Machu Picchu Volunteer Vacation

Machu Picchu Volunteer Vacation Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Begin your Andean adventure in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. City tour this afternoon.

  Our volunteer expedition begins in Cusco, the capital of the New World's "Roman Empire". We meet in our hotel in the late morning for an orientation session. Our centrally-located hotel is near the central Plaza de Armas. Here, churches dating from 1539 overlook the plaza. Nearby are the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, The Sun Temple (Coricancha), numerous art galleries, the central market and scores of craft stores. The afternoon will include a guided city tour and some time for self-guided exploration, shopping and to further acclimatize to the 11,200' elevation. In the evening we will enjoy our welcome dinner together. Dinner and hotel included.

• Day 2 Visit the sites of Sacsayhuaman, a masterpiece of Inca stoneworkers, and Tipon, a well-preserved example of Inca agricultural terracing.

  Today we board a private bus to continue our orientation and training for our volunteer work. We first visit Sacsayhuaman, a hilltop stone fortress overlooking Cusco. The largest of the stones used in the construction of Sacsayhuaman weighs over 360 tons and stands more than 20 feet tall. We next visit Awanacancha Textile Cooperative for an opportunity to feed local alpaca and llama, view the process to create colored yarns, then watch local weavers create beautiful tapestries before visiting the cooperative store where textiles may be purchased. The group will return to Cusco for a museum tour chosen by your guides depending on the exhibits on display at that time. All meals included.

• Day 3 Scenic train ride to the village of Machu Picchu Pueblo. Orientation briefing this afternoon.

  We depart for the Machu Picchu Sanctuary and Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as Aguas Calientes). Outside our train window we pass by ancient agricultural terraces and remote villages along the Urubamba River. Once in Machu Picchu Pueblo, we check into our hotel and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we receive an orientation and safety instruction before beginning our volunteer work with park rangers. All meals included.

• Days 4-8 Work alongside rangers assisting with trail maintenance and archeological restoration. Enjoy a full-day guided visit of Machu Picchu!

  For these five days, volunteers will start with breakfast at the hotel, prepare a box lunch, and then begin our work. We expect to participate in a variety of tasks assigned to us by park rangers in the protected areas surrounding the Machu Picchu ruins. These tasks may include: restoration of archeological features by removing exotic or unwanted vegetation from along the trails or the stone walls of buildings and agricultural terraces, maintenance of Inca trails, restoration of areas impacted by visitor use or fire, planting trees, collecting native plant seeds to be used in restoration projects, or monitoring restoration study plots. On one of these days a guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins will be provided, followed by time for volunteers to discover the ruins of Macchu Picchu at their own pace. All meals included.

• Day 9 Return to Cusco, stopping at the fantastic ruins of Ollantaytambo and bustling Pisac Market en route. Celebration dinner tonight!

  In the morning, volunteers will board the train for Ollantaytambo. Dating back over 500 years, the Inca city is complete with its narrow alleys, street water canals and trapezoidal doorways. During our guided tour of Ollantaytambo, we will explore the buildings and temples considered by many to be the best-preserved and finest examples of Inca stone craftsmanship after Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, we visit the traditional market day in Pisac. Upon our return to Cusco, we'll enjoy a farewell celebration dinner together, toasting newfound friends and our accomplishments during the past week. All meals included.

• Day 10 Depart Cusco this morning for home or extend your stay in this marvelous country.

  The Machu Picchu Volunteer Expedition ends with breakfast this morning. Volunteers can transfer to the Cusco airport independently for homeward-bound flights (via Lima) or can opt to extend their stay in Peru. Breakfast included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions. Work locations may vary with each volunteer expedition according to the needs of park rangers at the time the expedition takes place.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 10; hotel accommodations; guide leadership and support staff; group tools; all bus and train transportation as noted on the itinerary; all orientation and training excursions as noted on the itinerary; park entrance fees.

International airfare to/from Cusco, Peru; lunch on Day 1; cost of medical immunizations; insurance of any kind (emergency medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory for these expeditions and can usually be purchased for less than $75 through REI Adventures); excess baggage charges; airport taxes; alcoholic beverages or soft drinks; gratuities and items of a personal nature.

In order to ensure that hotel reservations and additional support services for our volunteer expeditions are confirmed well in advance of each departure, we do make non-refundable financial commitments to local service providers. By making these commitments, we are taking a step towards ensuring the highest level of customer service and organizational efficiency possible so that you can enjoy your travel experience to the fullest. In conjunction with these practices, your initial $400 deposit is completely non-refundable at time of sign up. All other standard cancellation/transfer fees will apply as noted in our booking guidelines. Please take note of this special policy when planning your trip and feel free to contact us with any additional questions.

This trip is rated Moderate [3], in a large part due to visiting areas located at 8,000-11,000' in elevation. Trip members may be novice volunteers in good physical condition. Volunteers should be comfortable hiking up to 2 miles each day on steep, uneven stairs or on mountainous terrain with some steep ascents and uneven trails. To assess your fitness, you should comfortably be able to hike stairs with a day pack weighing approximately 10-15 pounds or work in your yard all day moving plants, shoveling soil and pruning trees. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen at least three months prior to departure. No previous trail maintenance or restoration experience is required.

Our lodging in Cusco is at a centrally-located hotel in the city's historic district. Our lodging at Machu Picchu is centrally located in the village of Aguas Calientes just a short shuttle bus ride from the ruins of Machu Picchu. Hotel rooms feature private bathrooms, television and Internet access. Laundry services are available in both properties.

On this expedition, meals are included beginning with dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 10. Many travelers agree that Peruvian food is some of the best in the world. We have selected restaurant locations known for excellent fare and healthy foods. Meals are available with a variety of fresh meat and fish as well as vegetarian/vegan selections. Breakfasts at the hotels will all be served buffet-style and consist of eggs, cheese, toast, fresh fruit, cereal and safe beverages of fresh fruit juices and coffee/tea. Lunches will include both restaurant meals and box lunches on days we are working or traveling. In Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), we enjoy dinners selected from a menu each evening at a restaurant close to our hotel. During our nights in Cusco, we are scheduled to eat at some of the city's most popular authentic Peruvian restaurants.

Average daytime temperatures in and around Machu Picchu and Cusco generally range from 55-75° F with Andean evenings cooling down into the 40s and 50s. The itinerary takes place in the mountains where weather can change very quickly. Days are generally clear and pleasant, with clouds occasionally building up and leading to small amounts of precipitation. All day rain is unusual. Volunteers work every day except in unusually severe weather conditions. Please come prepared for all possibilities and equipped with good quality raingear.

Our host country requires that all volunteers have medical ($50,000) and emergency evacuation ($500,000) insurance valid in Peru. If your current homeowners and/or medical policies do not already provide this coverage, reasonably priced (generally under $75 per volunteer) short-term travel insurance is readily available through REI Adventures.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Average daytime temperatures in and around Machu Picchu and Cusco generally range from 55-75° F with Andean evenings cooling down into the 40s and 50s. The itinerary takes place in the mountains where weather can change very quickly. Days are generally clear and pleasant, with clouds occasionally building up and leading to small amounts of precipitation. All day rain is unusual. Volunteers work every day except in unusually severe weather conditions. Please come prepared for all possibilities and equipped with good raingear.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Wind chill can be a significant feature of this trip. Air temperatures can be relatively warm, but when the wind is constant you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Adequate wind/raingear is very important.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton.