Learn Spanish, help South American communities, explore the Amazon, discover Machu Picchu, fly over the Nasca Lines, scale the Cotopaxi summit, see wildlife, relax on Venezuelan Beaches, raft, trek, climb, mountain bike - do all this and much much more!
Tour Itinerary:
- Peru
Weeks 1-2: Learn Spanish and Peruvian Adventure Expedition. Peru is a country with a fascinating history and spectacular landscapes, home to the world’s first civilization, and a great place to start your exploration of South America. The Peruvian Andes offer some of the most beautiful landscapes in South America, combining Inca temples untouched by the Spanish Conquestadores alongside the charms of Spanish colonization.
These first three weeks contain some of the expedition’s most impressive sights and adventurous highlights, as well as provide a useful and enjoyable introduction to South America with 30 hours of Spanish lessons in the fantastic town Arequipa. Living in homestays with families in the local community and exploring the region will give you a slice of South American life, whilst allowing you to test and improve your Spanish. The adventure week begins with a summit attempt on Misti Volcano – the famous volcano that gazed down on you through the Spanish lessons!
Then a five day trek and horse back adventure will allow us to explore one of the deepest canyons in the world, Colca Canyon, and enjoy its hot springs, magnificent scenery and plethora of wildlife. It will lead us to one of the best condorias in the area where we can witness the largest birds in the world and a must-see for every visitor to South America – the Condors. Their majestic beauty will complete what will have been a ram packed adventure fueled first fortnight of exploration – and that was only for starters!
- Peru and Bolivia
Weeks 3-4: Indigenous Community Project and Lake Titicaca Adventure Expedition. Colca Canyon will become our home as we live and work with local families to help build a local community center in one of the most enchanting areas of the Andes. The surrounding villages have very little, so we will fund the project and supply the materials and some of the manpower to build a lasting community center. It will benefit all by being part of an ongoing, long term volunteer initiative, and will culminate for us in a huge community party to ‘christen’ the new building. Heading to another must see destination in South America will then take us to Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake in the world. Traveling in traditional fashion will see us trekking (on foot and on horse back), kayaking, and camping, on the shores of the gorgeous lake surrounded by snow capped mountains. Entering Bolivia (the ‘Tibet of the Americas’), we will visit the place the Inca empire was born, at the floating island of Uros, Isla del Luna and Isla del Sol.
Moving on to the highest capital city in the world La Paz (‘The City that Touches the Sky’), will immerse us in the atmosphere of one of the most cultural and colorful cities in South America. There we will have the opportunity to mountain bike down the infamous and breath-taking ‘Most Dangerous Road in the World’ which will combine exhilaration with stunning views, before we venture on to our second project in the Yungas, Bolivia.
- Peru and Bolivia
Weeks 5-6: Amazon Lowland Yungas Community Project and Inca Trail Machu Picchu Expedition. Staying at an eco-lodge in the Amazon Lowlands of the Yungas (a series of valleys at the foot of the Andes) we will build school buildings for one of the many communities hidden away in this spectacular part of the world, as part of sustainable long term projects. From start to finish, foundation digging to roofing, we will work hand in hand with the locals to complete well needed buildings for the local communities. Also taking time to trek and explore the Yungas region, we can witness the amazing wildlife the remote and isolated area has to offer, which include numerous species of monkeys and other mammals, colourful birds such as toucans, plus fantastical reptiles like crocodiles and caimen.
Heading back to Peru through the world famous and delightful Andean town Cuzco with its colonial and Inca sites will take us to the climactic highlight of the first six weeks, to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will spend four days following in the footsteps of the ancient empire through the most impressive views in South America (if not the world). Journeying past snow capped mountains, richly forested valleys, and numerous Inca temples will take us to the breath-taking Machu Picchu ('Lost City of the Incas'). Only rediscovered in 1911, measuring over five square miles, and including a temple, fortress, and terraced gardens, the city is accurately described by Chilean poets as a ‘miracle’ and ‘one of the greatest marvels of South America’.
- Peru and Ecuador
Weeks 7-8: Peru and Ecuador Exploration and Adventure Expedition Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Horse Riding, and Multiple Volcano Summit Attempts. The hardcore adventures will continue as we explore the remaining must visit places in Peru on our way to Ecuador. From Cusco we will take an early morning flight to see the truly spectacular and world famous Nazca Lines – the stylized figures being unrecognizable as coherent images unless seen from the air.
From here we visit the National Parks on the Pacific Coast to see an abundance of wildlife that includes boobies, flamingos, sea-lions, and pelicans, as will also be found carved into the walls of our next destination - the incredible archaeological ruins of Chan Chan, capital city of the kingdom of Chimú. Across the border the charming town Baños (located at nearly 6,000 ft in the centre of two National Parks) is where we can enjoy the indigenous culture and hot springs, in view of the active Tungurahua volcano which has amazing displays. From Baños we will be exhilarated by some impressive mountain biking through dazzling terrain possessing stunning waterfalls. Thrilling white water rafting will take us through world class rapids in the expansive and magnificent views of the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountains.
The two weeks will end with the highlight – a four day trek and horse ride that will culminate in a summit attempt on Cotapaxi (5297m) using crampons and mittens. Cotopaxi is Ecuador's second highest mountain (measuring over 19,000 feet) and has long been considered the highest active volcano in the world. Blessed with the highest number of clear days in the Ecuadorian Andes, the Cotopaxi region thus warrants climbs any time of year.
Continuing on horseback past the dramatic waterfalls and ancient ruins of the Pasto’s past culture, we will be able to see condors, eagles, wolves, foxes, deer, orchids, frogs (unique to the area), getting an impressive view over the forest canopy which displays a variety of birds including toucans and trogans. We then move on to the Imbabura Volcano which at 4,630m (15,200 feet) exhibits spectacular views into the open crater, surrounding mountains, and gorgeous lakes. That weekend we’ll rest and have time to check indigenous market at Otavalo, provided we have the energy!
- Ecuador
Weeks 9-10: Ecuadorian Andes Indigenous Community Project. Once our bodies are back in working order we will begin work again in the Andes, in the small communities that reside roughly an hour from Otavalo. Living with local families in Otavalo, you will travel daily to the workplace to repair and construct school buildings. The first few days will be spent planning and buying the materials we will need, before setting about constructing. The area is generally inaccessible to tourists, so to visit, work, help, and learn from these communities is a rare opportunity and huge honour.
The two weeks will be spent building much needed classrooms as part of ongoing long term project initiatives. The region is one of the poorer in Ecuador so we will supply the materials and manpower needed for this essential project. Staying in homestays for the duration of the project we will experience the full warmth of the communities and get a rewarding, authentic experience of Ecuador. It is hoped that during these two weeks we can make a huge difference to the region by providing necessary new classrooms for the overcrowded schools.
- Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela
Weeks 11-12: Amazonian River Boat and Angel Falls Expedition. The final two weeks fittingly contain our biggest adventure yet! We head back to Peru and journey into in the heart of the Amazon by river boat, to venture through the virgin rainforests from Iquitos and down the Rio Negra (a subsidiary of the Amazon) to the pioneer city of Manaus in Brazil.
Before casting off we will purchase vast supplies of school materials to be given out at each stop along the way, supplying the various jungle communities with much needed school equipment including pencils, notebooks, and crayons. We will visit the communities, explore the river, and see amazing wildlife that boasts numerous species of monkeys, crocodiles, caiman, giant otters, pink river dolphins, eagles, vultures, and any other species we might be lucky to see!
From Manaus we will see the merging different colored waters of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes, which join to form the Rio Amazonas. Heading north past the vast and majestic Orinoco River, we then reach the truly spectacular and memorable Angel Falls, highest waterfall on the planet and another wonder of the world. Upon reaching our final destination of the Caribbean coast, we will take some well deserved relaxing few days to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea and famous Venezuelan sandy beaches.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Costs £3250 / $6338 (US) / €4778
Price Includes:
* Pre-departure support
* 24 hour emergency phone line in the UK
* Airport transfers
* All internal transportation
* All food and accommodation
* 30 hours of Spanish lessons
* Professional guides throughout the 12 weeks
* Mountain bike and all safety equipment
* Kayak and all safety equipment
* Rafting trip
* All building materials and tools
* All permits
* All camping equipment (excluding personal items such as sleeping bags etc)
* English speaking tour leader
* CD containing photos and movie clips from your trip
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Peru
Brazil
Hiking & Trekking
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
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