SUNY Peru

SUNY PLATTSBURGH

Presents

PERU’S SACRED LANDS

Journey to the Majestic Land of the Ancient Inca!

January 3 to 14, 2018

Tour Includes:

  • Airfare to Peru
  • Inter-Peru flights
  • Other tour-related transportation in Peru
  • Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, including luggage handling
  • Accommodations in First Class hotels
  • Hotel service charges and taxes
  • Daily breakfast
  • Other meals as per itinerary
  • All site entrance fees
  • Pre-paid gratuities
  • Fully escorted and guided by local Peruvian guides

Added Features

  • Visit to the unique Pisac market
  • Visit Ollantaytambo, the Sanctuary of the Wind
  • Explore enigmatic Machu Picchu
  • Dinner in Cusco with traditional Andean musicians and folklore dancers
  • Special farewell dinner in Lima at the famous Huaca Pucllana restaurant

Special Volunteer Programs

  • Health promotion and prevention clinics
  • Nutrition education
  • Health program in the Sacred Valley community
  • Visits to the clinic in Willoq, a small village in the Peruvian Andes that is sustained
  • Time at the Sol & Luna Foundation. The Foundation is committed to achieving a change in the lives of the children of the Sacred Valley
  • Visit to the Aniquem Hospital in Lima. Aniquem is a non-profit organization working since 1999 in the prevention and rehabilitation of children burn survivors
  • The “Dream Project.” Here you will be paired with a student and together discuss the student’s dreams for this art project
  • Yachaywasi and a School visit where you will have the opportunity to share the educational process from the Andean worldview of children in the community
  • Or, Uma and the lessons of Mystic Ritual: You will participate in an ancient Inca practice called Willaq Uma that will allow you to enter the spiritual world through a sacred ritual

ITINERARY

Day 1- Jan 3- Depart New York
Depart this evening on your overnight flight to Lima.

Day 2- Jan 4- To Sacred Valley (L/D)
Arrive Lima and assistance on your international flight. Immediately connect with your domestic to Cusco Assistance on arrival, we board our coach and depart for the Urubamba valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will begin the tour visiting, on route, Awanakancha, where South American Lamas are bred. Learn about the superb llama, alpaca and vicuna fibers, as well as the ancient weaving techniques that are still in use. Lunch along the way at Casa Hacienda Cossio – Tunupa Restaurant, to introduce to the wonderful food of Peru. Overnight and dinner.

Day 3- Jan 5- In the Sacred Valley – Our First Volunteer program: (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel they have two important projects we will participate in: In the morning, there will be a Nursing program including where you will have the opportunity to interact with the children of this community. An opportunity to interact with physicians, administrators and/or local nurses that provide health care services to those in need. This visit will give you an unforgettable experience as they share the ancient wisdom of our forefathers through a balanced and harmonious revaluation of their traditions, to preserve and respect the nature and mother earth, Pachamama. Lunch will be with a local family. In the afternoon, it’s the “Dream Project”. Here you will be paired with a student and together discuss the student’s dreams for this art project. We have found it to be a valuable opportunity to teach the children the value of dreaming: how important is to have dreams, to wish for things, to have goals in life…and how visualizing ones dreams in this way and keeping them near you while you sleep helps your dreams come true. Using fabric, non-toxic paints and markers (travelers will bring them), the children create designs and affirmations, as well as put their names on their special mats. Sayings such things as “Dreams Come True”, etc. Each child will leave with a Dream Mat. We have found that this program gives these children an experience that can affect them very positively for years to come. Return to our hotel for dinner and well-deserved rest.

Each student should bring a box of fabric paint, markers, or crayons.

Day 4- Jan 6- In the Sacred Valley – Excursion to the Village of Willoc (B/L/D)
Today you will visit and tour the village of Willoc. This tour offers the chance of experiencing and sharing with local residents the Andean tradition of reciprocity (Ayni). The goal is for the community itself to coordinate tourist activities in its territory, interacting with visitors and helping them understand the community’s rich historical and cultural legacy. The hike takes about two hours, and leads us along ancient paths, whence the beauty of the Andean landscape may be appreciated. There’s a reception by the community of Willoc and a visit to the weaving workshops. Some of the best textiles of the region are produced here. We’ll learn about the complex weaving process, from wool gathering through to the finished product. Some of the Volunteering programs we will do are…

Yachaywasi and a School visit: You will have the opportunity to share the educational process from the Andean worldview of children in the community. Approach the culture of parenting, which exists in reciprocity between men, nature and deities. You may also explain your worldview, showing some elements of your own culture such as your original clothes and your vision for the future. The intercultural interpreter will welcome you to the community accompanied by musicians and guide you to the inside of the Huilloc Education Center (Yachaywasi), where you will be received by the director or teacher in charge. There you will meet the children who will join you on your experience. Then go to the Interpretation Center, where children will show you the Path of Clothing. They will explain the role of the garments, its spiritual meaning, iconographic meaning and color. You will appreciate the tools and the original seeds sown in the fields, and food recipes that are prepared based on these products. In this place, you can see trout breeding, which is part of the diet of children in the school. You will have the opportunity to acquire samples of bibliographic production to enrich your experience and to encourage and strengthen the educational community to continue producing texts of cultural information. Finally, you can help to enrich the Quqawa (snack) to maintain a good nutrition for children of Huilloc Ayllu.

Willac Uma and the lessons of Mystic Ritual – You will participate in an ancient Inca practice called Willaq Uma that will allow you to enter the spiritual world through a sacred ritual where you express your wishes and desires to join the harmony of the cosmos. The intercultural interpreter will welcome you the community accompanied by musicians, and guide you to the house of a resident that will welcome you with a muña infusion. With great respect and in a spiritual environment, the wise man of the community prepares the elements for the offering. You will appreciate and recognize these elements, its symbolic meaning and how they complement between the spiritual and natural forces. After that, you will walk to the archaeological site of Marka Qucha (Markaqocha) and in the road you will ask for the Apus blessing with coca leaves and respect to the sacred place of Sutuq Mach’ay. This place is a cave at the foot of the Quri Vara hill and inside there is an altar in which the ritual will be held as the Incas did. The offering will be entrusted to a messenger who will deliver it to a sacred place in the Aya Urqu Mountain. Then you will share a hug with all participants, as a sign of affection and satisfaction. Finally, the villagers will give you a proper farewell with ancient music wishing you a good trip. After getting to know the community and its customs you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Students will have the chance to use their own creativity and good will in a highly productive manner. It might be challenging at times, but the gratification promises to be deep and lasting, both for the students and for all of the hearts they will touch. Gift-giving to children is wonderful because they have very little and are genuinely appreciative of even smallest presents. Pencils, crayons, colors, pens, story books or educational toys, etc. are great motivators for the kids. Materials for the different activities can be bought in Cusco and brought to Willoq. Lunch will be provided at the community. At the end, return to the hotel for dinner and well deserved rest.

Day 5- Jan 7- In the Sacred Valley – Excursion to Urubamba Valley (B/L/D)
Today we depart for an Excursion to the Urubamba valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived and evidence of how it was constructed is still visible. After seeing the magnificent past at the spot stroll through the quaint streets of the present town. After that, we will have a special lunch at a Muna restaurant. After lunch, it’s off to the Sol & Luna Foundation. The Foundation is committed to achieving a change in the lives of the children of the Sacred Valley through an integral formation. They offer quality education and programs that helps children to achieve their personal goals. We will have the opportunity to visit their school, learn more about their programs and interact with the children. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6- Jan 8- To Machu Picchu & Cusco (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we will transfer you from the hotel the Sacred Valley to Ollanta train station to board the train for Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will take a 25-minute coach ride to “The Lost City of the Incas”, discovered by America explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. We will then have a guided tour of the marvelous citadel, an awe-inspiring experience Lunch at local restaurant. Later, feel free to stroll around the archaeological site on your own In the afternoon return to Cusco by train where on arrival, we will transfer you to our hotel in Cusco for our overnight and dinner.

Day 7- Jan 9- In Cusco (B/D)
In the morning, we take a tour of the city, starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former Colonial monastery was previously the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold Leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Also included in the tour are stops at the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. After touring the most interesting sites of the city, you will be driven to the countryside outside Cusco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area. Included are the cult center of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and Amphitheatre of Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. The rest of the afternoon is free for independent exploration. Tonight’s special dinner and show will be at Don Antonio Restaurant. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 8- Jan 10- To Chincha (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we transfer to the Airport for an early flight to Lima where we are met and travel by coach for about 2 hours to Chincha, home of the Chincha Baja Project devoted to families and especially to children with disabilities and neurological disorders. We will first have at a local restaurant followed by our visit to meet with the children of the region, spend some time with them and again do our Dream Project program. Then late in the afternoon, we board our coach for the trip back to Lima and a later evening dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Day 9 Jan 11- In Lima (B/L/D)
This morning, we start our day with a visit to the Aniquem Hospital. Aniquem is a non-profit organization working since 1999 in the prevention and rehabilitation of children burn survivors. Services at Aniquem are free of charge to patients in poverty and extreme poverty that have suffered severe burns. Patients come from all the country. Acute treatment is usually covered by the state in public hospitals but rehabilitation is not covered and therefore they frequently see patients with complicated hyper trophic scars, queloids and scars contractures. Aniquem is the only center in the country that works in the support of patients with facial disfigurement. Their work covers a broad spectrum of the needs of burn survivors and have treated approximately 1,700 patients with severe burns, from the opening of the outpatient burn rehabilitation center in 2002. After lunch at the hospital, we depart for a quick overview tour of Lima the “City of Kings”. The tour includes Lima’s Historical Centre, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo, with the tombs of Santa Rosa and San Martin de Porras, and Lima’s Colonial Balconies. We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Return to our hotel late in the afternoon and have dinner and overnight.
Tonight we will have student presentations.

Day 10 Jan 12- In Lima/Miraflores (B/D)
Full day at leisure in Miraflores, a resort town on the beach of Lima to relax and explore on your own. Or take a quick ride into Lima to look around. Return to the hotel in the late day for dinner.
Bring your special notecard to the dinner!

Day 11 Jan 13- In Lima/Miraflores (B/D)
Morning is at leisure in Miraflores, a resort town on the beach of Lima to relax and explore on your own. Or take a quick ride into Lima to look around. In the late afternoon, we return to our hotels, change and depart (with our luggage) to go to our farewell dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant, located in a 1500-year-old adobe pyramid built by the original inhabitants of Lima. After dinner, we will transfer from the restaurant right to the Airport for our overnight flight back to New York.

Day 12- Jan 14- Arrival in New York
An early morning arrival in New York.

Price Per Person

  • $4,137 Program fee (Includes airfare, ground transportation, hotels, most meals, sightseeing, admissions and Volunteer program)
  • $810: Tuition (out of state students will pay that tuition rate and the program fee will be adjusted)
  • $65: College fees
  • $45: GEO Blue insurance
  • $100: Global Education Office application fee (paid in advance as part of online application)

Price Per student: Billable by or paid to SUNY Plattsburgh
$5,157 in Double room plus $100 prepaid gratuities for guides & escorts

NOTE: Hotel rooms are based on double occupancy.  Students may request a triple room for an approximate cost savings of $75 or a single room for an additional cost of $599.  If a room request cannot be accommodated, students will be placed in the available room type (double or triple) and billed accordingly by SUNY Plattsburgh.

Estimated possible additional travel expenses (per student),to be paid by the student to the supplier(s) directly and not billed by SUNY Plattsburgh:

$300 Approximate miscellaneous for personal expenses in Peru (beverages, meals not included, shopping, etc.)

$135 Passport (if your current passport expired or you do not have one)

TBD Visa (if required and varies by country passport nationality. Not required for US citizens)

TBA Travel to/from JFK airport

FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS CONTACT:
SUNY Plattsburgh, Global Education,
Kehoe Building
518-564-3287
geo@plattsburgh.edu

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance

RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.