Jun 28 - Jul 25, 2026 |
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Peru is a land of towering peaks and steamy jungles, of modern urban centers and hidden villages. The radical juxtapositions in landscape and culture of this majestic country are reflected in the striking socio-economic disparities that pervade society. Our program offers students the opportunity to dig into critical development issues by living with families in remote indigenous communities and exploring seldom-visited regions of the sacred Andes Mountains and lush Amazonian forests.
Explore multi-day hikes through the high Andes and semi-tropical cloud forests
Learn from local leaders and communities through homestays and daily life
Visit research teams working in the rainforest and learn about impacts of climate change
Practice Spanish and cross-cultural communication in immersive settings
Our journey begins deep in the Peruvian Amazon. After a short flight and a boat ride up the Madre de Dios River, we immerse ourselves in forest ecology, lulled by the calls of tropical birds and monkeys. Local elders share stories of their lives and perspectives on regional development.
From the rainforest, we travel to Cusco—once the capital of the Inca Empire—before trekking into the Vilcabamba Mountains toward Machu Picchu. Along the way, we explore Andean cosmology, the legacy of the Incan Empire, and the impacts of tourism. A multi-night homestay in Parque de la Papa offers daily life with Quechua families—herding livestock, cooking traditional meals, and contributing to community projects.
Next, we venture to the base of Apu Ausangate, one of the most sacred mountains in the Andes, for a week-long trek led by local guides who share spiritual traditions tied to the landscape. Our final stop is the remote Quechua villages of Nación Q’eros, where families tracing their lineage to the Inca welcome us into the rhythms of rural life.
Rugged and immersive, Dragons’ Peru summer program blends wilderness and leadership skill-building with hands-on service and critical inquiry into Latin America’s development challenges. Expect transformative connections—with people, place, and yourself.
Meeting at a U.S. airport hub we travel together to Peru, getting to know each other along the way and learning more about our travel itinerary. Upon arrival, we will board a connecting flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon Basin. We step off the plane together to the tropical humidity and sounds of the surrounding forest.
Our first days together take place in an eco-lodge outside of Puerto Maldonado, where we learn more about each other, set expectations for the course, and develop important skills for traveling responsibly in Peru. Closing out our orientation, we travel by boat along the Madre de Dios River to a tropical ecology research center, learning form resident scientists about the rich biodiversity of the rainforest and aiding them in their research.
We then travel deeper into the jungle, visiting a rural indigenous village. Here we participate in the daily life of the community, immersing ourselves in the culture and taking in the sights and sounds of the forest around us.
Closing out our time in the Amazon, we travel overland to Cusco, the historic capital of the Incan empire. After exploring the city we travel on to the Vilcabamba mountains, hiking along Incan trails to the Lost City of the Inca. Along the way we visit natural hot springs, hike through temperate forests, and learn about the rise and fall of the Incan Empire. Group discussions and lessons will also involve eco-tourism and conservation in the region, natural resource extraction, and Andean cosmology. Camping at the base of Machu Picchu, we arise at dawn to ascend the original Incan steps to this mystical archaeological site.
From Machu Picchu we travel to the Sacred Valley, exploring the town of Pisac while preparing for our rural homestay in Parque de la Papa. Known for its intricate textiles and agricultural wisdom, we spend several days living with Quechua families in Parque de la Papa. This time offers insight into daily life and culture in a highland Quechua community, and exposure to the more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes that are carefully cultivated in the region.
We hike to nearby alpine lakes and participate in the daily activities of the community, including harvesting potatoes, herding sheep, milking animals, weaving, and preparing traditional meals. Our homestays raise questions about complex community development issues such as education, sustainability, indigenous identity, cultural preservation, and globalization.
Bidding farewell to our families, we travel east to the soaring peak of Mt. Ausangate. Considered one of the most sacred peaks in the Andes, Apu Ausangate is revered as a deity and protector of the Andean people. We spend five days traversing the base of this dramatic peak, learning about Andean cosmology and the healing power of the mountains. Our local guides show us why they believe the earth is alive and responsive to their aspirations, hopes, and fears. Similarly, we learn about our impact on the planet and how to cultivate practices of reciprocity and solidarity with the earth and people around us.
Students will take increased ownership over this phase of the itinerary, leading the group through this important group challenge and making use of the skills they’ve developed thus far. We will be tested physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and celebrate the journey that has carried us through the mountains and jungles of Peru. We end our journey outside of Cusco in the Sacred Valley, where we have time to reflect on our adventure and prepare for the transition home.
Our Program Components are the building blocks of every travel experience we offer. Each program emphasizes different activities and themes to help you meaningfully connect with your surroundings. The Program Components are a great way to find an experience that best fits your individual interests and goals.
To deepen your experience abroad, you may choose to enroll in one optional college-level course during the program. For those who choose to enroll, they will be invoiced for an additional college credit fee on top of the program cost.
Students who take a college credit course will receive an official transcript from our university School of Record upon successful completion of the program. Taking advantage of the college credit option may make 529 plan funds eligible toward the entire program cost.
Through our School of Record, you have the option to enroll in one of the following courses for college credit:
Experienced educators. Community builders. Life mentors. With deep regional expertise and local language fluency, our instructors are skilled at providing context for the student experience and building cultural bridges. We collectively draw upon personal networks to create opportunities for connection and guide students along their journey.
