Peru: Mystic Mountains

Trip Name
Peru: Mystic Mountains

Who It's For
High school students (completing grades 9–12)

2026 Session
Session 2: July 2 – July 17, 2026
Note: These dates reflect your teen’s departure from the U.S. and return to the U.S.
Additional flight information will be shared after enrollment.

Location
Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, Peru

Trip Length
16 Days

Service Hours
25–35

Tuition
$6,295

This is the plan, but plans can shift. Weather, group energy, and new opportunities sometimes lead us to make changes. No two trips are exactly the same, and that’s part of what makes the experience so memorable.

Day 1: Arrive in Lima
Travel to Lima, Peru, either independently or on an escorted group flight from a major U.S. city (details released soon). Leaders meet all participants at the airport. We settle into our hotel and begin to get to know each other.

Day 2: Cusco & Sacred Valley
Fly from Lima to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. From there, we drive to the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. We take in the views and get oriented in our new mountain surroundings.

Days 3–6: Service & Adventure in the Sacred Valley
We partner with a local nonprofit focused on education access in the Andes. Alongside time spent with students and staff, we paddleboard a high-altitude lake and mountain bike through the surrounding hills.

Day 7: Weaving & Natural Dye Workshop
Travel high into the Andes to visit a women’s weaving cooperative. We learn traditional weaving techniques and see firsthand the challenges girls face to access education. Enjoy a traditional mountain lunch before returning to Ollantaytambo.

Days 8–10: Rural Camping & Infrastructure Service
We hike into a remote mountain community to support a potable water project. These days include rustic camping, hands-on work, and meaningful connection with locals.

Day 11: Rest & Reflection in the Valley
After returning to the valley, we take time to rest and reflect after several challenging days of service and camping.

Day 12: Machu Picchu
We travel by train to Aguas Calientes and hike to the entrance of Machu Picchu. A guided tour brings the ruins to life before we return to Ollantaytambo for the night.

Day 13: Via Ferrata
We climb 400 meters up a cliff face and zipline down - a high-adrenaline way to cap off our mountain adventure. Afterward, we continue on to Cusco and explore the city’s historic streets.

Day 14: Explore Cusco
We visit Incan and colonial sites, walk through cobblestone alleys, and stop by the Chocolate Museum to make handmade Peruvian chocolates.

Day 15: Lima & Final Celebration
Fly back to Lima and explore the capital city’s museums and neighborhoods. Enjoy two traditional meals and a final reflection dinner to close out the trip.

Day 16: Fly Home
After an unforgettable journey through the Andes, we head to the airport and fly home.

This trip combines rustic comfort with backcountry challenge.

Hotels + Guesthouses
In Lima, Cusco, and Ollantaytambo, we stay in simple, locally owned hotels. Rooms are shared (2–3 per room divided by gender) and cozy—think slumber-party style with your crew.

Rural Camping
For three nights, we tent camp in a remote mountain village. It’s basic and beautiful: tents for 2–3, mountain views, and starry skies.

Facilities
Expect a mix of western-style bathrooms and squat toilets, depending on location. Short showers are available every 1 -2 days—more frequent in towns, less so while camping.

Group Life
No single rooms here. Everyone shares space, pitches in, and learns to live as a team.

Meals are fresh, local, and made with care by our in-country partners.

What's On the Plate
Rice, beans, vegetables, fruit, and Peruvian classics like lomo saltado and ají de gallina. Everything is made from scratch with local ingredients.

All Diets Welcome
We accommodate vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, dairy free, vegan, and most allergies. Just let us know in advance.

Camping Meals
While camping, we cook simple but delicious and filling meals together. Everyone takes turns helping out. The majority of the meals are at locally run small restaurants.

Snacks + Hydration
Plenty of snacks available throughout the day. We prioritize clean water and encourage frequent hydration at altitude.

Flights
Families book round-trip flights to/from Lima, Peru (LIM).

Escorted Flight Option
An optional group flight with an RLT leader is available.

Unaccompanied Minor Info
We’ll walk you through the process if your teen is flying as an airline-designated Unaccompanied Minor (for major airlines this is often kids who are 14 years old or younger, and are flying without a parent.) Every airline has different policies so it is important to coordinate with RLT and look into each airline’s specific policies. Generally speaking, we will have an RLT leader available to meet Unaccompanied Minors at the arrival airport for each trip.

Internal Travel
One domestic round trip flight between Lima to Cusco is part of this trip. RLT books this flight on behalf of everyone in the group and adds that charge to a final invoice.

Packing Tips
Participants are responsible for bringing their own personal clothing, toiletries, and other personal gear. The Road Less Traveled provides all group gear, any specialized activity equipment needed for the trip. A detailed packing list will be sent to families well in advance (and is available upon request at any time) to ensure your child is prepared. We encourage packing clothing that’s comfortable, durable, and made for adventure. Our list will also provide guidance based on weather, location, cultural considerations, and planned activities to help participants bring the right items for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Luggage
We recommend one checked soft duffel bag (NOT a rolling suitcase) and a small carry-on backpack.

Forms + Waivers
Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your RLT portal with required forms: a health history, positive participation agreement, and more.  All must be submitted before the trip. We review every form to make sure we can support your teen.

Medical Clearance
No doctor’s appointment needed unless a new or complex condition has developed. We connect with each family individually about any medical needs that require more attention such as severe allergies, diabetes, etc.

Medications
All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, must be listed in your medical form. Trip leaders will manage and dispense meds as needed.

Behavioral Expectations
We’ll send a Positive Participation Agreement to review with your teen before departure. This helps set a shared standard for safety, respect, and inclusion.

Vaccines
We follow CDC guidelines for international travel, and always recommend that families check in with their pediatrician prior to traveling abroad. Based on current CDC guidelines, no specific shots are required beyond routine immunizations. Please check that your teen is up to date on routine vaccinations, including a tetanus booster (Td or Tdap) within the past 10 years.

Trip Insurance
Trip insurance is required for all international trips. You’re welcome to use any third-party provider. We also share recommendations in our FAQ.

Passports
For US citizens traveling to Peru, passports must be valid 6+ months beyond the return date. For participants who carry passports from other countries, we strongly recommend looking into specific passport and visa requirements that may be in place.

Device-Free = Fully Present
Phones and personal electronics are collected on Day 1 and returned at the end.

Why we do this:

Build stronger group connections
Stay grounded in the experience
Practice confidence without constant tech

Photos
Bring a digital or film camera, anything without internet is fair game. Leaders take and share photos in a private gallery after the trip.

Communication
We’ll keep families updated throughout the trip. For emergencies, our on-call team is available 24/7.