This program is for students at any level of Quechua, who wants to practice their Quechua while learning their costumes.
Students are placed in an indigenous, Quechua-speaking community high in the Andes mountains, approximately 1 hour from Cusco. They live and work alongside a traditional Andean family. Students should consider this project an intense, cultural encounter and be able to live with only basic necessities.

This project provides an income source for small communities and promotes cross cultural understanding. Students will be able to take part in local festivities and gatherings both within their host family and the community.

Students will have a visit to the Maras salt mines where we will visit its colonial town. This is an important salt mine exploded during Inca times and later during the colonial era. Displays the salt mines in ancient terraces and ponds.

After, will visit the circle of Moray, which consists of several circular agricultural terraces built by the Incas in natural sinkholes on a limestone plateau that overlooks the Urubamba Valley. It has been suggested that the terraces have a cosmological meaning, but their function in addition to agricultural purposes, is still unclear.

Students will do a small trek to Huchuy Qosqo, This complex is the most important archaeological center in the valley of Urubamba, after Ollantaytambo and Pisac. The ruins are impressive, although the conservation of the site is inferior to that of Ollantaytambo or Pisac, because they are older.

From the community, students will have the tour to Machu Picchu included, this will be a full day tour, departing from your host family in the Sacred Valley, and go to the train station in Ollantaytambo where you will board the train for the amazing ride to Machu Picchu.
Approximately 3 hours after your departure from your host family you will arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes (the town at the foot of Machu Picchu). Where your guide will be waiting for you and together you will take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, about 25 minutes.
Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, you will enter the site and your expert guide will give you a tour of the historic citadel for 2 hours. After the guided tour you will have free time to explore the outer lying areas of Machu Picchu.
When finished exploring Machu Picchu, the bus will take you back down to Aguas Calientes where you will have some free time to explore the town, relax in the hot springs or relax in one of the many restaurants or cafes. In the late afternoon, the train will depart to return to your house in the Sacred Valley.

**Quechua classes will not be available during your stay in the Andean community but we will be happy to set up classes for you for before or after your project. Please note additional fees may be applied for housing and/or classes.

PRICES:

**Prices per student

For registration, please contact us: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Program includes:

• Volunteer placement
• Volunteer project management and administration for your selected program length
• Pickup from airport upon arrival
• Transport to your project on first day
• Accommodation in host family in Sacred Valley
• 3 meals a day
• Maras Salt Mines tour
• Moray Tour
• HuchuyQosqo hike
• Machu Picchu full day tour
• 24/7 support from our staff in Peru

NOT included:
• Flights
• Quechua classes