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Location
  • Peru
Length
1 - 4 weeks
Program Categories
Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Language Immersion Service Learning Study Abroad Volunteer Abroad
Need-based funding
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Dormitory
Language
Spanish
Age Min.
14
Age Max
18

Pricing

Starting Price
3190
Price Details
Price does not include airfare or travel insurance. VISIONS can provide some financial aid to those in need.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Feb 05, 2025
Mar 02, 2025
Wish List
12 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Work with indigenous Quechua people on water conservation and other projects that help protect their agricultural livelihood. Spend your days at the base of the Andes in the Sacred Valley of the Inca, where you’ll explore Machu Picchu and other ancient ruins. Transcend a tourist experience through artisan workshops, soccer games, hikes, music, a day stay with local families, and deep learning.

- Spanish Immersion & Indigenous Cultural Insights
- Andes Mountains, Hikes to Ruins, Artisan Markets
- Irrigation Canals, Adobe Construction, Time with Kids

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Video and Photos

VISIONS Peru participants enjoying view of machu picchu
VISIONS Peru woodworkshop
VISIONS Peru kids in wheelbarrel
VISIONS Peru pottery workshop
VISIONS Peru participants at project
VISIONS peru view of Machu picchu
VISIONS Peru participants helping at the project.
VISIONS Peru participants bulding a school
VISIONS Peru chocolate making workshop
VISIONS Peru local Quechua woman with a Donkey
VISIONS Peru participant hugging a llama
VISIONS Peru face of a llama

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Impact 🌎

In addition to high-impact social service and construction projects, VISIONS continues to expand our environmental commitment with projects rooted in sustainability and connection to the land. VISIONS aims to have no more than 25% meat & dairy sourced from factory farms by 2026.
VISIONS builds communities of teens, leaders and local people who support each other while working toward shared goals on projects that our host community has requested. We have worked in our host communities for two to three decades and teens are welcomed like family.

Program Highlights

  • Participate in high-impact community service projects in the Sacred Valley of the Inca.
  • Experience true Spanish and cultural immersion through day-stays with local families, on worksites with local partners and socializing with curious and kind neighbors.
  • Journey to Machu Picchu, extraordinary artisan markets, ancient ruins, Incan salt mines, and more.
  • Learn traditional crafts like pottery and weaving, and try your hand at making chocolate!
  • In addition to Spanish immersion, experience Indigenous Mayan culture and even learn some Quechua!

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 18 reviews
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  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.85
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.95
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 4.8
  • Program Selection 5
  • Pre-departure Help 5
  • In-program Support 5
  • Impact on Student 5
  • Value 5
Good for Under 18, Students, Adventure travelers
Showing 17 - 18 of 18 reviews
Default avatar
Michelle
27
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Peru 2014

Aug 16, 2014

Visions gave me one of the most amazing summers of my life. I made so many friends and also felt as if I became a part of the community. At first I was nervous about traveling to a country so far from home for a month without knowing anyone, but I was quickly welcomed by the warm staff and friendly community members. Although the work felt labor intensive at times, all together the group was very successful in building an elementary school bathroom and 13 canals in over the span of 3 and a half weeks. The trip was a great opportunity to experience another culture and improve your spanish. But I have to say the best part of the trip was the social aspect. I met so many unique kids from all over the United States, and together we bonded and became so close in such a short period of time. Visions gave me an experience of a lifetime and I hope to do another program next summer.

What would you improve about this program?
The staff was a little strict with some social aspects, of feeling that some members of the trip became "too close." If I could change one thing it would be for the staff or the overall program to be a little lighter on the whole relationship between two members of the trip kind of thing.
66 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Raquel
27
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

THE BEST SUMMER YET

Dec 20, 2012

I have to say that this was the MOST AMAZING summer I have ever experienced. I made great connections and relationships, created ineffable memories and had amazing experiences. Surprisingly, many of the friends I have made on this trip are closer to me than some of my friends that I have known for 12 years. I miss them so much and I cannot wait until our reunion!Although I loved shopping at the local markets, my favorite times were sitting in the courtyard, enjoying the beauty of Peru and talking in Spanish to Nico, our driver. He, as well as our cooks Neyda and Maria, Ishmael and local workers. If participants use their time wisely and practice Spanish, they will have the best experiences, like I did! We miss Peru so much that my friend and I hope to work as counselors in the future!

What would you improve about this program?
I would provide more time to hang out, look at the ruins and shop at the markets. Although we had a few days of free time, there is so much to do in Cuzco and Urubamba that a few days are definitely not enough!
69 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Molly Williams

Program
VISIONS: Peru High School Service Program
Thumbnail

Why did you choose this program?

I chose VISIONS because I liked the way they presented themselves: NOT as a teen tour.

I wanted an authentic experience and an opportunity to see a country as more than a tourist. VISIONS is very focused on respect for the culture of the native people, no matter the location.

I liked that I knew I would be able to give back to the country through service while also getting a taste of the culture, food, and natural beauty that makes Peru special.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

VISIONS helped every step of the way. Tuition cost covers all meals, in-country transportation, lodging, park passes and more.

The only thing we were responsible for was buying flight tickets, which were organized by VISIONS' travel agent. They even gave us the contact information of other participants that would be on the same flights so we could meet up at the airport.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would encourage anyone going on this trip to remember to appreciate the little moments. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement of seeing Machu Picchu or exploring the streets, but the memories that mean the most to me are the ones that were seemingly insignificant at the time.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A typical day (excluding the weekend trip to Machu Picchu) included waking up early for a breakfast cooked by you or your peers, then the group split for service until mid-afternoon. The rest of the day was spent on short hikes or attending workshops, with great evening activities too.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Going into this trip, my biggest fear was that I wouldn't like the other teens in the group, or wouldn't have anyone to talk to. The second we all met at the Lima airport I realized I shouldn't have worried.

It was the most interesting mix of people I have ever had the privilege of getting to know. Despite totally different ages and backgrounds, our conversations were always interesting and having so many different people and new friends made every adventure much more special.

Would you recommend this trip to a friend?

I would absolutely recommend traveling with VISIONS to a friend. Everything was so well organized and I couldn't have had a better experience.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Amanda Pincock

Program
VISIONS: Peru High School Service Program
Job Title
Summer Program Director

What is your favorite travel memory?

I have so many! My favorite thing about travel is making connections with people.

Once when I was backpacking through Europe I was spending the night in a train station in Italy. A young Italian couple was doing the same thing and sat down with their packs across from me.

I didn't speak any Italian and they didn't speak any English, so we communicated with gestures, and then taught each other words all night. It was a great way to wait for an early morning train.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Visions has really allowed me to grow into the Director that I want to be. I work and direct programs all over the world, including Native communities in Alaska and Montana, the West Indies, Asia and Africa.

I am able to build relationships with elders and other leaders and motivated people in our host communities, which is extremely important to me, especially after returning from the Peace Corps. I am also able to work with wonderful Visions staff members on my team at site, and guide and shape our programs to be the best they can be for our community, as well as for our summer participants.

I really enjoy getting to spend time with the outstanding high school students we have each year, and helping them see the world a little differently. I think one of my favorite things about the summers is seeing our participants stretch themselves and grow.

Visions is a one-of-a-kind service program that allows time every day for participants and leaders to reflect on their experiences. It's great to be part of that, and to be so present.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

While I've heard many students tell me that Visions had an enormous impact on their lives (many students have told me it was the best summer of their life, or that it changed them for the better), one of my favorite stories is that one of my students from our Alaska program decided to join the Peace Corps after college, and contacted me to ask me about it.

She was sent to the same area of the world I was in (West Africa) and now also speaks French. She coincidentally moved to the same city as me, and we ended up joining a bluegrass band together!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

There really are so many wonderful places, it's hard to choose! I've also been lucky to have worked for Visions for so long that I've been able to spend time in a lot of our locations.

I have not yet been to Myanmar or Cambodia, and would definitely love to visit either. I'd also love to visit Peru or Ecuador and the Galapagos.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

One of the many things I love about this program is that it's been modeled after Peace Corps, meaning we live in one community for an extended amount of time, get to know people, get to know the village and the area, and really make a connection with that place.

We also get to do service that has specifically been requested from the community, which is very different from doing what we (as outsiders) would think would be a need.

When I travel as a Visions director, doors open and I feel part of the community right away. This is so different from traveling from place to place all summer.

Location

Location:
Peru
Currency:
Peruvian Sol
Weather:
Jan-Mar
70 F / 46 F
Apr-Jun
70 F / 38 F
Jul-Sep
72 F / 38 F
Oct-Dec
74 F / 47 F
Airports:
Jorge Chávez International Airport
( LIM )
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport
( CUZ )
Rodríguez Ballón International Airport
( AQP )

Peru is treasured for its gastronomy, Incan history, and stunning Andes mountains. As you travel, you will notice the pride the Peruvians have for their heritage of having been not only the Incan empire but Spain's South American empire. Peru's eco-tourism is growing the quickest of any South American country. If you are looking to tap into a currently less-frequented travel destination, pick Peru.

About VISIONS Service Adventures

VISIONS inspires teenagers to develop their own sense of purpose and meaning through adventurous service and cross-cultural exploration. DEVELOP YOUR OWN VISION THROUGH: -Engaging with different people in novel contexts -Sharing joy and laughter with adventurous travel -Participating in significant and meaningful service projects -Forming genuine...

  • Go Overseas Award

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