*IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT EARTHQUAKE REBUILDING PROJECT*
Due to the devastating earthquake that hit the coast of Peru on August 15th, 2007, Ica and Pisco are areas very much in flux. This itinerary has been provided to give you an idea of what the itinerary will probably look like for the summer 2008. It is impossible to know exactly which village we will work in and exactly what work we will be doing until closer to the summer. What is certain is the need of assistance and the eagerness of the locals to receive our help. Rustic Pathways has met with major international organizations such as UNICEF and OXFAM and have contacts working on the ground daily in the affected areas to set up this program. A more exact itinerary will be available at a later time. For the most up to date information regarding this program, please contact Gabriel Porter-Henry at gabe@rusticpathways.com
Day 1- Tuesday, USA to Lima
Depart Houston for an easy 6 ½ hr flight to Lima, Peru. Upon your arrival you will be met by Rustic Pathways staff and transported to a comfortable hotel in one of Lima’s nicest neighborhoods, Miraflores.
Day 2- Wednesday, Lima to Ica
It is a four hour drive south of Lima to reach the area most affected by the earthquake. Along the way you will start to get a view of what life is like along Peru’s desert coast and begin to see evidence of the rebuilding being done after the earthquake. After settling in to our house, we will meet as a group and go survey the area and where we will be working. This may include meeting with local organizations, community members, and volunteers.
Day 3- Thursday, Community Service
Put on your gloves and start working! Service may include building homes, working in local schools, and other community development projects. Service projects will last the entire day and be located in the Ica & Pisco region.
Evenings will be spent back at the house and most nights will include activities. You may learn Peruvian cooking, play games with your group, catch a movie or play pool at a private billiards room.
Day 4- Friday, Community Service
Service may include building homes, working in local schools, and other community development projects. Service projects will last the entire day and be located in the Ica & Pisco region.
Day 5- Saturday, Community Service
Service may include building homes, working in local schools, and other community development projects. Service projects will last the entire day and be located in the Ica & Pisco region.
Day 6- Sunday, Dessert Oasis Camping
Sunday is a day of rest from work and we will head into the desert for some fun and adventure. You can hike through the sand dunes, ride sand boards down the faces, and ride dune buggies. After dinner, lay back and enjoy star gazing into the desert night.
Day 7- Monday, Return from the dessert and continue community service
After returning from the desert camping trip, it is time to get back to work and continue the service projects that you started the previous week.
Day 8- Tuesday, Isles de Ballestas and return to Lima
Rise early and head to the Isles de Ballestas for a final day of wildlife viewing and adventure. A three hour boat ride brings you past the strange Candelabra geoglyph and provides the chance to view armies of sea lions, rare Humboldt penguins, the Peruvian booby, pink flamingos, and maybe a dolphin or two.
After the tour of Isles de Ballestas we will head back to Lima for a farewell dinner. You will either board the plane for the United States or join up with your next Rustic Pathways program.
Day 9 Wednesday, Arrive in the United States
After your overnight flight from Lima to Houston, exchange final goodbyes and email addresses before heading home to your next adventure.
** Due to the realities of international travel, Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change itineraries without notice to ensure the safety of our students, staff and make our programs the best they can possibly be.
Day 10 Thursday July 26
After an early morning trip to the airport, we will fly to the northern capital of Hanoi, where we will check into the hotel in time for lunch. The afternoon will be spent walking the ancient streets of Old Town, the shores of the famous Huan Kiem Lake, and visiting the markets and bazaars. The fusion of French and Vietnamese architecture, combined with the myriad of pagodas and temples, small cobbled streets, and smiling faces at every turn make Hanoi a breathtaking destination. Finishing up the day, we will spend the evening watching a traditional water puppet show before heading back to the hotel.
Day 11 Friday July 27
After a traditional breakfast of Pho, you will travel out into the countryside, where we will visit the ancient capital of Vietnam, located at the foot of the “razor” mountains. These unique mountains are made up of razor sharp limestone peaks overlooking the rice fields, and stretch all the way to the Chinese border, offering breathtaking views from the top. The ancient Vietnamese capital has been converted to a Buddhist monastery, and its tranquil beauty is truly a sight to be seen. Our next stop will be a boat tour through the inland river of Tam Coc, which snakes its way through the limestone cliffs and caves, some of the most unique landscapes in the entire country. Heading back to Hanoi, we will grab our bags from the hotel and catch a night train through the western hills and up into the mountain town of SaPa.
Day 12 Saturday July 28
Arriving into SaPa for breakfast, you will check into the hotel and have some time to freshen up before we head out into the countryside. The small hill tribe village of Bac Ha is a 2 hour ride from SaPa, and is tucked into the rolling rice fields and towering peaks of the region. Home to many of the Black Hmong people, one of the largest minority groups in Vietnam, we will spend the afternoon exploring this magical village. The markets are filled with handmade clothing and handicrafts, huge arrays of fruits and vegetables, and the shopping here is one of a kind. This unique village has remained largely untouched by outsiders, and you will have the opportunity to see a real authentic village setting. Heading back into SaPa in time to watch the sun set behind Mount Fansipan - the largest peak in Vietnam - we will feast in this small city and head off to bed.
Day 13 Sunday July 29
Getting an early start today, we will grab some breakfast at the hotel, and head out into the country side for a full day of trekking. The beautiful terraced ricefields, breathtaking peaks, and smiling faces of the hilltribe people will be welcoming us at every turn while we hike through the day. Trekking through the highlands is an awe inspiring experience, as we traverse the rice paddies, capture the beauty of the landscapes, and make friends with the locals along the way, you will feel the true essence of leaving the beaten path. After making our way back into SaPa, we will enjoy an authentic Highland dinner, and rest our tired feet for the night.
Day 14 Monday July 30
After breakfast, we will head back down through the highlands by train, taking the day to view the majestic countryside as we head back to Hanoi. The train ride will take most of the day, and we will arrive into Hanoi in time for dinner. After dinner, we will take a walk around beautiful Huan Kiem Lake, and then head off to the hotel for the night
Day 15 Tuesday July 31
After breakfast in Hanoi, we will head out of the city on a 3 hour bus ride to Ha Long Bay. Once arriving at the coast, we will board our own teak wood ship, and spend the day cruising through the islands. Ha Long is possibly the most breathtaking scenery in the entire country, with its hundreds of green limestone islands jutting form the crystal waters. We will enjoy sailing through this magical wonderland, swimming in the warm ocean water, sea kayaking between the islands and into secluded lagoons, and hiking some of the highest peaks in the region. As the sun sets over Ha Long, our ship will anchor in for the night, and after a freshly caught seafood banquet that will leave you stuffed, enjoy the gentle waves rocking you to sleep under the stars of this magical location.
Day 16 Wednesday August 1
Waking up off the shores of this wonderland, we will hop into our sea kayaks once more, and paddle into one of the most secluded and breathtaking lagoons in all of Ha Long Bay. Boarding our ship again, we will begin the journey back through the islands. A few more dips into the pristine waters, another great meal of freshly caught seafood, and some final lasting looks at this beautiful landscape before heading back to Hanoi. Arriving into the city, we will enjoy a final night in Vietnam. Shopping, laughing, reflecting, and dining like royalty, we will say farewell to this beautiful country, and the great friends made along the way.
Day 17 Thursday August 2
After breakfast and packing, we will head to the airport and depart. Saying your final goodbyes, you will either be heading home, or connecting to another Rustic Pathways trip.
For more information on any aspect of this program, please email Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com
An Important Note about Schedule Changes :
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur. |
Rebuilding Communities, Creating a Better Future
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