Peru School Expedition School Trips

Projects Abroad

This three-week programme offers the opportunity to contribute to conservation and education work in some of Peru's most stunning parts. It will also challenge, educate, and inspire your students by spending time deep in the jungle, hiking the Inca Trail, and connecting with the local people at all stages of their journey.

The programme's focus is on assistance, discovery, and adventure. It aims to give the students a new perspective through service, enhanced self-confidence, and resilience. Students also work on skills, including teamwork, leadership, decision-making, and generally operating outside their comfort zone.

Elements of the programme:

Service

Projects Abroad supports numerous preschool and primary schools in and around Cusco, in addition to some elderly care initiatives. You will take on a community development challenge, which could be a renovation project at one of the settings. Your group will also devise activities for schoolchildren or older people, which may be around literacy, nutrition, fitness, or other subjects of their choice.

This aspect of the placement will take you and your students to some of the less developed parts of Cusco, where government services are sparse and small groups support the more vulnerable in their community. The work you will do here will boost the setting and be insightful and rewarding for your group.

In addition to the service work in Cusco, you will spend part of the placement at a conservation camp in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. Projects Abroad established this initiative two decades ago and has made significant strides in rehabilitating this part of the jungle and studying the flora and fauna there.

Your group will support the work of rehabilitation and release of illegally trafficked animals brought to our centre. You will also participate in the study and research of life in the area, keep the trails clear and work on seasonal programmes such as turtle egg collection or hatchling release.

This project has helped inform good practice in many similar initiatives around the world, attracted much academic research, and had great success in successfully releasing animals and attracting species back to the area that had not been seen for many years.

Discovery

Conservation work at the rainforest camp will be complemented by educational talks from the local team and practical discovery as your students participate in the day-to-day tasks. This will give them first-hand knowledge of the various ecosystems in the rainforest, the threats to its sustainability, and the efforts to find a balance between human needs and the needs of the jungle.

While in the Sacred Valley, your group will learn about the Incan culture and see the sites of this civilisation all around them. You will also learn about the Peruvian way of life in the hills by eating the local food and participating in the many evening activities Projects Abroad will arrange.

Adventure

From the heart of the jungle to high on the Inca Trail, your students will spend time outdoors in some of the most beautiful settings imaginable. In the rainforest, you will stay at the conservation camp in dorms surrounded by the towering ancient trees as well as the constant sounds of the monkeys, insects, and macaws through the day or the mysterious grunts and calls at night.

Your group will also walk the trails and climb to bird observation posts high in the trees, scanning for wildlife and the intensity of the growth and the biodiversity.

Once in Cusco, the four-day Inca Trail trek will take you through the Sacred Valley's mountain passes as you hike through centuries of history and stunning landscapes to arrive at the almost unbelievable 600-year-old ruins of the mysterious and breathtaking Machu Picchu.

This is a hugely varied programme and a great challenge for any student. It offers a great insight into the country and teaches students intercultural competence, the ability to be considerate and curious travellers, and increases self-confidence, resilience, and perspective.

Projects Abroad staff will always accompany your group and manage daily debriefing sessions to help your students reflect on and absorb the day's events.

Teacher Checklist

green tick Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Free Places for Teachers
Resource Packs
LOtC Quality Badge
Tailor your trip

Example Itineraries

Day 1 – Arrive in the Amazon
You will land in Puerto Maldonado and travel by boat to our conservation reserve.

This remote conservation area is home to some of the world's most famous wildlife, including monkeys, tapirs and jaguars.

Days 2 - Orientation
The first day will focus on familiarising your group with its new environment. The chorus of birds and howler monkeys will become your new morning alarm. After breakfast, you will receive a tour of the camp. Get your first glimpse of a scarlet macaw and learn more about our conservation efforts. Our staff will ensure you have everything you need for the upcoming week.

Days 3 to 8 – Volunteer in the Conservation Reserve
With nearly 500 hectares of protected forest, this area is recognised as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. You and your students will help our conservation efforts by taking turns in different roles, which include:
- monitoring the local wildlife by conducting various surveys
- cleaning, feeding and observing the animals residing in the camp
- working on the pilot farm
- trail maintenance
and more.

Through these tasks, you will learn more about the biodiversity surrounding you and develop your wildlife identification skills.
Depending on the season, you might even be able to collect turtle eggs for incubation, hatching and release.

Days 9 to 11 – Explore Cusco
Experience the culture of Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this city is a rich blend of Indigenous and colonial influences. Stroll through the open-air market and get your first taste of choclo con queso (corn and cheese). Visit Iglesia de Compañía de Jesús, one of the oldest churches and best examples of colonial baroque architecture in the Americas!

Days 12 to 14 – Volunteer in Cusco
Continue making a positive impact working alongside community members to address UN SDG #4, Quality Education.
This is your opportunity to give back. Help renovate a school, run literacy workshops, and support the elderly. Your students will be able to engage with locals, exchange ideas, and learn about others' experiences.

Day 15 – Prepare for the Trek
Take the day to prepare for your trek. Head to the market to gather supplies and gear. Receive an overview of the trek and first-aid training.

You'll have a few routes to choose from, so get together with your guides and decide which ones you'd like to tackle.

Days 16 to 18 – Inca Trail Trek
You will leave early for the Andean town of Piscacucho, your starting point for the Inca Trail! Starting with a 2-hour walk to Miskay, your group will familiarise itself with the surrounding flora and fauna. After lunch, you will embark on another 2-hour hike to Wayllabamba, your first camping spot.

The next day, starting early again, you will hike through a narrow ravine to Lluluchapampa. The famous Abra Warmihuañusca mountain pass (4,200m) awaits you. After crossing the peak, you will make a 2-hour descent to Pacamayu.

Day 19 – Machu Picchu
Waking up at 3:30 am, you will hike up to the Sun Gate to get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see while visiting Peru, it was built in the 15th century without wheels or mortar and is one of the best-preserved Inca remains

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a well-deserved relaxing time in the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes before returning to Cusco and celebrating your accomplishments!

Days 20 & 21 – Disembark from Cusco
On your final day in Cusco, your group will reflect on their experiences. You will also be able to explore vibrant markets and do some last-minute souvenir shopping before joining the team for a farewell meal.

Your students will leave with newfound confidence, a deeper sense of self and incredible memories. The experiences and skills gained will help them stand out in their future applications.

In addition to those listed above, Projects Abroad will organise many evening and out-of-placement activities such as cooking lessons, movie and quiz nights, meditation lessons and watching sporting events.

For a more detailed itinerary, please get in touch with us by completing the form.

Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?

Expedition Click to expand

This expedition will offer a memorable experience for your students through a wide range of activities and projects. Starting in the Amazon forest for a week of conservation volunteering, your group will have the chance to learn about and witness beautiful species in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and help us protect them. You will then head to Cusco, to explore the city and immerse yourself fully in the local culture and traditions. You will engage in a community project: run literacy workshops, help renovate a school or engage with the elderly.
The Inca Trail awaits you on your last week, ending with a trek to Machu Picchu.

Projects Abroad will also organise plenty of activities on evenings and time off from the placements to make sure you get the full Peruvian experience: cooking lessons, movie & quiz nights, meditation lessons, or even watching sports events.

Conservation Wildlife Animal Care

Your group will start their expedition in Taricaya Reserve, located on the border of Tambopata National Reserve in the famous Amazon forest. Your students will spend the first week learning about our conservation efforts and helping us protect this incredible forest, recognised as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

Community Projects

After exploring the city of Cusco, your students will work with community members to make a difference by working on UN SDG #4, Quality Education. They will engage with the elderly, run literacy workshops or help renovate a school. This is the perfect occasion to immerse yourself fully in the local culture and traditions, exchange with the locals and learn from them.

What size groups do we cater for?

All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place with every 9 students.

Access for visitors with disabilities?

Disabled facilities can be offered on request.

Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.

Anything else?

Projects Abroad provides an individualised service and schedule planning, which is backed up by excellent pre-departure preparation and by a dedicated and highly experienced local team in each destination.

We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student, promoting self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.

Get in touch today! Our partnerships team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!

Who are Projects Abroad?

Projects Abroad arrange challenging, meaningful, educational, and safe overseas service and internship programmes.

We have been taking students overseas since 1992 and work in over 20 developing and emerging countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Key to our work is the dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips which give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.

We offer programmes in community development, conservation, construction, education, sports, empowerment, human rights, and healthcare, among many others. These projects are designed to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, broadening the student experience to see the contribution of a few to a movement for global change.

All school trips are individualised. We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own passions. We work with the school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve