Visions Service Adventures

Peru claims 84 of the world's 103 known ecological zones and 28 different climates, placing it among the five countries with the greatest biological diversity in the world. Stretching along its Pacific Coast is a continuous coastal desert at whose southern end begins the Atacama, one of the world’s harshest deserts. Its eastern boundary lies within the lush Amazon Basin. The Andean peaks rise to their most majestic height in the heart of Peru’s southern interior in which lies our home base of Urubamba (population 8,000).  It is 8,000 feet up in the Sacred Valley of the Andes, about one hour from Cusco, the old Inca capital and un centro de turismo. Evidence of the formidable Inca Empire is everywhere in the highlands where Quechua, the ancient Inca language, is widely spoken.

Historically, the sierra region is home to Peru's poorest. In collaboration with local community sectors and in the faena tradition, we build schools and classroom additions, irrigation canals, wells, potable water septic systems, cisterns, even the valley’s only fire station. Partnering with ProPeru Service Corps, we assemble and install cocinas mejoradas (cleaner-burning stoves) in highland homes. Our talleres (internships) with small sustainable businesses engage us with traditional weavers, potters, carpenters and bee keepers.

Spanish language skills inevitably increase conversing with Nico, our projects manager, with our cook Neyda while helping her prepare a meal, and with the maestros who work with us every working day, teaching adobe building techniques. Daily life in Urubamba means you are wholly integrated into the community.  You have the opportunity to meet local teenagers through culture and language exchanges at a local English Academy.  In Lamay, a neighboring pueblo of Urubamba, you will share time and fútbol with orphans.  You will come to know the vegetable, fruit and meat vendors as you shop at the market for our meals.  The magic of Urubamba is all yours. The tranquil, colorful streets become as familiar to you as your own neighborhood.

Touring, trekking and camping are weekend pastimes. We explore the ruins of Ollantaytambo, the mysterious rings of Moray, and Pisaq market where merchants have been selling their wares for over four centuries. In Cusco we discover gilded art adorning Spanish Cathedrals, walk historic Plaza de Armas and browse the shops.

We hike to the Maras salt mines, an ancient sprawling complex of shallow pools dug into the hillside filled with naturally saline waters. We journey to Chicon Mountain to camp under massive snow-capped peaks. We go to Machu Picchu to spend the day, starting our journey by train, passing centuries-old aqueducts, tombs and terraces on the way. We overnight in a hostel on the banks of the Urubamba River, rising before dawn to be at Machu Picchu's Sun Gate just as the sun’s first beams break over the majestic peaks.

Participants in this language immersion program must have a minimum of two years of classroom Spanish or equivalent proficiency.