Machu Picchu, the Andes and the Galápagos in One Semester

You’ll meet your Program Instructors in Cusco, the heart of the ancient Incan Empire. After soaking up the city’s energy we move to Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley, for orientation: getting to know each other, setting the tone for the program and diving into the Peruvian way of life. This week we explore the Incan ruins of Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Moray, and start a local service project, working side by side with the community and learning about their traditions. Spanish lessons at two levels mean that whether you’re just starting or looking to level up, you’ll be able to immerse yourself even more in the culture.

• Service
• Spanish
• Ruins

Start This week off with with a biking tour on Andean roads. Then set off on a 4-day journey to Machu Picchu along the legendary Inca Jungle Trail: optional zip-lining, relaxing in natural hot springs and crossing rivers. Every day is packed with action and huge views, all leading to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes we make our way up to Machu Picchu, hiking it for the extra thrill or taking the bus. After a guided tour of the ruins there’s plenty of free time to wander, take photos and soak in this incredible place.

• Biking
• Zip-lining
• Machu Picchu

Cusco blends old-world charm with Andean culture: cobbled streets, orange-tiled adobe homes and a towering cathedral. A Cusco Legend and Culture Tour uncovers the city’s history and myths, then we visit the farmers market for the freshest local ingredients and roll up our sleeves for a hands-on cooking class in traditional Peruvian dishes. Back in Urubamba, our second volunteer project is with Jorge and their resident llamas. The project revives the ancient traditions of llama breeding and use, and supports local communities through environmental education and sustainable rural development, helping preserve the Sacred Valley’s highland ecosystems. We also work with a social enterprise that brings a traditional Andean village to life, and finish with an immersive day-trek with the llamas.

• Cooking
• Conservation
• Llamas

Our journey to Lake Titicaca crosses mountains, crystal-clear lakes, clusters of earthen homes and herds of llamas. We stay on the Capachica Peninsula, where life is tranquil and the culture is rich. Spend a full day on Lake Titicaca visiting two iconic cultural destinations. Living alongside locals, we get hands-on with the community, hike the terraced slopes, explore ancient hilltop ruins and swim in the world’s highest navigable lake. A boat ride takes us to Taquile Island, UNESCO-recognised for its textile traditions, and its timeless traditions. It’s a chance to unplug from the usual tourist trail and see a part of the world still largely untouched by modern tourism.

• Community stay
• Hiking
• Culture

Forget the typical tourist trail. We head to the small, remote village of Agato, high in the Andes, where the people keep a lifestyle that’s as authentic as it gets. During our homestay we live alongside local families and contribute to community-driven, sustainable development projects and cultural activities: weeding and clearing gardens around the community centre, cleaning and painting community spaces, stairway maintenance between Agato and Peguche, clearing mud from path edges, taking an Andean music instrument workshop, a ceremonial rock hike, a Peguche waterfall walk, making jewelry and enjoying a textile weaving tour. We also spend time with the kids, planning arts, crafts and sports, and settle into the rhythms of a culture deeply connected to the earth. This is about building real relationships with a community that opens your eyes to a different world.

• Homestay
• Service
• Kichwa culture

Just past halfway, we head into Ecuador’s Central Highlands, starting at Otavalo’s famous craft market, full of textiles, jewelry, art and leather goods. In Quilotoa, a small artisan village beside a breathtaking crater lake, we stay with a local artist couple and hike around the crater. Next is Baños, at the foot of the active Tungurahua Volcano. After daily Spanish lessons we explore waterfalls and go canyoning, zip-lining and hiking. Finally we drop into the Amazon Basin, starting with a rafting expedition down the Jatunyacu River in Tena and learning about the indigenous communities who call the rainforest home.

• Markets
• Hiking
• Adventure
• Rafting

After camping on the edge of the Amazon in Tena, one last rafting expedition down the Jatunyacu River takes us to Misahualli, a town on the edge of the jungle. Here we spend time at the Sinchi Warmi Center, an indigenous women’s ecotourism initiative dedicated to sustainability and protecting the natural environment. The women of Sinchi Warmi share their knowledge of traditional Amazonian life and how they use the land sustainably. A highlight is learning how artisanal chocolate is made from scratch, from harvesting cacao beans to the finished product, and of course tasting the results. Our visit directly supports their work.

• Sustainability
• Rafting
• Chocolate

From Misahualli we venture into the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in the Amazon, Ecuador’s second-largest national park and one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. From a remote lodge deep in the forest we explore rivers and lakes by motor-canoe and paddle-canoe, watching for wildlife including rare pink and grey freshwater dolphins. Our native guide shares ancestral knowledge of medicinal plants, wildlife and the practices that have sustained local communities for centuries. Night excursions go in search of caimans and nocturnal birds, and we wrap up our time in the Amazon at a bird-watching tower with panoramic views over the rainforest canopy.

• Wildlife
• Canoeing
• Rainforest

A morning flight takes us to San Cristóbal Island, where Darwin first set foot in the Galápagos. Over the next two weeks we explore four islands, each with its own biodiversity and wildlife. In the highlands we start our first project, reforestation: restoring native forest by removing invasive plants and learning why this work matters for the islands’ future. Then it’s time for the water. We snorkel in crystal-clear waters alongside sea turtles, rays and maybe a hammerhead shark, including at Kicker Rock (León Dormido), a towering rock formation teeming with life. Sea lions, marine iguanas and frigatebirds are just the start.

• Conservation
• Snorkeling
• Wildlife

We’ve saved the best for last. A scenic boat ride takes us to Isabela Island, where we bike to the Wetlands, then take on a 16 km trek through the highlands to the Sierra Negra and Chico volcanoes. A boat tour to Cabo Rosa reveals more of the Galápagos’ underwater world. Back on Santa Cruz Island there’s free time to explore, shop for souvenirs and relax on the beaches before our program wrap, reflecting on 10 weeks of exploration, cultural immersion, meaningful projects and friendships. We then head back to Quito to connect with international departures.

• Biking
• Hiking
• Program wrap