3 Things Most Families Don’t Know About Our Peru Trip
Peru: Mystic Mountains is a 16-day high school trip through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
Students partner with a local nonprofit focused on education access in the Andes, visit a women’s weaving cooperative, hike into a remote mountain community to support a potable water project, explore Machu Picchu, climb a Via Ferrata route, and make handmade Peruvian chocolates in Cusco.
Here are three things families may not know before reading the full itinerary.
1. The service happens in two different settings
The Peru trip includes two service stretches.
Days 3 to 6 are based in the Sacred Valley. Students partner with a local nonprofit focused on education access in the Andes. Alongside time with students and staff, the group also paddleboards a high-altitude lake and mountain bikes through the surrounding hills.
Days 8 to 10 are different. The group hikes into a remote mountain community to support a potable water project. These days include rustic camping, hands-on work, and time with local residents.
That structure gives students two views of service in Peru: education access in the Sacred Valley, then infrastructure support in a rural mountain community.
The Peru trip includes 25 to 35 service hours.
2. Machu Picchu is reached by train and on foot
Day 12 is Machu Picchu.
The group travels by train to Aguas Calientes, then hikes to the entrance of Machu Picchu. A guided tour brings the site into focus before the group returns to Ollantaytambo for the night.
That walk matters.
Students do not only arrive, look around, and leave. They travel through the valley, move on foot, and enter the site with a guide who helps explain what they are seeing.
Machu Picchu is still a major moment on the trip, but it sits inside a fuller itinerary: service, rural camping, weaving, mountain biking, paddleboarding, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley.
3. Day 7 is spent with a women’s weaving cooperative
Day 7 brings the group high into the Andes to visit a women’s weaving cooperative.
Students learn traditional weaving techniques and see more of the challenges girls face in accessing education. The day also includes a traditional mountain lunch before the group returns to Ollantaytambo.
This day is not about watching a quick demonstration.
Students spend time with the women who carry the knowledge of the craft, learn how natural materials and traditional techniques are used, and connect the visit back to the education work they have already been learning about in the Sacred Valley.
What the trip looks like
Day 1 is arrival in Lima, meeting the leaders and group, and settling into the hotel.
Day 2 is the flight from Lima to Cusco, followed by the drive to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.
Days 3 to 6 are service and adventure in the Sacred Valley, including the education partnership, paddleboarding, and mountain biking.
Day 7 is the weaving and natural dye workshop in the high Andes.
Days 8 to 10 are rural camping and infrastructure service connected to a potable water project.
Day 11 is rest and reflection in the valley.
Day 12 is Machu Picchu.
Day 13 is Via Ferrata in the Sacred Valley. Students climb 400 meters up a cliff face and zipline down, then continue to Cusco.
Day 14 is Cusco, including Incan and colonial sites, cobblestone streets, and the Chocolate Museum, where students make handmade Peruvian chocolates.
Day 15 is Lima, with museums, neighborhoods, two traditional meals, and a final reflection dinner.
Day 16 is travel home.
What families should know before applying
Trip length and grade range. This is a 16-day trip for high school students completing grades 9 to 12.
Tuition. $6,295 for our 2026 Peru trip.
Service hours. 25 to 35 hours of service work.
Location. The trip travels through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
Travel. Families book round-trip flights to and from Lima, Peru. We use Lima (LIM) as the gateway airport. Do not book flights until RLT sends official travel details.
Escorted flight option. An optional group flight with an RLT leader is available.
Internal flight. The trip includes one domestic round-trip flight between Lima and Cusco. RLT books this on behalf of the group and adds the charge to a final invoice.
Accommodations. Students stay in simple, locally owned hotels in Lima, Cusco, and Ollantaytambo. Rooms are shared by 2 to 3 students and divided by gender. The group also spends three nights tent camping in a remote mountain village.
Bathrooms and showers. Students should expect a mix of western-style bathrooms and squat toilets, depending on location. Short showers are available every 1 to 2 days, more often in towns and less often while camping.
Food. Meals are made with care by our in-country partners. Expect rice, beans, vegetables, fruit, and Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado and ají de gallina. While camping, the group cooks simple, filling meals together. The majority of meals are at locally run small restaurants.
Dietary needs. RLT accommodates vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, vegan, and most allergies.
Packing. RLT recommends one checked soft duffel bag, not a rolling suitcase, plus a small carry-on backpack. Students bring personal clothing, toiletries, and individual gear. RLT provides group gear and specialized activity equipment needed for the trip.
Passport. For U.S. citizens traveling to Peru, passports must be valid at least 6 months beyond the return date.
Trip insurance. Trip insurance is required for international programs.
Vaccinations. No specific shots are required for our Peru trip beyond routine immunizations based on current CDC guidelines. Families should make sure students are up to date on routine vaccinations, including a tetanus booster within the past 10 years, and check with a pediatrician before international travel.
Phones. This program is phone-free. Leaders collect phones and personal electronics on Day 1 and return them at the end. Digital or film cameras are welcome as long as they do not connect to the internet.
Questions families often ask
What kind of service do students do?
Students work with a local nonprofit focused on education access in the Andes during the Sacred Valley portion. Later, they hike into a remote mountain community to support a potable water project.
Does my teen need Spanish experience?
No Spanish is required for our Peru trip. Peru is one of our Spanish Immersion programs, so students should be open to listening, trying phrases, and learning through daily interactions.
Does the trip include Machu Picchu?
Yes. The group travels by train to Aguas Calientes, hikes to the entrance of Machu Picchu, and explores the site with a guide.
Where do students sleep?
Students stay in simple, locally owned hotels in Lima, Cusco, and Ollantaytambo, plus three nights tent camping in a remote mountain village.
Is the Via Ferrata required?
The Via Ferrata is part of the itinerary. Students climb 400 meters up a cliff face and zipline down. If your teen is nervous about heights, talk with us before enrolling so we can help you think through fit.
How to talk to your teen about this trip
Before they go, you might say:
“You’ll spend 16 days in Peru with a high school group. You’ll work with a local nonprofit focused on education access, visit a women’s weaving cooperative, hike into a mountain community to support a potable water project, camp for three nights, visit Machu Picchu, climb a Via Ferrata route, explore Cusco, make chocolate, and be off your phone.”
After they come home, ask:
“What did your group do with the education nonprofit?”
“What was the mountain community like?”
“What did you learn at the weaving cooperative?”
“What was it like hiking to the entrance of Machu Picchu?”
“What did you make at the Chocolate Museum?”
Explore the Peru trip
For dates, tuition, itinerary, accommodations, packing details, paperwork, and the technology policy, see the full Peru itinerary.