Program Reviews

This program was an incredible way to see Peru. It truly was a life-changing experience for me to travel across the country with such a fun group of people, brush up on my Spanish language skills, and learn about Peruvian history and culture. The outdoor adventure elements of the program were challenging for me but so rewarding. I loved the program and wish I could relive it!

This trip was an eye opener I learned so much about Peru and its culture that I am really happy that I went. I met some amazing people and I overcame challenges I never thought I'd be able to do. This trip is amazing and very inspiring and I recommend this trip whoever loves a challenge, fun and historic trip to those looking for it.

I love Pacific Discovery! They do such an amazing job at organizing so many different activities in a 2 month program. I got to see so many incredible things like Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca but we also volunteered quite a bit too. Those really made me feel like we were there to not only see the sights but give back and help out as well! Some of my favorite memories were while we were in Lake Titicaca at a school, I loved playing with the kids when we took breaks while volunteering. One thing that always makes these types of trips so fun is the people you meet in your group. It made every bus ride, bike trip and spanish lesson 10 times more fun. I made some really great friendships and had a great experience on this trip!

Starting out in this program was a little challenging for me because I knew enough Spanish to get by, but not always enough to say what I wanted to. So for me, this was really frustrating and I got a little down. As time went on, however, I got more and more comfortable and really began to look past some limitations and enjoy the things I was learning and the culture I was being immersed in. Keeping an open mind was really important on this trip because the culture and life style in the places we visited are so different than what most people are used to who come from westernized countries. One thing I definitely didn't think I would enjoy were the days we were biking, but I ended up having a lot of fun and having a blast. Making sure to drink enough water was a little challenging because you have to be careful that you're drinking clean water, and my filter bottle can only hold so much and it was hard to filter it into another container. I can't complain though, I was able to see some amazingly beautiful places, go on some challenging (but rewarding) hikes, meet very diverse people, and continue my personal growth.

If I were to truly capture how amazing and life changing this trip was this review would never end. So I'll save you some time so you can go sign up ASAP! It was THE BEST month of my life. The reason I say this review could go on forever is because everything that happens in your life after the trip, you can relate it to something that happened during the trip. It is my favorite thing to talk about. If you are worried about the altitude, don't be. Just prepare well and keep telling yourself to stay healthy. I learned so much about myself and how I want to live my life. I value this experience more than anything in my life.

I would recommend this trip to anyone. The amount you see and taste and touch and explore during those four weeks is phenomenal and pretty much unparalleled. It is hard to convey how much this program offers, but I will lead with saying I had never been to Asia before and spending four weeks in Thailand make me want to spend months more there, traveling and learning and taking it all in. Which, I will note, is definitely possible even on a student budget because once you're there everything is very inexpensive. A hotel room might be $15, and a meal well under $5 if you want it to be.

This program offers huge benefits both to those who have traveled internationally frequently before and those who haven't. If you are looking for an opportunity to explore a foreign country without necessitating that you speak the language and struggle through identifying and booking all the arrangements, this is the perfect mix of hands-on, supportive, and hands-off. I thought about trying to do a similar trip alone or with a friend, and there's no way we would've had as smooth or as enjoyable of an experience had we not had such a fantastic trip leader to handle the logistics. They find the coolest opportunities for you that you would never have thought existed (or, would never have thought to do or wouldn't have found the right people to connect with to do it), and make sure that you're safe and supported while allowing you to explore. In other words, the support is there, but if you want to be more independent then those opportunities do arise during free time on weekends or afternoons. We would often have an activity or two planned (like Thai cooking lessons or yoga) but would then be given time to just go explore. I remember one evening we spent hours in the marketplace in Chiang Mai, watching the people who'd taught us Muay Thai hours before fighting in the ring. We then shopped, found a really cool jazz platform, and stopped at a western tea shop before returning to the guesthouse. The accommodations, by the way, are amazing.

We went rock climbing in a cave near Chiang Mai. It was my fifth climb of the day, on the steepest rock face available (I'd worked my way up), and I was tired. Like, arm-numbingly, hands-shakingly, sweat-dumping-out-my-pores tired. Halfway up the wall, I was ready to call it a day - believe me, I'm not above giving up when the going gets tough - and after the fourth or fifth slip I shouted down to my belayer bring me down. "Take a rest," he told me. "As long as you need." I was ready to complain, to kick and scream until I got my way, but then I looked down (what were you thinking, Trevor?!). The entire group, about 20 people overall, peered up at me. They shouted and cheered, letting me know as loud as they could that they believed in me to take that final step. Crap, I thought, now I'm going to totally embarrass myself when I give up. Josh, a leader on the trip, shouted suggestions of which path I should take to the top in that ridiculous accent of his. He told me to take my time, to focus on nothing but where I was going to put my feet next. Five minutes later, having gained about two feet of ground on the wall, the group continued to let me know they were rooting for me. The believed in me, like, actually believed in me. They wanted me to reach the top.

And I did. Granted, it took me another ten minutes or so (complete with breaks every 30 seconds - my forearms were KILLING me), but I freaking did it. I've never felt so relieved in my life, but down below my travel buddies were cheering. I felt accomplished, like I'd made my family, my mom and dad and brothers and sisters, I felt like I'd made them proud. When I finished repelling and my feet touched solid ground, they high-fived me and patted me on the back. Then they told me I smelled terrible. Just like family.

This was only six days into the trip.

Would I climb that wall again? Yes, yes I would. But I'd bring deodorant.

I had wanted to go to Thailand for years and when I was finally given the opportunity, I wanted to explore the depth of the country in an environment that was safer than traveling alone, and gave me the benefits of a group. This program met all of my expectations and surpassed them. Each day is filled with group activities and the chance to explore individually, so you can make friends but also give yourself a chance to grow outside of the group. Our leader Rebecca was amazing, she was always fun and filled with excitement about our tour, and inspired me to keep traveling. I cannot believe we spent an entire month over there, we did so much. Each day was amazing, and I constantly reference my time with Pacific Discovery when people ask how my journey abroad was. This program is perfect for those who wish to grow and explore, for it gives you all the opportunities to do so, while making friends, and learning in depth about a new culture. I cannot give a higher recommendation.

The program was great. Just the right balance of hard work and immense fun. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience appropriate for anyone. A great opportunity that no one would ever regret. One big laugh.

This experience was quite possibly one of the best decisions I have made yet! The support of PD from registration to closing was extremely helpful and friendly. There's so much I could say about this experience but I'll highlight the most important things I got out of the trip. The program gave you just enough independence and free time mixed with structured time. It was the perfect way to dip my foot into experiential learning through traveling. I was treated as an adult and gained the confidence to navigate foreign places independently which has set me up for a new and exciting future! I can't stress how amazing this program is enough!