Rustic Pathways Reviews

My favorite part of this program was building the greenhouse and staying with the host families at Lake Titicaca. I loved helping in the community and getting to know the family that I stayed with. I also really enjoyed seeing Machu Picchu. The hike to it was amazing, although difficult, and once we got there it was spectacular. The other kids on the program were great and so were our leaders!

As the headline suggests, going to Lake Titicaca was the best experience of my life. Learning about a new way of life by engulfing yourself in the culture while also having fun at the same time is what makes this trip so special. We made countless unforgettable memories from late night chats, to dinners with the locals (mmm yuca!), to building greenhouses and celebrating your birthday with people you just met 5 days ago! It truly was a once in a lifetime experience and I name-drop the fact that I've been to Peru at least 3 times a week with a casual "So this summer, I went to Peru.." because I wish so much that I could go back and relive the amazing two weeks I had!

I really liked living in Luquino and building a greenhouse. It was community service with a tangible result. Playing football with the locals was a blast. I really liked my guides Kelly and Alejandro. They were both really helpful, nice, and fun.

I travelled to Peru this summer with a friend and 15 strangers. At the end of two weeks, we were all best friends, built a greenhouse out of nothing but adobe bricks, mud, and a little wood for the roof, and experienced the culture of Peru. Throughout the entire trip I was stunned by the beauty of the land of the vast differences and sometimes surprising similarities between the US and Peru. I immediatley felt at home with the welcoming natives and I would absolutely go back if given the chance.

Disclaimer: The diet of Peruvians consists largely of soup and potatoes.

I've been on 5 trips with Rustic and my Peru one was one of my favorites. We traveled all over the country, so I was able to experience travel in a way I never had before. The staff was amazing. Kelly was my leader on my first ever Rustic one and on this last one, both times she was amazing. I ended up getting sick and she was there the entire time to make sure I was comfortable and did anything she could to help me feel better. Peru is the most beautiful place I've ever been, and the way that the landscape changes and the friendliness of the people make this a place I'm positive I would return to again.

The moment you step into Thailand you think "woah, culture shock" Rustic gave me an experience in Thailand that I would have never had the chance to experience otherwise. In my vet program I got to witness amazing things that I would have never seen in the U.S and I have only rustic to thank for that. My second program I got to really see the differences between my culture and the culture of the Thai people. We got to go to a local market in Mae Sariang which even greatly differed from the street markets in Chiang Mai. In the different villages in Thailand, you will truly see people who are always smiling, regardless of the hardships they have. Thailand truly is the land of smiles. My counselors and peers on both programs in Thailand were really what made my trip amazing. It was amazing experiencing so many things with strangers and becoming so attached to someone in just 10 short days. Rustic is the best program I have ever found, and I am beyond excited to return next summer on a new adventure.

Amazing program! We lived in a village and were basically part of the community. The project leaders are truly invested in their time and making a lasting impact for the village we worked on. An incredible eye-opening experience!

Cambodia is one of the most interesting and beautiful places I've ever been to. Siem Reap is a great city and Angkor Wat was amazing. But the best part about my trip was getting to stay in the floating villages and stay on a boat. The people are so welcoming and the kids are so friendly. The way of life in this village is drastically different than anything I've ever seen before. All of the houses are completely floating and move in location year round due to water levels. They keep crocodiles in farms, and go out on their boats every morning to fish. This experience was unforgettable, because I never expected to see anything like that in my life. I made good friends from America and across the world on this crazy adventure that i will never forget.

I've spent two summers in a row visting the Rustic Pathways Children's Home (Hilltribe Orphanage Project). Both years the staff were amazing and I met the best friends I've ever made in my life. Additionally, the kids in the schools and living at the home are some of the greatest people I have ever met. They are funny, smart, and genuinely the nicest kids in the world. Both years, it was a life changing trip that I will never forget. Spending three weeks at this home in total, I have become so thankful for the life and education I have at home. Visiting the Burmese Refugee camp had much to do with that as well. Many of the kids living there chose to leave their families in Burma in order to have access to education. I have a huge amount of respect for everyone I met at the refugee camp, because they were so friendly and kind even though they are living in refugee camps with a fence surrounding them. That overnight trip at the camp was a huge awakening for me. Anytime I catch myself complaining about going to school, I think about the kids I met who are so thankful to even have access to a school that teaches above 6th grade. I will never forget my time at Hillltribe, I love everyone I met there, and my heart will always be in Thailand.

I had an excellent experience on this trip, and I got everything I wanted out of it. It was so cool to run the summer camp for the Tico kids, and it was great to know that you were making a difference in their lives. Since they only speak Spanish, I was able to really improve my conversational skills. Finally, I had so much fun (rating, ziplining, the beach, etc.) and I made great friends that I keep in touch with. I would recommend this program to anyone (but it is helpful to know some Spanish before you come)