city since the disaster. Working on both construction and community development, PSF has already had success building homes, community centres, parks, day cares, starting recycling programs in schools, and establishing a biodiesel project! Participants are free to choose from a variety of project they want to be involved in and are encouraged to create projects of their own as well. Though it has been four years since the earthquake, there is lots of work still to be done with the people of Pisco, a great opportunity for volunteers to get their hands dirty!
January 8: Fly home from Lima
Sad, sad goodbyes.
