Compare Peru Children of the Andes by Discover Corps vs Signature Peru & Beyond by Kuoda Travel

Day 1:

You will arrive at the airport in Cusco where you will be met by a member of our staff and be taken to our guesthouse in Cusco for the evening. After a delicious welcome dinner, we will discuss the schedule for the week and give you an overview of the volunteer project.

Day 2:

Wake up to an authentic Peruvian breakfast prepared by our local staff and take in the fresh mountain air and views of the Andes. We’ll take our time in the morning to adequately adjust to the altitude and learn a bit about the area and its fascinating history. After lunch, we will orient ourselves with this impressive city and visit the most important sites in Cusco: the Cathedral, San Blas Church, and Koricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun.

A Picturesque Community in the Heart of the Andes

In a small town, narrow stone walkways meander through traditional Peruvian houses. Children dance around the fountain in the town center amongst old men deep in discussion. The Andes soar in the distance contrasted against the bright mountain sky. This is the location of the Discover Corps Home Base. The town is most renowned for its 17th century cathedrals. But look beyond the lavishly decorated cathedral and you will find small markets selling traditional Peruvian goods and the scents of home cooked food wafting into the air.

In the afternoons, we will visit dynamic non-profit organizations that are working on health issues in the region, engage local children in activities such as soccer, and even sample guinea pig - a local delicacy! One afternoon, we’ll take part in a hands-on cooking class and even help to make a watya, an earthen stove used to make potatoes. Another afternoon, we’ll meet with women’s groups and make traditional dolls using the colorful fabrics that Peru is famous for. You’ll even have a chance to try traditional Andean dance.

Evenings are reserved for discussion, relaxation and reflection. Enjoy a traditional Peruvian style dinner cooked by the local Home Base staff while reminiscing in the day’s activities around the fire pit outside. Some evenings will feature a guest speaker from a local non-profit or leader in the community. Topics range from local health initiatives to the colonial History of Peru.

Days 3-5:

Awake to the sounds of church bells ringing through the streets and fresh mountain air. Relax before breakfast in one of the lush gardens around the Home Base, a century old Peruvian hacienda. We’ll spend the mornings engaging with the local community and culture. Visit a shaman and learn about age old Incan spiritual rituals, learn to sew handmade dolls using colorful fabrics with women from the community and visit a nearby orphanage that takes care of and mentors abandoned children from the community.

After lunch, we will help out at the community after-school program. Engage directly with the students through a combination of language lessons and educational games that will allow you to not only contribute directly to the curriculum, but develop strong bonds with the local children. Whether it’s telling stories as part of an English class or reading a book together, your sheer presence will create a memorable learning experience for the class as a whole.

We’ll return to our Home Base each evening for a delicious Peruvian meal cooked by the in-house chef and relax by under the stars by the fire pit.

Days 6-7:

After breakfast, we’ll head out to a women and children’s development project in the community run by a local artist and his wife. Experience the innovative ways this couple is economically empowering women in the community, including making hand-sewn Peruvian dolls and selling them on the international market. You’ll spend a morning at one of the women’s’ houses learning to make a local dish and seeing how they live.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue our projects with the children in the after-school program. Be creative with the lessons and see how the students get more comfortable practicing their English as the days go on.

We’ll invite guests over for dinner each night, including our students and the women from the community development project. 

Our Peruvian Home Base 

The Discover Corps Home Base is located in the heart of a quaint Andean village called Andahuaylillas, just outside Cusco. Set amongst the soaring Andes Mountains, the Home Base is a hacienda complete with vegetable gardens (which we use for meals), peaceful nooks to read and relax in and a fire pit for our evening discussions.

Our in-house chef will prepare authentic Peruvian cuisine, which is among the most diverse and delicious in the world. While breakfasts are very simple and typically include fresh rolls, eggs and jam, the lunches and dinners feature a wide variety of flavors found in traditional Peruvian cuisine. Be ready for a culinary adventure - you won’t be disappointed!

Meals will be hearty and healthy, locally-grown, consisting of meats, beans, lentils, rice, chapatti, vegetables, and fruits.

Day 8:

After breakfast, we’ll head back to Cusco for tour of its most important sites: the Cathedral, San Blas Church, and Koricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional lunch back in the town square and visit the open air markets to purchase local clothes or just take in the invigorating pace of local life. This evening we will hold our farewell dinner, as the two groups will be departing early for their separate ways.

Day 9:

(10-day program) We will rise early in the morning to take a train through the mountains and into the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Spend the afternoon taking in the breathtaking surroundings and reflecting on the complexity of this iconic archeological masterpiece. Later in the afternoon, we will take the train back for dinner back in Cusco before departing the next day.

(14-day program)  We’ll also get out of town and discover more ancient ruins of the Sacred Valley: Pucapucara, Qenqo, and Tambomachay. Along the way, we’ll even have a chance to see and learn about the animal that Peru is best known for at a local llama farm.

Day 10:

(10-day program) Travelers will be taken to the airport for their return flights home.

(14-day program)  After breakfast, we will take a scenic two-hour drive to Ollantaytambo, a village that has lots of shops and very impressive ruins.  After a short break, we start the climb up the 13,000 foot pass adjacent to the glacier “Wakay Willca”, also known as “Veronica”. On a sunny day you get an amazing view of this massive, but receding, chunk of ice. We descend about 6,000 feet in less than an hour and arrive at the Pacha Conservancy camp, a non-profit, environmental conservancy organization. Here we have an amazing lunch, hear a short talk about the work of the Pacha Conservancy and admire the rescued and replanted orchids, the organic tea plants, and the Inca-style walls.

After lunch, we drive the final three hour leg and arrive in Santa Teresa in the late afternoon. Santa Teresa is considerably lower elevation so the weather is warm. The town also has three large, naturally fed hot springs that sit in the bottom of a large valley, adjacent to a 100 foot wide river. After soaking and watching stars, we’ll grab a simple dinner in town and get to bed early in anticipation for the hike the next day.

Days 11-12:

From Santa Teresa, it’s a short drive to our trailhead. We’ll walk the entire day along the river and railroad tracks. Take in the scenery as we hike through the mountains and slowly descend into the rainforest. After lunch, we’ll continue our hike onwards to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu where we will spend the night.

Wake up the next morning for the final leg of the journey into Machu Picchu. Spend the afternoon taking in this wonder of the world and it’s incredible surroundings.  Later, we’ll catch catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and onwards to Cusco for the evening.

Day 13:

Wake up rejuvenated after a night’s rest back at the Home Base. Today, we’ll have the chance to pick up some final souvenirs, have a coffee in the town center, or relax in a park to the sounds of cathedral bells in the distance. We’ll enjoy our final dinner together with the family of our staff.

Day 14:

We’ll take travellers throughout the day to the airport for their flights home.

Day 1: Welcome to Peru!

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park, 01 City View Jr. Suite

International Arrival in Lima

You will find us waiting for you when your international flight arrives in Lima. Look for the Kuoda sign with your name and the smile. We will escort you to your hotel in the Miraflores district, check you in, and help you get settled. You’ll then be able to rinse away the feeling of a long flight and enjoy a good night’s rest!

Day 2: Introduction to the City of Kings

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park, 01 City View Jr. Suite

Afternoon Visit to the Larco Herrera Museum and the Historic City Center

Wake up refreshed and enjoy breakfast in your hotel this morning. You have the morning to spend at your leisure, either enjoying the comforts of your hotel or exploring vibrant Miraflores!

At the appropriate time mid-day, we’ll collect you and bring you to the Pueblo Libre neighborhood, home to the Larco Herrera Museum. Housing the country’s largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts (including extensive gold and silver collections, as well as the infamous erotic archaeological collection) and providing rare open access to their exquisitely catalogued storage area, this museum is the perfect introduction to Peru’s multi-faceted cultural history. First, you’ll begin your visit with a delicious lunch enjoyed on the vine-covered terrace of the Museum’s café, and then you’ll have time to explore the exhibits. Next we’ll delve into the heart of Peru’s “City of Kings,” where you’ll visit the Plaza Mayor, featuring the current President’s palace, the Convent of San Francisco (including subterranean catacombs!) and the Casa Aliaga, which is the western hemisphere’s oldest mansion and still owned and inhabited by the 17^th generation of the Aliaga family. Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel where your guide will be happy to suggest some great places to see and dine within walking distance of Miraflores.

Day 3: Over the Andes to the Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Rio Sagrado, 01 Deluxe Terrace Room

Flight from Lima to Cusco, Private Car to the Sacred Valley

You will wake up refreshed and enjoy a complimentary breakfast in your hotel before we escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

We will be waiting for you when touch down at our Andean airport and will bring you to the historic city center of Cusco for a delicious lunch. Then, before you can feel the altitude, we’ll whisk you into the Sacred Valley. Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, cows and sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. Impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance. Your journey will take you first to the Incan fortress at Sacsayhuaman. Next, you’ll stop at the vibrant market in the pueblo of Pisac, where locals come from miles around to sell their wares. Upon conclusion of your market visit we’ll bring you to your hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Remember, your Kuoda guide and driver are at your disposal today – please feel free to stop for photos, stretch your legs and breathe in the clear mountain air!

Day 4: Uncovering Ollantaytambo’s Secrets

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Hike through Patacancha, Visit Ollantaytambo’s Iconic Ruins, and Enjoy a Peruvian Feast!

Today’s journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas will start with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. At the ruins of Pumamarca we’ll begin our hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.

After approximately two hours of hiking, we’ll find ourselves in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in Peru that retains its original Incan urban planning. You’ll note still-functioning street canals, multi-family houses with secret interior courtyards and iconic Incan trapezoidal doors! Here we’ll visit the Incan fortress perched on the mountainside overlooking the sleepy pueblo, and learn about nearby stone quarries and the pivotal Incan battle fought here. We hope you worked up an appetite while hiking, because next on the schedule is a true Peruvian feast: the traditional Pachamanca! The centuries-old Pachamanca tradition involves marinating lamb, pork, chicken, and potatoes in a variety of Andean ingredients and cooking them to perfection in an underground oven. You’ll witness each step of the process: how the oven is prepared, how white-hot stones are layered, and how the feast materializes before your eyes! While waiting for your feast to roast, make sure to wander through the grounds’ organic garden, smell the fresh-roasted coffee produced by the farm’s head roaster, and sample some of the varieties of cañazo (a local Andean spirit) that are produced on-site at the one-of-a-kind distillery. Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel for an evening spent at leisure.

Day 5: The Lost City of the Incas – Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, 01 Deluxe Terrace Room

Morning luxury Hiram Bingham Train, Private Tour of Machu Picchu

Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham train for our journey to Machu Picchu. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows and enjoy a gourmet lunch on board, followed by a visit to the open-air observatory car! After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will then ascend stone steps, through heavy tree cover to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city. Afterwards, feel free to continue exploring, or retire to your on-site hotel to relax and refresh. Upon completion of your tour, your guide will give you advice and answer questions about how you might use your following free day. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your luxury hotel and fall into bed, relishing in your exclusive proximity to Peru’s lost citadel!

Day 6: Machu Picchu on Your Terms

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

A Free Day to Explore the Ancient City at Your Own Pace

This is your day to relax and enjoy Machu Picchu. The adventurous can hike the steep Huayna Picchu sugarloaf peak for the postcard view of the city, or those wishing to go at a calmer pace can continue to explore the far reaches of the citadel, perhaps visiting the Inca Bridge. Your guide from the previous day will have left you with plenty of suggestions for how best to make the most out of your day exploring Peru’s world wonder.

Machu Picchu entrances, Huayna Picchu entrances, and return bus tickets are included today. In the afternoon, you will descend to Aguas Calientes for your return luxury Hiram Bingham train. Delight in a live show and gourmet dinner in thie 1920’s Pullman-style luxury train! We will be waiting in the station for you and will bring you to your hotel for a relaxing evening at leisure.

Day 7: The Past, Present, and Future of the Sacred Valley

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

A Free Day to Explore the Ancient City at Your Own Pace

Today you will weave through the Sacred Valley’s most fertile agricultural lands and experience an unforgettable blend of the past, present, and future.

Your first stop of the day will be revisiting centuries past at the ancient Inca ruins at Moray. Some experts still believe these concentric circles served as an agricultural laboratory, though nobody has yet been able to confirm their true purpose. Form your own hypothesis as you peer deep into these beautiful feats of engineering and stonemasonry. We will then transport ourselves to the present and continue through the small town of Maras before arriving at iconic salt pans carved into the mountainside. In use to this day, each of thousands of flat white pools terracing the hillside has been passed down through generations since pre-Incan times, providing sustenance and income. The intricate network of waterways and white evaporation pools seem like a work of modern art. We will then pause for a locally-prepared lunch enjoyed with panoramic views.

After lunch, we will take you to visit our friends in a small village and glimpse the promising future that awaits the rural Sacred Valley. Surrounded by towering mountains and hugging the shore of the breathtakingly blue Lake Piuray, agriculture dominates life in this close-knit place. The women of the village are weaving masters that use Incan techniques, materials, and patterns, and have formed a weaving association providing community development through sales and teachings. You will also meet some of the local children who attend Kuoda’s after-school program, which provides a much needed haven of extra school supplies, homework help, and perhaps most importantly, encouragement to stay in school. The kids love to show off their drawings and computer skills! This town is far off the beaten-track, so you won’t see other travellers here. You will get to meet some of the friendliest people in Peru and witness how a more traditional way of life is adapting to the passage of time. Finally, after experiencing first-hand the past, present, and future of the Sacred Valley, we will bring you to your hotel in Cusco for a leisurely evening.

Day 8: Walking Through the Centuries in the Imperial City

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Private Walking Tour of Cusco’s Historic City Center, Afternoon Tasting Tour

This morning you will experience the lay of the land as only true world travelers know how: on foot traversing hidden al leyways, historic plazas, and local treasures. After breakfast on your own, your private guide will proceed to illuminate Cusco’s rich tapestry woven by its inviting cobblestone streets, charming neighborhoods, and astounding landmarks.

Your first stop of the day will be to the Santo Domingo monastery, perched atop the most sacred of Incan sites, the Qoricancha temple of the sun. Once bathed in 24-karat gold long-since pilfered by Spanish conquistadors, this temple is now an astounding blend of Incan stonemasonry and colonial architecture. From there you’ll stop in at the colonial Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, and the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, housing an unparalleled collection of Incan artifacts in pristine condition. Next, climb up to the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, known for its whitewashed adobe buildings and quaint blue balconies. Top off your tour with a visit to a local indigenous market brimming with a rainbow of local fruits and traditional remedies, and make sure to pause at the 12-angled stone nestled in a wall that has withstood the test of time (as well as a couple of earth-shattering earthquakes!). Upon conclusion of your tour your guide will leave you with suggestions as to where you can find a light local lunch, but make sure to save some room for the snacks that await this afternoon! First make your way to the Coffee Museum, just a ten minute walk from your hotel, where a stimulating aroma will welcome you in. After a workshop detailing coffee’s history as well as how it is grown, sorted, and roasted, you will be whisked away to the Chocolate Museum. Did you know that Peru is the birthplace of chocolate? Here you will learn about its spectacular history and the unique process that chocolate undergoes from plant to plate. Best of all, make your own chocolate truffles to bring home with you! Lastly, you will find yourself in the Republica del Pisco to taste an assortment of the Peruvian spirit-of-choice paired with Peruvian fusion appetizers. This is the perfect way to know which Pisco variety you’ll want to take home with you!

Day 9: Bidding Farewell to Peru

Meals: Breakfast

Fly From Cusco to Lima. Explore Barranco and Enjoy Dinner. Fly Home.

At the appropriate time late this morning, we will escort you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. Watch the windows as the snow-capped peaks of the Andes become coastal desert!

Your Kuoda Lima host will meet you upon arrival and bring you to the bohemian Barranco neighborhood, one of Lima’s up-and-coming artsy areas. You’ll start off on foot and visit such highlights as the Barran- co boardwalk and the famous “Puente de los Suspiros”, which has been a meeting point for young lovers for decades and has inspired many famous Peruvian poets and singers. You’ll also wander past local art galleries, window shopping or ducking inside for a better look at their treasures, and visit the picturesque main plaza in Barranco. Be prepared for some delicious snacks and maybe even a taste of locally- brewed Peruvian craft beer!

Upon completion of your walking tour in Barranco, your private vehicle will bring you to a restaurant of your choosing, where we will have secured reservations for you. Savor the flavors of an award-winning national cuisine and reflect upon your journey over the last twelve days discovering Southern Peru. At the appropriate time, we will bring you to the airport for your journey home. We will help you check in for your international flight and wish you buen viaje!