Peru Epic Service Adventure 2024
June 28-29, 2024
Hey Families,
At last, the travel has ended and we’ve finally made it! After the group met and hit it off in Houston, we had an easy (though long) flight to Lima and waited for customs. And waited a bit more… And just a tad bit longer… And after a tiny bit more waiting, we finally made it to the LIMAQ hotel. Everyone was exhausted after a massive day and eager to get some much needed rest.
The next morning started with a delicious buffet breakfast and an exciting trip… back to the Lima airport. We loved it so much yesterday, we just had to come back! A short flight later, we’d arrived in the beautiful city of Cusco where we were treated to an altitude of over 10,000 feet.
Once there, we headed for a delicious lunch at Andina and got a chance to explore the heart of Cusco. After a little bit of time practicing our Spanish with store owners and experiencing the Fiesta de San Pedro and San Pablo, we hopped back on the bus to the Via Mercedes Hotel in Caicay where we’ll spend the next two nights.
The views from the bus were like nothing we’d seen before as our bus wound through the gorgeous mountain landscape. We arrived just as the sun set over the peaks surrounding us, a clear sign of a great trip ahead.
After getting settled, we finished off the day with dinner at the hotel and a collective sigh of relief as we’d finally made it to Peru. Though the group is exhausted, we couldn’t be more excited for the adventures that lay before us.
– Noah R.
June 30, 2024
Buenos días familias!
Our adventure continued at the ripe time of 8:30 AM. For the lucky few who arose earlier, they had the pleasure of experiencing the frosty Peruvian mornings; without sun, and without almost any feeling in their hands. After the sun finally appeared from behind the cover of the mountains, the group (and a horse) congregated around tables of 10 and enjoyed a delicious breakfast of egg sandwiches. Following some time spent feeding passion fruits to our new friend “Juan The Horse,” our bus arrived and we were off.
As the water flowed down the River of the Sacred Valley, our bus rolled on right beside it, with 17 kids all eager to experience what the day would bring. Our first stop lay up high in the mountains, where we toured the Pisac Archeological Ruins, what used to be an ancient Incan city; our first look at the rich history of Peru. We took our fair share of photos above the stunning backdrop of The Valley, and then it was time for our next stop.
Down the mountain we went, to the Pisac artisanal market. Although our Spanish might not have been perfect, our bargaining skills were exceptional. Due to our business intellect, we were able to purchase alpaca sweaters, blankets, and jewelry for cheap. After satisfying our shopping needs, we went off in search of our newest objective: lunch. Luckily, we were in the empanada capital of Peru. In a shocking twist of fate, we all ate empanadas!
With our bellies full and our shopping completed, it was time to return to the hotel. One more 45 minute bus ride later, we found ourselves back at the Villa Mercedes. To our benefit, we were given a few hours of downtime. In the midst of us frolicking around the property, we were all summoned to a meeting. In said meeting, we met Ricardo, our guide for our next few days while in the Peruvian Rainforest. Safe to say we were all smiles after Ricardo informed us of our itinerary. We were then given a few hours to relax and prepare for the days ahead. A delicious dinner was served, and off we went to get our last glances at The Valley before going to sleep. It’s gonna be a busy next few days, and we are all looking forward to what it will bring!
-Max B.
July 1, 2024
Buenos Días,
Today was a big day of travel so we were awoken at 5:45am, just before sunrise, to make sure that we were fully packed and that we had enough time to quickly eat our breakfast and get on the bus! After we were ready, the bus arrived with a short delay, and after saying goodbye to the dogs and “Juan The Horse” we were off.
The drive was a long windy path that was broken up by many interesting stops along the way. Our first stop was on a mountain top with a telescope set up to view a glacier in the Andes. After that scenic view, one of the two vans started watching Iron Man 1 and we all continued on our ride. After our first stop, we drove some more until we made it to another nice view that included structures of houses of mummified elites and the offerings to them.
Our next stop was a museum (with a bathroom!) in Paucartambo that showed off the history of Incan and Amazonian tribes. We kept going after viewing the museum until we stopped once again to grab some more supplies.
Finally, we came to the 45 minute boat ride through a river to arrive at the lodge where we will be spending the next 5 days. We found our roommates, rooms, and a nice warm dinner. Post-dinner we had a short orientation followed by trying on boots and swiftly going to bed after our long day!
¡Hasta mañana!
-Liam G.
July 2, 2024
Buenas tardes!
Today was our full first day in Manu, and many were woken up early by the sounds of the rainforest, by the sounds of birds and crickets and many other unique animal sounds.
After breakfast–bread with jam, porridge, scrambled eggs, passion fruit juice, and/or fries–we got a tour of the camp in the daylight before getting ready for our day’s main activities!
Equipped with bug spray, long sleeve shirts, pants, sunscreen, and water bottles, the group split into two smaller groups: one went with Luis to plant trees to help with water preservation, and the other went on a hike with Ricardo to learn about the jungle.
The group who went to plant trees hauled the saplings into the rainforest to the marsh, where we set to work digging holes, planting the delicate saplings, and marking the place with a stick and piece of red ribbon.
Around 2 hours later, the saplings were secure in the ground; after a quick snack break (properly disposing of the wrappers), we headed back to the learning center to get showered and changed for lunch.
The other group started their hike climbing up a muddy trail to a scenic viewpoint led by Ricardo. After lots of poses and pictures, the group headed back down the trail and passed through camp on a hunt to find the next path. After waving goodbye to our cabins Ricardo led us to T1 or trail 1, a path the weaved through dense greenery, exotic animals, and multiple “sections” of rainforest. CCR, SCR, and PCR are the 3 protected parts of the Manu biosphere we ventured through. These three include completely cleared rainforest which indicated past explorers and loggers used that area for their intended purposes and the entirety of the forest was cleared. PCR, or partially cleared rainforest meant past indigenous/colonizers used this area to graze their cattle, transport cut down trees, and start up living areas. However these people only cut down certain areas they deemed necessary, meaning the entire area was not “rainforest free”. And lastly SCR, or selective cleared rainforest is similar to both CCR and PCR however the reasons that part of the forest was cut was for minute and finite intentions. This included plants and trees that were used for medicine, daily life, and local incomes. Throughout our hike in these forested sections we saw all sorts of tropical wildlife; from swinging monkeys that were right above our heads, to thousands of leaf-cutter ants carrying leaves three times the size of them down an assembly line. We walked through deep watery mud, fungi covered fallen trees, and rushing rivers as clear as the everglades. After our long and sweaty hike our group concluded that for one, Ricardo is the best monkey caller in Peru and there is not even a close second, two, we were so glad they provided us boots for us or else we wouldn’t have made it back home to our cold showers and mosquito covered cabins, and three, this experience was once in a life time. From exotic wildlife to beautiful rainforests, MLC shares an Amazonian adventure like no where else. 10 out of 10, we all recommend it highly!
Tomorrow the groups will switch jobs!
Lunch was–according to popular opinion–one of the best lunches yet! We got served warm rice, fries, and lomo saltado (steak for meat eaters, tempeh for vegetarians), as well as a spicy salsa on the side for anyone craving an extra kick. Watermelon was also brought to the table as a sweet side, which baited the bugs, but was chowed down before too many could swarm.
After lunch we received long sleeve shirts from the organization (CREES), and then had an hour or so to relax before Emma gave us a presentation on the birds at the Manu Learning Center—the different parrots, macaws, and parakeets, plus their bird calls!
Another opportunity for relaxing was available afterwards, and then the group split into two again: one going to set up more animal “traps” (cameras), and the other to go bird watching.
By Lydia C. & Samson E.
July 3, 2024
¡Hola familias!
Today was another exciting and busy day!
At 5:30 this morning, we congregated by the river and rode boats (“peque-peques”) to a stony beach, where we were able to watch and identify various birds feeding from a clay lick.
After some time, we returned to the Manu Learning Center for a hearty breakfast. We enjoyed fruits, pancakes, and omelettes. After the plans for the day were relayed, we divided into our groups and began the day’s activities. Similarly to yesterday, one group explored the trails around the MLC (Manu Learning Center) with Ricardo, while the other planted trees with Emma. In total, both groups planted over 100 palms pal trees!
While the hiking group was still out in the forest, the reforestation group returned to camp to rest and shower before lunch.
After lunch (a salad and “juane”), the group had some downtime. “Juane” is a typical Peruvian dish consisting of chicken, rice, and a boiled egg wrapped in a large tropical leaf, and steamed to perfection! At 3:00pm, we gathered in the comedor (dining room) for two informative presentations about mammals and butterflies in preparation for the butterfly traps we will set tomorrow.
After the presentations, the staff and students engaged in a friendly game of volleyball. In celebration of the Fourth of July, some students created USA flags in the “name of patriotism”.
Now, we anxiously await dinner!
Love,
Nat
July 4, 2024
¡Buenas noches y Feliz Día de Independencia!
Today we woke up at a normal time for a 7:30 am breakfast. We had a delicious 3 course meal, starting with tropical fruits, fresh baked “pan”, or bread, and finished with some fried eggs. After breakfast, we split into 2 groups and went to survey some beautiful butterflies!
Yesterday, we got a presentation on the different types of butterflies and how to identify them. Today, we got to put that knowledge to work. First, we hiked up to the traps. We knew we’re getting close when the stench of rotten fish threatened to overwhelm our nostrils. Nevertheless, we pushed through and lowered the traps to the ground. Our guide, Emma, carefully removed each butterfly from the trap held it up for us to identify. We then released the butterflies after confirming their species. We repeated this process for all 3 traps.
By the time this expedition was over, it was only around 11:00am so we had some nice down time to relax, shower, and play some card games. For lunch, we had plate full of chicken, veggies, and rice. After another round of Uno and Palace (our favorite card games), Pepe gave us an enlightening presentation on the different types of reptiles that can be found in the rainforests of Peru. Then, a group of us ventured into the rainforest to retrieve the camera traps we set a few days earlier. We gathered around the couches of the comedor to watch the footage from the camera traps. We saw an ocelot, a tapir, a huge armadillo, and lots of hikers! But, unfortunately no Jaguars😞.
Reinvigorated from our camera trap successes, we played yet another round of Uno as we waited for dinner. At last, Fabricio said “Listo!” and we all got our dinners of chicken and rice, with a wonderful dessert of pudding and popcorn.
Finalmente, some of us went on a final night walk to find the reptiles and amphibians Pepe had told us about, while the rest of us remained behind to begin to pack our bags and get some beauty rest before we depart the Manu Learning Center in the morning.
¡Y eso es todo por ahora!
Ava
July 5, 2024
Buenas noches,
Today started very wet, since it had poured all night. After a breakfast of assorted fruit and pancakes we begun to hit the road. We gathered our bags and our soaked clothing we left out to dry and said goodbye to the wonderful staff at Manu Learning Center. After a breezy and scenic boat ride, we loaded up our buses and went on our way.
After 15mins, we arrived at Reynaldo’s biogarden. Reynaldo is a man dedicated to working with his community to help the environment. His ingenuity and resourcefulness was apparent through his various systems around his garden including an outhouse rigged to create “bio-gas” from the “contributions” and a greenhouse able to automatically collect rainwater and distribute it to the plants. There was a also a guinea pig farm and while it’s primarily used for compost and human consumption, on this particular day it posed as a petting zoo. We also collected some very delicious starfruit in the garden as well as some cocoa pods. The starfruit was sour but satisfying, and the cocoa was surprisingly sweet rather than bitter.
We said goodbye to Reynaldo and after a viewing of Minions on the bus we arrived at Tunky Wasi, a lodge back in the Amazon, very similar to our previous accommodation. After waiting out some rain we trekked towards a lookout to find the the National bird of Peru, known for its colors similar of that of the Peruvian flag and also being completely exclusive to Peru. We were successful in our search and rushed back to the main building in the rain. After an afternoon of cards games and social time this brings us to dinner which is where I’m addressing you. Currently I have quinoa soup, beef stew and pineapple in front of me.
Tomorrow, we head on back to Caicay to collect our belongings and travel to Calca where our homestays will be for the next week!
-Ali
July 6, 2024
Buenos Días,
This morning, we awoke at a healthy 6:00 and were met with wet terrain due to last night’s rain. We ate scrambled eggs and mentally prepared ourselves for the upcoming trek. After 20 minutes of uphill hiking through the mud with all of our things, we finally reached the buses.
I can only speak for my bus and not the other one, but the ride was great. We started it off by watching “Jack the Giant Slayer” in Spanish. Since we had already watched all the good movies on our bus, we resorted to a knock-off movie in our second language. Next, Max was able to connect his music player to the bus, which proved to be a massive success. After not hearing good music for about a week, we all felt very refreshed. After five hours on the bus, we arrived back at Caicay to collect our remaining luggage.
Happy to be back, we enjoyed a lunch consisting of soup, trout, potatoes, and salad. And after watching the end of the England vs. Switzerland soccer game, we were back on the road, this time to Calca.
When we arrived, we were met with a pretty little town, a much-appreciated sight after spending the last five days in the Amazon. We were assigned our rooms, and we all settled down. We then explored the best hotel (in my opinion), consisting of comfortable beds, hot water, a nice yard area, and a room with a pool table. At 5:00, we explored the town and checked out the surrounding shops. We got back to our hotel and had a dinner of soup, chicken, rice, and salad.
We are all happy to go to bed tonight, as it has been a long day of travel and we finally get to sleep in! ¡Adiós!
Regards,
Henry
July 7, 2024
Buenos días,
Today was a busy day for the Global Works crew. It started out just like any other day with a nice 8 o’clock wake up and breakfast. We went to the dining room of our hotel and had a delicious breakfast of eggs and bread. Our first activity of the day started with a 10 minute drive out to a remote pottery workshop on the outskirts of Calca. While half of the group made pottery and painted their own cups to give to their parents, the other half ventured into an incredible museum exploring the many indigenous tribes of Peru.
Then we went to a buffet style lunch in the town of Urubamba. We feasted on ceviche chicken, fish, and pesto pasta. It was delicious. Following a 50 minute bus ride soundtracked by Tears for Fears and Frank Ocean, we arrived back to the hotel to make silver rings from a master silversmith. Immediately after, we started a new chapter of the trip: homestays. We all engaged in fun activities such as volleyball and soccer to get acquainted with our new families. Following the games, we feasted on a home cooked barbecue of veggies, beef, and chicken. As the trip approaches the halfway point, we are making sure not to take anything for granted and to savor the moment.
Sincerely, Alex M.
July 8, 2024
Buenos días!
Today, we awoke to delicious breakfast at 8:30 that consisted of avocado, eggs, cheese, and baskets of warm bread. Shortly afterwards, we began our first activity: the Homestay Orientation. We were given a brief explanation about expectations during our homestay, and rules regarding curfew, food, and cultural norms. Fabricio then passed around slips of paper containing various (however, unlikely) scenarios that could happen during our Homestay. This helped us to practice our Spanish in a more practical, conversational way. With our homestay groups, we discussed ideal responses to these scenarios, and acted them out in front of the group.
Later, we walked through the colorful streets of Calca to the Sacred Valley Project. There, the director of the program spoke with us and then presented a video pertaining to their mission. The Sacred Valley Project provides accommodation, food, and educational services for indigenous girls that don’t have access to nearby education in their communities. We were shown around the dormitories and had an opportunity to interact with the students. It was a unique and exciting experience, and we all had so much fun! Then, we went back to the hotel and were ready to reunite with our host families and enjoy lunch! We will spend the rest of the day getting to know the people we will spend this week with. We are all excited and a little nervous to start this chapter of the trip, but can’t wait to see what lies ahead!
Regards,
Hazel
July 9, 2024
Buenas tardes!
We woke up early in the morning with the homestay families to eat breakfast with them, and then we left our homes to meet up in Calca’s plaza at 8:00. A few minutes later, we took an hour and a half bus ride to begin our service day work in the indigenous community of Kajllarakay.
In Kajllarakay, we helped install piping for water tanks (for potable water). Other Global Works groups had helped set up much of the foundation in the past, and we had the privilege of bringing the project to a close. We dug trenches, glued pipes together and put them in the ground, and then reburied the pipes with families who we were working with. At the same time, we also practiced our Spanish, and our Quechua, which is the native language of Peru. After that, we joined the community and watched them fill up the tanks, and then we were off at 2:50.
Some time later, we arrived back in Calca, where we went back to spend the rest of the day with the homestay families. Some students are getting together with other families to play basketball, go to the market, or watch a movie, while others are taking this time to recharge.
¡Hasta luego!
Jay
July 10, 2024
¡Buenas tardes!
This morning we were quite lucky to have some time to sleep in! After we awoke and ate out breakfast we met in the plaza at 9:30 and began our walk to Señor de la Vara!
Señor de la Vara is a school for kids with special needs. Schools in Peru for children with special needs are not funded by the government so the teachers have to fund a lot of the place. For this reason, we went to the school to do a few things that should help out the kids that go to the school! The few things that we did were painting a ladder to help with physical therapy, and we also laminated cards with images on them to help kids communicate their needs to the teachers in the school.
When we got back to the plaza at around 12:00pm we all got a chance to explore the town a bit more and hang out!
At 1:00 we got back to our homestays to have delicious lunches and relax with the families! We played with the kids and talked with the parents about our day!!
After our delightful lunch break we met back up in the plaza at 2:45 to go to paint shirts!!! We all got to choose different designs and executed them with our artistic expertise! While we were making our shirts, Fabricio was so kind and brought us cooked guinea pig! It was delish!! He also brought us a variety of Peruvian fruits, including passion fruit, pink banana, gooseberries, and níspero (which is a fruit native to the Andes)!!
After we finish up with the shirts we will be going back to the homestays and will eat dinner and have an overall impeccable time!!!!!!!
Adi
July 11, 2024
Buenos días!
Today, we woke up early in the morning in order to get to the plaza at 8:00am. Then we began the bus ride to Kajllarakay. Today we were planning on helping the indigenous community with chores that were needed around the village.
Once we arrived we were greeted by a musical celebration. We selected our groups of two or three students then went off to help with the various chores, such as husking corn, shelling beans, or feeding chickens.
Afterwards, we participated in a celebratory March where we followed a donkey to the top of a hill in order to eat a traditional lunch of potatoes cooked beneath the earth (“huatia”). We were also treated with a view of the Andean snow capped mountains. The indigenous population let us participate in a ritual honoring nature, or Pachamama.
After our final dancing goodbye, we boarded the bus to visit an ancient Incan archaeological site, Moray. Lastly, we visited a local food/souvenir store where many students bought artesanal chocolates and local salt. At long last, we boarded our bus back to our homestay families in Calca.
By Jack
July 12, 2024
We started our days off in our homestays with a nutritious Peruvian breakfast. Afterwards we met at the hotel and gathered to prepare for the day. We once again set off to Señor de la Vara, a school for kids with special needs. Together we colored in pictures to aid in their learning and painted a ladder to aid in improving motor function. Once our task was complete, we said goodbye and set off for a little free time before meeting at the park for a group game of fútbol.
After that excitement we went back to homestays to shower and prepare for our final goodbye dinner with our Homestay families. We played games with the homestay kids until dinner was ready. For dinner we had an American classic, hamburgers and fries. We ate our dinner with our whole group, homestay families and all, enjoying the last moments we had together. Afterwards we exchanged words and reading out our letters to our Homestay families. Once that was said and done we enjoyed s’mores around the fire. With that, our day was complete and we went home and spent our final night with our Homestay families.
¡Hasta pronto!
Rhodes V.
July 13, 2024
Buenos días from día número dieciséis! Before saying goodbye one last time to our Homestay families on our journey to Machu Picchu we enjoyed a simple yet filling breakfast at around 8am. Then we gathered all our luggage and headed down to the town plaza called La Plaza de Armas. We dropped our bags off at the hotel lobby and said goodbye to our “mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, abuelas, y abuelos”. It was a somber yet exciting transition, as we went from local kids, to tourists seeking the next breathtaking experience.
At around 11:30 we departed for Ollantaytambo, a town know for their ancient Incan ruins, where we would be eating lunch and catching our afternoon train bound for Aguas Calientes, bringing us a step closer to the infamous mountain ruin of Machu Picchu. Our first activity of the day involved visiting an ancient Incan ruin. An Incan sun temple atop a nearby mountain shadowed the town of Ollantaytambo. The temple was used twice a year as a sacred place where the two solstices, winter and summer could be captured at a scenic viewpoint. After climbing the ruins we headed back into town for lunch. Lunch was a delicious combination of fresh appetizers as well as filling entrees that were cooked to perfection and presented like fine artwork. After lunch we were given a half out to stroll around and shop at the local markets and shops. Many of us found perfect gifts and souvenirs for our family members, friends, or personal gifts!
At around 3:45 we gathered our bags and walked down to the train stations headed to Aguas Calientes, a small town nestled around giant mountains and ancient Incan ruins. The train ride was an hour and a half and weaved through deep valleys and snow capped mountains in every direction. When we got to our hotel in Aguas Calientes we were given a bit of time to get settled and ready for dinner. Similar to lunch, dinner consisted of delicious fresh food like seared trout, beef stew, traditional Incan tomato pies, and grilled chicken. Both a wide variety of foods and a filling meal before arguably the most exciting day of the Peru adventure epic trip.
As we headed back the hotel, stuffed from dinner and eager for tomorrow, we took a quick tour of Aguas Calientes where we would be staying for the night. At the hotel some of us showered, some of us listened to music, but all of us went to bed early to get a good night sleep before the biggest day of the trip. Machu Picchu. That is all for Day 16. See you tomorrow for day 17. Over and out.
Samson E. signing off…
July 14, 2024
Buenos días from Aguas Calientes! After weeks of jungle, homestays, and service, we all rose early to make the long-awaited journey to the famed Machu Picchu. The 6:20 wake-up call we all received was in sharp contrast to the later wake-ups we’ve been enjoying at our homesteads, but the early rising was well worth it. We all took long showers, taking full advantage of the luxuries that are hot water and high pressure. After, we met upstairs for a 7:00 buffet-style breakfast, including an assortment of breads, omelettes, and juices. The room was brimming with excitement, everyone eager to finally travel to Machu Picchu.
After some time to gather our belongings and sort them by what we would need for Machu Picchu, we met downstairs to catch the 8:00 bus to the top of the mountain. It would be a quick trip, lasting only 20 minutes. It was a fun but somewhat nauseating drive, combining panoramic views with winding and twisting turns. It reminded me of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, going over bridges and narrowly avoiding other buses. We got glimpses of the ruin before we arrived, and the excitement was palpable.
Once we got off the bus, we all organized together for Fabricio and our newest recruit/guide, James, to distribute our passports and passes. A quick bathroom break prefaced our entry.
Once we walked in, we were immediately greeted with the view of a lifetime. A lush, green, alpaca-filled grassy patch overlooked the ruins. It was truly breathtaking. After taking a myriad of pictures and videos, we all sat down in a circle on the grass. It was hard not to get distracted by the surrounding alpacas making weird faces, but we managed. We were told that we would be receiving the rings we made on day 10. This would be done with a sort of ceremony, where we each received a ring at random. They were all inscribed with numbers that corresponded to a person in the group. We would then give an appreciation to the person whose ring we received. This led to an improved feeling of connection between everyone in the group, which was a heartwarming experience. When that was done we began our short descent to the actual ruin.
We made it to the ruin and all of us were in awe of the sheer size of the place. We had visited our fair share of Incan and even pre-Incan ruins, but nothing compared to the magnitude and location of Machu Picchu, being nestled in between a range of tall mountains. We walked around, stopping at every point of interest for James to explain something to us. It was all cool to learn about. We wandered around, learning about how the Incans decided to use what type of stone, how they used their environment to their advantage, and more. We spent a few hours total exploring the ruin. Both the ruins and the views were so incredible, no description could do them justice. We left the park, ending with a slightly hotter but similarly nauseating bus ride back to Aguas Calientes.
Immediately after making it back we made a beeline for the restaurant we would eat at. It wasn’t open at that point so we had some time to shop before sitting down for another delicious buffet-style restaurant, including both a pasta and ceviche bar. After lunch we went back to the hotel to collect our bags. We had some more time to kill before our train, so we had the option to either chill in the hotel or spend some more time shopping. Most of us chose the latter. To end off this short but sweet chapter of the trip, we made our way to the train station and hopped back on the Inca Rail to begin our 4 hour return to Cusco.
Around an hour and a half later, we get off the train and relocate to a bus for the remainder of the journey. Travis Scott, Frank Ocean and the Eagles were some of the most featured artists during the 2 1/2 hour bus ride. And finally, we made it to the hotel. Pizza was on the menu as we watched the NBA Summer League and the Copa America finals. At the end of the day, we went to sleep, anticipating our last full day in beautiful Peru.
Sinceramente,
Jake
July 15, 2024
Buenos días everyone!
Welcome to the travel blog of our final full day together: Day 18. Today was a day of many emotions, ranging from sadness to excitement to indifference. We’ve all gotten much closer and some amazing friendships have formed, and it is difficult to say goodbye to it all. Even though this trip is coming to a close, I am grounded by knowing that the service we have done on this trip will affect underserved communities for many years to come. Additionally, I know that the friendships we all have made will last a long time as well.
This morning we were allowed to catch up on some much-needed beauty sleep, with breakfast being served at a cool 9:00. However, many of us awoke much earlier on account of we’re used to early mornings and breakfasts. Breakfast consisted of a delicious assortment of fruit, eggs, bread, and tea. After breakfast we all prepared for a short walk to a chocolate workshop. There, we all learned about the history of chocolate and were able to try versions of chocolate throughout history. At the end of this interactive chocolate history lesson we were all given molds and toppings, and we all made our own chocolates to bring with us later.
After the chocolate-making, we were each given 50 soles (around $15) and were told to find places to eat on our own. This proved fun as we didn’t have much time to explore Cusco during the few hours we spent there at the beginning of the trip. Some of us opted for local Peruvian cuisine, while some of us craved the taste of home and went to McDonald’s for some fries and a McFlurry. We all met back up in the plaza to make the quick trip back to the hotel, making a pit stop along the way to collect our chocolates.
The hotel we’ve been staying at, the Niños Hotel, has been fun due to its ample common space for everyone to relax together, playing cards, watching soccer, or just talking and hanging out. We had a couple hours to kill. Some of us hung out in the common area while some stayed in their rooms, but we all grouped up again to go out for a Salsa dancing class.
Salsa dancing was definitely an experience for all—whether you were super outgoing or very shy—everyone was moving and grooving. After an hour of salsa, we bid adieu to our instructors and headed to the Plaza de Armas for one final dinner in Cusco. At one long table, everyone gathered around and feasted on the Peruvian classics like ceviche, lomo saltado, alpaca, trout, and pasta. An hour and a half later, after we finished our three course meal, we were headed back to our hotel. We had a couple of hours to reminisce on the trip with everyone before heading to bed, hoping to get one last good night’s sleep before a long day (or two) of travel!
Buenas noches,
Jake & Co.
July 16, 2024
Today was a long, long time on the ride to Uvita. After saying good byes and tears from host families, everyone hopped on the bus. Many bathroom stops later we arrived to a buffet style restaurant called El Jardin. The food was good. After lunch we got on the bus to finish the drive. We arrived to the hotel and put our bags in our rooms and then left to go to the beach almost immediately. We spent the rest of daylight playing in the waves, and saw an awesome sunset. We were having a great time trying to catch waves. We went back to the hotel to eat dinner afterwards. It was a long day but the beach made it worth it!
-Carter
