History and Culture of the Andes | Field Study Tour to Peru

Highlights include:

• Two nights in the colonial city of Lima, founded in 1585 by Francisco Pizzaro, and one of the richest cities in the New world throughout early colonial history

• Five nights in Cusco, considered the oldest existing city of the Americas, and home to many early Andean cultures, culminating with the magnificent Inca peoples

• One night at Machu Picchu, undiscovered until 1911, and the most impressive and inspiring of all the Inca archeological sites; the first glimpse of the site is almost overwhelming to most travelers

• Train ride through the Sacred Valley and the Andean Mountains to Machu Picchu (round trip), with spectacular scenery

• Two nights in Puno, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and the cradle of the Incan civilization

• Visits to two islands in the lake, one a unique “floating reed island,” where we will meet the people of the Uros, who live on and maintain the island culture, and the other, island of Taquile, where the residents will explain the culture in their traditional life style in this forbidding landscape

Through the entire trip we will learn about the history of Peru, the many civilizations which have shaped the contemporary life of the country, and the rich Andean culture which pervades all aspects of the culture.

We will be at high altitudes during most of the trip, in Cusco where the presence of the Andes surrounds us, or at Lake Titicaca, on the high Peruvian altiplano.

Discover Peru, where the scenery is spectacular, the people are friendly and welcoming, the cultural learning is fascinating, the local markets are colorful, and the food is wonderful!

Itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)




	Women with children on reed islands on Lake Titicaca, craftsman with wares on Lake Titicaca, colorful skirt at Pisac market in Peru

Day 1 | Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Fly from the USA, late arrival in Lima
Overnight in Lima

Day 2 | Thursday, October 30, 2014 (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the hotel, brief introductions and orientation
Tour Lima, including the following:
- Historic area of downtown Lima
Group welcome dinner, at a lovely restaurant on the Pacific Ocean
Overnight in Lima

Day 3 | Friday, October 31, 2014 (B, D)

Breakfast at hotel
Early in the morning group flight to the city of Cusco, snacks on flight
Afternoon rest to get used to the altitude
Late afternoon discussion of Cusco history
Group dinner on the square, Inka Grill
Overnight in Cusco

Day 4 | Saturday, November 1, 2014 (B, D)

After breakfast, morning walking tour to the city of Cusco
Free time for lunch
Meet at hotel and start great visit to the oracle of Saqsayhuaman, the amphitheater of Q’enqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay ruins, known as the temple of water, visit with anthropologist guide
Group dinner, Andean Grill
Overnight in Cusco

Day 5 | Sunday, November 2, 2014 (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel
We will visit Pisac Indian market. All over the Andean highlands, scattered in the Sacred Valley of Urubamba and mountains, you will find numerous markets displaying everything from wool textiles, native fruits and fresh vegetables to jewelry, ceramics, baskets, wood carving, native paintings, embroidery, tools and even animals! The market in Pisac is one of the most well-known markets in the country.

Those who wish to do so can attend Mass in the local church, with the service in Quechua Lunch in Pisac
Afternoon visit to the ruins of Pisac and enjoy one of the most stunning views of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba river Dinner on your own
Overnight in Cusco

Day 6 | Monday, November 3, 2014 (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel
Heading northeast of Cusco, we will visit Moray. A huge system of circular platforms in 4 holes of even 495 feet depth. It is believed that it was a center of agricultural experimentation where seeds were produced adapted to different ecological steps, every platform represents different weathers. Its watering and drain system are still functioning!
Lunch included
We will continue our trip and visit to and archeological explanation of the Salinas/Salineras site, formerly Inca salt pans and still currently mined for livestock consumption
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Cusco

Day 7 | Tuesday, November 4, 2014 (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel
Early transfer to Cusco train station for our fabulous trip (4 hour train ride), with our anthropologist private guide, we will visit the Machu Picchu ruins. Lunch in Aguas Calientes
Exploratory visit to Machu Picchu
Dinner, on your own
Overnight in Aguas Calientes Hotel

Day 8 | Wednesday, November 5, 2014 (B, L)

After breakfast, with our archeologist private guide we will visit the Machu Picchu ruins early in the morning (this way we will hopefully avoid the massive amount of tourists who arrive by train)
Lunch at the world-known Sanctuary hotel (right next to Machu Picchu ruins) Take our bus back to Aguas Calientes and then return to Cusco by train
Dinner on your own
Overnight in Cusco

Day 9 | Thursday, November 6, 2014 (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel
Midmorning departure to airport for flight to Juliaca, where we’ll transfer from the airport to the hotel in Puno across the high barren Peruvian altiplano. Dinner included upon arrival to Puno.
Overnight in Puno

Day 10 | Friday, November 7, 2014 (B, L, D)

After breakfast, transfer to port and full day trip on Lake Titicaca visit Uros and Taquile with traditional lunch included
Farewell dinner in Puno
Overnight in Puno

Day 11 | Saturday, November 7, 2014 (B, L)

Breakfast and departure from Puno to Juliaca in order to take our plane from Juliaca to Lima. Dinner on your own in the airport
Flights to home, late Saturday night, probably after midnight, November 8, arrival home on Sunday November 9.

• Note: This itinerary has been prepared months ahead of the actual trip. There may some very slight changes to take advantage of new opportunities.


	Vivian Harvey at Lake Titicaca, Peru

Coordinator

Vivian Harvey
Vivian Harvey has been living and working in Mexico for 20 years and has traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, and Guatemala with university students and faculty members. Prior to moving to Mexico, she was the Assistant Dean in the College of Human Ecology at The Ohio State University for ten years. She is the Educational Programs Coordinator at the Cemanahuac Educational Community, where she works with college faculty members across the United States and Canada to establish cooperative academic programs with Cemanahuac for graduate and undergraduate credit. She also leads several trips each year in Mexico, Central America, and South America for groups of artists and art teachers.

Her educational background includes a degree in education from the University of Michigan, and two graduate degrees from The Ohio State University, one in early childhood education and the other in family studies, as well as a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Tour Organizer

Diego del Corral
Academia Latinoamericana de Español
Mailing Address: Casilla Postal 126, Cusco, Peru
Location: Plaza Limacpampa Grande 565
Telephone & Fax: (51 84) 243 364
Cellular and emergency telephone: (51 84) 9 690 293
info@latinoschools.com
www.latinoschools.com

Fees

TRAVEL FEE: $2995 (twin) U.S. Funds Only
• Note: Add $495 for single supplement

This land travel fee will include:
• Peru land tour as it is described on the itinerary
• Breakfast everyday and lunches and dinner as described on itinerary
• Plane tickets Lima-Cusco / Cusco-Juliaca / Juliaca-Lima
• Train tickets, round trip: Cusco/Machu Picchu
• English-Spanish speaking guides in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Puno
• Tips for all guides and drivers, hotel tips for maids and baggage

This travel fee does NOT include:
• Airplane ticket from USA – Lima – USA
• Additional meals not noted on the itinerary
• Beverages with group meals, other than coffee/hot tea
• Extra nights in Lima, if any

We will try to find a roommate for anyone who comes as a single but requests a roommate, but I cannot guarantee that we will have one.

I am not including all dinners since I think the fun of a trip like this is to go to different restaurants and order local foods. Also, we have very substantial buffet lunches while in Cusco and Machu Picchu at terrific local restaurants.

I am leading this trip in cooperation with Diego del Corral of Ecuador and Peru. I will ask that checks for the deposit and the final amount be made out to me, and I’ll get the funds to Diego’s international bank account by their deadlines of May 1 and August 1, 2014. It will not be possible to do use a credit card for the land portion of the trip.

Each person is responsible for making plane reservations to arrive in Lima on Wednesday, October 29, and to depart on Saturday night, late, on November 8.

Deadlines: Application and two additional payments

This travel program has been confirmed as “GO!” Space is limited on this trip and preference will be given to those who register first by sending the registration form and a deposit check of $200 (made out to Vivian Harvey).

The Academia Latinoamericana Admissions Office must receive your completed application form and nonrefundable deposit of $800.00 (per person) dollars no later than May 1, 2014.
This deposit will be used in Peru to purchase plane tickets and cannot be refunded for any reason after May 1, 2014
Final payment of $2195.00 (per person, double) will be on August 1, 2014

All checks should be made out to Vivian Harvey. As I receive all payments, I will send a check to Diego del Corral’s bank by bank transfer.

Late registration

We can accept registrations on a space available basis, but registration after May 1, 2014, will be subject to an additional $100 late fee.

Refunds/Cancellations

No portion of the deposit will be refunded at any time for any reason after May 1, 2014.

If you have any concerns about health or other problem, it is suggested that you purchase travel insurance. Any travel agent can give you information on this.

Flights to Lima

Most airlines have flights that arrive in Lima around midnight. We will arrange for airport transfers for all travelers, but we will need your flight information as soon as you have it. The same planes then turn around to return to the United States, meaning the flights leave around midnight or soon after midnight.

Travel insurance: this is up to you; you can get it with a travel agent if you make reservations with him/her.

Plane weight conditions and restrictions seem to change daily, but however they change, they are getting more expensive and asking for lower weight limits. Laundry is available in the hotel in Cusco; take advantage of it.

General information

I consider this to be a fairly rigorous trip, at high altitudes. This is not going to be a dressy trip; jeans, corduroys, and good walking shoes are the suggested dress. Some may have hiking boots, I don’t, and I didn’t need them.

I highly recommend talking with your doctor and obtaining high altitude medicine. I took it on each trip to Peru and did not have any trouble after the first day in Cusco when I was just a bit short of breath. If you are allergic to sulfa, ask your doctor for a medicine recommendation which does not contain sulfa. The medicine most of us took on previous trips was Acetazolamide, sold under the trade name Diamox (but it contains sulfa).

I hope the participants will view this as a highly educational trip; I certainly found the information about the culture of the Andes to be absolutely fascinating. We will have experienced and knowledgeable local guides, each of them happy to answer any and all questions. There is much information on the Internet, and I expect those who are planning this kind of travel are ready for some research on their own on some of the places we’ll be visiting, with articles to share on the history and culture of Peru. I will send you articles with useful and interesting information about two months prior to the trip.

Weather


	Lake Titicaca, Peru

I have read many sources about the weather. I have planned this for November for a number of reasons, and I think the weather will be good then. It will be cool much of the time, and it MIGHT rain, though we had almost no rain at the same time in three previous trips at the same time of year. The following is from a couple of Google reports:

In the world, you can find a total of 32 kinds of climate and Peru has 28 of them (87.5% of the total!). In other words, a trip through Peru can signify to come across with hot deserts, dry forests, humid savannas, plain rain forests, cold plateaus, cool steppes and icy mountains. The only thing predictable about Peru's weather is its unpredictability. In fact, it's not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. Generally speaking, Peru has two seasons, wet and dry, but in a country as geographically diverse as Peru, local weather patterns vary greatly. In the highlands, the dry season is between June and October, but even the mountains' wet season isn't always really wet and the dry season sees its share of downpours. Temperatures during the day in the dry season can get hot making shorts rather inviting. At night, temperatures can drop quickly and a warm sweater makes walking around the plazas comfortable.

Please contact me for information about the trip, if you have specific questions. And I can send a registration form. Please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested in joining the trip.

Questions? Please click here to send an e-mail

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