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. 

Day 2- Wednesday, Lima to Pisac
Wake up to your first day in Peru with a continental breakfast and head to the airport for the one hour flight to Cuzco. 

Arriving in the ancient Incan Capital, you will get to see some of the city as we transfer to the town of Pisac .  This small colonial town is shadowed by an impressive Incan fortress dramatically perched on the ridgeline above town.  After checking in to the hotel, we will relax and allow ourselves time to acclimate to the altitude.   While today will be fairly low key, your guide will assess the group’s energy and everyone may go for a walk through town or to explore the impressive Incan ruins above the city.  Evening will be spent getting to know each other and learning more about the upcoming 2 weeks. 

Traveler’s tip: Remember to drink water before heading to bed to make sure that you are well hydrated.

Day 3- Thursday, Explore Pisac’s craft market and travel to your village
After a breakfast it is off to one of the Sacred Valley’s best local markets.  Each Thursday, brightly colored locals descend from the hills to sell various crafts and goods in the town streets.  Make sure to practice your bargaining skills here!

Once your time at the market is finished, we’ll load up the van and head farther down the valley to the traditional village that will become your home for the next 10 days.  The town has been waiting for your arrival and will make sure that you are welcomed when you get there.  

After a delicious lunch prepared by our chef, we will visit the school and get an orientation to your new home.  While the days are warm, the temperature drops rapidly at night so make sure to get your tent and sleeping bag in order during the afternoon.   Not an avid camper? No worries, your tents have already been set up and are waiting for you. 

The villages we will be working in have just recently received electricity and things quickly quiet down as the sun goes down.  After supper, get to know your new friends over tea and cocoa or a game of cards.  

Note: Rustic Pathways will be working in at least two villages during the 2008 summer. Generally, students will be working in either Socma or Camicancha.  Both villages are located outside Ollantaytambo and students may work in either village during their stay.

Day 4- Friday, Community Service in the Village
Welcome to life in a traditional Andean village!  You’ll be up early as you wake to the sound of farm animals and villagers starting their daily chores.  After sipping on tea, coffee, or hot chocolate in your tent and watching the sun rise on snow capped Andean peaks, it is time to get up, grab some breakfast and start the community service projects.

Community Service Projects-

During your stay, you will be participating in various service projects.  Time will be split between working on community development projects and working in the local schools.   You may help to lay adobe bricks for the wall of a new home, work in the local agricultural fields, or put a fresh coat of paint on the school.  The schools in these villages have very little resources and appreciate any assistance we can give them.  The activities in the schools may involve, playing educational games, teaching basic math and teaching environmental education.  See the packing list for donation suggestions for these vibrant yet needy schools.

Day 5 and 6- Saturday and Sunday, Community Service in the Village
Continue community service in the village.
Travelers Tip:  Now that you are acclimated to the altitude make sure to join a rousing game of soccer that occurs each afternoon and often last until the sun has completely set.

Day 7- Monday, Whitewater Rafting and Mountain Biking
AM- The morning will be spent whitewater rafting though the Sacred Valley on the Urubamba River.   A class 2-3 section of whitewater, this river is perfect for rafters of all abilities and is not technically difficult though it will provide some exhilarating rapids along the way. 

 PM- Lunch will be served riverside at the end of our rafting trip.  You got the upper body workout in the morning so in the afternoon we’ll put the legs to work as we mountain bike around the Moray.  Moray, is an impressive amphitheatre of Incan terracing that was believed to be used as a laboratory for crop research.

Overnight- Having spent the previous few nights in tents; we will spend the night in the Incan city of Ollantaytambo.  While you are surrounded by Incan ruins and stone streets, enjoy the modern comforts of beds, hot showers and a hard roof over your head. 

Day 8, 9 and 10- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Community Service in the Village
Continue community service in the village.

Day 11- Friday
Hike to Ollantaytambo
 After packing up camp and saying tearful goodbyes to your Peruvian friends, it is time to hit the trail.  We will be walking back to Ollantaytambo from our village along “caminos” built by the Incans and still used to this day by the local villagers.  We will overnight in Ollantaytambo.

Day 12- Saturday
Train to Aguas Calientes and hiking the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu
It is up early in order to catch the famous PeruRail to Machu Picchu.  As our train winds its way down the Urubamba River, the meandering river gets pinched into raging rapids and the drier alpine mountains begin to transform into lush cloud forest.

At mile 104, we will disembark the train and start a challenging 6 mile hike to Inti Punku (The Sun Gate) above Machu Picchu.  This is a rewarding hike with wonderful ruins and includes a 1874 ft. ascent in less than 2 miles.  Enjoy the spectacular view of Machu Picchu from Inti Punku before descending to the town of Aguas Calientes.  After checking into the hotel, we will take a short walk up the hill to soak our tired bones in the town’s hot springs.

IMPORTANT NOTE- Not all students will hike the Incan Trail.  Students without permits or students who do not feel physically capable of making the hike will continue on the train with a Rustic Pathways staff member to the town of Aguas Calientes where they will rejoin those who made the hike.  It is not possible to secure permits to hike the Inca Trail without a copy of a valid passport.  Rustic Pathways will do everything possible to secure permits for all students, but this may not be possible due to limited number of permits.  Please make sure to send Rustic Pathways a copy of your passport as soon as possible to ensure the best chance of getting a permit.  Rustic Pathways is not responsible for the inability to secure permits and will not be able to refund program costs should a student be unable to obtain the permit to hike from mile 104 to Machu Picchu.

Day 13- Sunday
Visit Machu Pichu
AM- Rise early so that you can be some of the first people to view the morning sun hit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  The entire morning will spent exploring Machu Picchi. 

Pm- Train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.  Overnight will be in Ollantaytambo.

Day 14- Monday
Bungee Jumping and Adventure Park
On the drive back to Cuzco we will stop off at Action Valley.  Optional activities here include the highest bungee jump in the Americas, the gravity defying slingshot, the swing, and the flying fox.

 *The cost of these optional activities are not included in the program cost and average $60 per activity

After our afternoon at Adventure Park we will overnight in Cuzco.

Day 15 Tuesday
Tour of Cuzco and Goodbyes!
AM- In the morning we will tour the famous city of Cuzco.  Make sure to pick up your final souvenirs for friends and family back home. 

In the afternoon, you will fly from Cuzco to Lima in order to catch your flight back to the states or join your next program. 

*All students continuing on to Lake Titicaca & Colca Canyon Extension will remain in Cuzco Tuesday night, before traveling to Puno on Wednesday

Day 16 Wednesday
Arrive in the United States
After your overnight flight from Lima to Houston, say final goodbyes, exchange email addresses and head home to your next adventure of the summer.

** Due to the realities of international travel, Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change itineraries without notice to ensure the safety of our students and make our programs the best they can possibly be. 

Below you will find the packing list for the Sacred Valley Service and Lake Titicaca & Colca Canyon Extension in Peru.  This packing list provides a general guideline to make your packing easier, though please make sure to bring all essential items!  Please see the packing lists for each program that you are participating in.  If you have any questions about this list please contact Gabriel Porter-Henry at gabe@rusticpathways.com

Peru’s Climate:  What you bring to Peru is important due to its varied climate. Students participating on these programs will experience wide temperature swings during a single day.  It is important that you pack accordingly and be able to layer in order to adapt to this.  While on these trips, expect it to get below freezing during night and up to 60 during the day.   It is not necessary to pack a lot of clothes, but it is essential to pack correctly

PLEASE DO NOT OVER PACK OR FORGET TO BRING ITEMS THAT WE HAVE DEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL!  ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO CARRY WHAT THEY BRING!  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE BOUGHT WHILE OVERSEAS.

Carry-On Luggage: A small backpack is the best carry-on bag

Essential Items:

• Passport and Wallet *Travel Wallet or safety wallet is a good idea.  
  *Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after your planned date of departure!

• Photo Copy of Passport
• Medications
• Immunization records (If you have had immunizations)
• Emergency Contact numbers for Rustic Pathways

Recommended Items:
• Sunglasses
• One change of clothes
• 35mm camera, digital camera, and/or disposable camera * Please don’t bring a extremely expensive camera can easily get broken, lost, or stolen.
• Journal and Pens  
• Good Book (trade with buddies)
• Toiletries

• Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry on regulations of the TSA: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited
  /permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Checked Luggage: A medium sized duffel bag or large back pack work best - wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried like a duffle over rough terrain.

Essential Items:

• 2 Photo Copies of Passport
• Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia. Pack in PLASTIC BAG
• A lightweight breathable jacket (Shell) Gore-tex or eVent like materials are highly recommended
• Sleeping Bag- Sacred Valley Service ONLY (15° F or lower strongly recommended as it will get below freezing during the night.)
• Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries
• Sunscreen (enough for your entire stay) Pack in PLASTIC BAG

Recommended Items:

• Underwear (5 to 7)
• Socks (5 to 7)
• Non-cotton hiking socks (2)
• Long Pants (1 or 2, suggested to have 1 lightweight and 1 jeans or heavier)

   *Non-cotton pants that zip off into shorts are wonderful for conserving weight and also adapting to the changing temperatures.

• Short Sleeve Shirts (~3) * having some non-cotton shirts is again advised
• Long Sleeve Shirts (~2) 
• Thermal Base Layer- top & bottom synthetic material
• One nice casual outfit for going out or meeting with community members
• A soft-shell jacket or winder stopper fleece for nights and cool weather.  The soft shell jackets are windproof and water resistant and are wonderfully versatile
• Shorts (1 )
• Swim Suit (1)
• Athletic Shoes *Shoes that dry quickly and are suitable for light hiking work best
• Sandals and/or Flip-Flops *it is highly recommended to have a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water (Teva or Chaco brand sandals work great)
• Warm hat
•  Gloves
• Toiletries:
• Bio-Degradable Shampoo and/or Soap
• Deodorant,
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush PLASTIC BAG
• Small travel towel
• Personal First Aid Kit (suggested)
• Band aids
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment
• Medical Tape
• Moleskin or preferred blister care
• Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
• Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
• 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
• 2 Gauze dressing

*Note: See the following link for ideas on small, personal first aid kits:
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/kit_detail.asp
?series=300&seriesNav=Dom&kit=302&kitNO=0125-0292

• Lip Balm (Dermatone© works well!)
• Hat for sun
• Hand Sanitizer (1 bottle per week) pack in PLASTIC BAG
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• 32 oz. Water Bottle *Nalgene© bottle works well
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2)
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (2) to keep camera, ipod or other items dry

 Other Optional (but helpful) Items:

• Spanish/English dictionary
• Leatherman
• Travel Pillow *a pillowcase can be a great dirty laundry bag or a comfortable pillow if you stuff it with a sweatshirt and easy to pack.
• Deck of Cards
• Picture of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, to share with local students
• Frisbee, Aerobee, or Hackysack,
• Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas - smaller is better)
• MP3 player or i-pod

Donations:
Should you choose to bring donations, we would be happy to coordinate distributing these for you.  Below are some suggestions of things to bring.  Please know that it is possible to buy many of these donations in Peru should you choose

• ESL Textbooks/CDs for Spanish Speakers
• Easy games like Go Fish and Uno to learn basic English, colors and numbers
• Children’s books
• School Supplies – paints, markers, pens, pencils, paper, notebooks
• Clothing – for men, women, children, babies
• Cleats, Soccer balls, and other soccer gear
• Coloring books, Children’s toys, stuffed animals and Games

Note on Debit Cards:
Debit Cards are wonderful to travel with though there are a few things to remember. 

• Please ensure that your international block is lifted and that there are no restrictions in using it in any of the countries you will be traveling
• Make sure to look at your daily limit and decide whether this should be raised or lowered
• Visa is more widely accepted in Latin America than Master Card, both are fairly widely accepted.