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. Dragons Peru summer abroad 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.

Program Highlights & Outcomes

• Hone your trekking skills on multi-day hikes traversing the high Andes and semi-tropical cloud forests of southern Peru.
• Connect with indigenous communities, while gaining exposure to cultural preservation and resilience. 
• Assist biological research teams in their conservation efforts in remote pockets of the Amazon rainforest.
• Develop critical leadership skills through backcountry trekking, learning wilderness first aid, and navigating diverse environments.
• Improve your Spanish through daily interactions with locals in an immersive environment

Our journey begins with a short flight into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. A small boat takes us up the Madre de Dios River, where we learn about forest ecology while listening to a symphony of tropical birds and jungle calls. We meet with local elders who share their hopes and fears about regional development initiatives.

Closing out our time in the Amazon, we travel overland to Cusco, the enchanting city of the Inca and capital of the Spanish empire. From Cusco we journey into the Vilcabamba Mountains and begin our trek to Machu Picchu. Along the way we learn about the rise and fall of the Incan Empire, the ups and downs of regional tourism, and the depths of Andean cosmology. Closing out our trek, we settle into a four-night rural homestay in Parque de la Papa, a collection of Quechua communities working to preserve and share their traditional way of life.  During our stay we herd and milk livestock, participate in a community service project, and join our homestay families as they prepare traditional meals.

The next leg of our journey takes us to the base of Apu Ausangante – one of the most honored mountain gods of the Incas. During an unforgettable week-long trek into the high Andes, local guides share with us their belief-systems and profound spiritual connection to the mountain landscape. Our journey then takes us farther afield, to the remote Quechua villages of Nación Q’eros, a mystical region tucked away in the folds of time. Living with local families that trace their lineage directly back to the Inca, we fall into the gentle routine of rural life in these sacred mountains, learning about threats to traditional livelihoods and celebrating the beauty and resilience of Quechua culture.

Dragons Peru summer abroad course is rugged and challenging. It is ideal for students who want to develop wilderness and leadership skills while engaging in hands-on service and an inspection of the critical development issues facing Latin America. Expect to live closely with remote indigenous communities and trek through awe-inspiring terrain as you discover profound new relationships with yourself and the world around you.