Language Immersion & Service Peru

Overview

With staggering natural beauty and a rich history, Peru is an ideal location for language immersion, cultural engagement, outdoor exploration and service.

We’ll be based in colonial Cusco and the beautiful Sacred Valley town of Urubamba. Both of these locations offer excellent opportunities for exploration and cultural engagement. Daily native speaker language instruction, structured language immersion organized by Overland’s leaders, a week-long homestay and our service projects in a local school and orphanage will strengthen our language skills and give us the tools and confidence to delve deeply into Peruvian life.

A highlight of our time in Peru will be a challenging four-day trek along the historic Inca Trail. We’ll pass through breathtaking mountains and valleys on our way to the majestic Sun Gate and Machu Picchu—without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular ruins. Next, we’ll travel south to Lake Titicaca. In this peaceful setting, we’ll have time to relax, rest our legs and get a glimpse of rural Peruvian life. At program’s end, we’ll celebrate our time together with an exciting rafting trip before returning to Lima with expanded horizons and a newly discovered confidence in our Spanish language skills.

Highlights

• Daily native-speaker language instruction
• Volunteer at a local school and orphanage
• Experience a one-week homestay
• Explore the culture of colonial Cusco
• Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
• Travel to Lake Titicaca

Grade

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2009.

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

5 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from J Chavez International Airport (Lima).

FLIGHT ARRIVAL: J Chavez International Airport (Lima) between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sunday*
FLIGHT DEPARTURE: J Chavez International Airport (Lima) between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Saturday

*Please note: To arrive in Lima on Sunday morning, flights must depart from the U.S. on Saturday.

Our Language Immersion & Service Peru program begins with a flight from Lima to Cusco the day students arrive (Sunday, June 27), so it is important that you follow our guidelines to help make the trip run smoothly.

Trip Start
For students flying from the New York/New England area, you can fly directly from JFK to Lima on American Airlines 7711 departing JFK on Saturday, June 26, at 11:45 p.m. and arriving in Lima (LIM) at 6:40 a.m. on Sunday, June 27. Please note that this flight is operated by LAN Airlines. In our experience when scouting this trip, LAN operated smoothly and reliably.

For students from regions other than New York/New England please fly from your home airport to Miami (MIA) and connect there on American Airlines 2111 departing Saturday, June 26, at 11:55 p.m. and arriving in Lima (LIM) at 4:35 a.m. on Sunday, June 27.

Overland’s trip leaders will be in Lima at the airport to meet all arriving students.

Trip End
Our trip ends the morning of Saturday, July 24. Please take American Airlines 2110 departing Lima (LIM) at 6:55 a.m. and arriving in Miami (MIA) at 1:45 p.m. and from there connect on a flight to your home airport.

Overland’s trip leaders will oversee check in at the Lima airport and will remain in the airport until all students have departed.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding flights to Peru, please do not hesitate to call our office at 800-458-0588 and ask for Melissa or Kate. We’ll be happy to help you make your travel plans.

Dates and Fees

4 Weeks

Sunday, June 27 to Saturday, July 24

$6595 (airfare not included)

Itinerary

Program Start

The LIS Peru program begins at the international airport in Lima where our Overland leaders will be on-hand to meet arriving students. When everyone has arrived, we'll rest up for our short flight to Cusco to begin our adventure.  

Cusco & Urubamba

In the colonial town of Cusco and Urubamba Village in the historic Sacred Valley of the Incas, we'll experience two weeks of service work and language instruction. Our service projects in a school and orphanage will give us the chance to make a difference in the lives of local children. We'll form lifelong friendships as we learn about the fascinating history, language and culture of Peru. 

Language Instruction

When we arrive in Cusco, students will meet with our expert teachers to be placed in smaller class groups (3-4 students) according to ability. We'll receive daily, native-speaker language instruction at Excel Language Center based in Cusco. Our leaders will also organize activities and games outside of class to further our language schools throughout each day.    

Trek to Machu Picchu

A highlight of our time in Peru will be our trek to the world-famous ruins of Machu Picchu.  We'll hike over challenging terrain for four days along the classic Inca Trail with professional and experienced guides.  We'll bond as a group while we take in the natural beauty of the mountains and valleys surrounding the trail.  On our fourth day, we'll arrive through the Sun Gate, taking in the majestic remnants of the Inca Empire.  We'll spend a night in Aguas Calientes, the small town surrounding the ruins, to beat the tourist crowds and take the sunrise bus the next morning to get an intimate view of this incredible and historic site. 

Homestay

We will have an unbeatable immersion experience during our one-week homestay with a traditional Peruvian family. Our host families are carefully selected with the help of our language school in Peru.  Students will live with families in pairs and within close distance of one another and the group leaders. 

Accommodations

We will spend the majority of our time in Peru in simple group accommodations.  We'll spend a week in pairs with our homestay families, and we will also be tent camping along the trek to Machu Picchu.

“Overland did a great job of balancing work and play.” Mary Cohen, Bethesda, Maryland

Trip Details

LANGUAGE IMMERSION & SERVICE HOURS

30 hours of service

40 hours of native-speaker, classroom-based instruction

30 hours of structured language immersion

PLEASE NOTE

One year of Spanish is required.

“Well-planned programs, professional staff, excellent leaders–Overland offers the whole package.” Jaki Suter, Westport, Connecticut

Students: Is This Trip Right For You?

Language Immersion & Service Peru requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as a volunteer. Participants should be eager to take part in a variety of service projects and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that summer service work in Peru offers.

Please note that one year of Spanish is required for Language Immersion & Service Peru.

Keep in mind that your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on certain factors:

1. Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!
2. Your understanding that life in Peru is simple and rustic.
3. Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise, patience and selflessness. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates, and you’ll find that you'll have a great experience!

Photos

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Videos

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Prepare & Pack

Language Immersion & Service Peru - Preliminary Packing List

Preparing for the Demands of Your Trip

Service, language learning and cultural understanding require dedication, selflessness and hard work. Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage, clothing and gear. As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program. Then once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and all of its activities.

Special Health Requirements

Overland advises students traveling to Peru to consult with their family physician for information about traveling abroad.

Luggage

On Peru programs we travel light—we cannot emphasize this enough.  Please bring just one travel backpack (between 2500 and 4000 cubic in) and one small day pack for weekend excursions and day hikes. Experience has shown that this is the only way to go.  Dimensions of the travel backpack should not exceed 22"H x 14"W x 9"D if used as a carry-on, however it may be larger if you plan to check this luggage at the airport.  We recommend travel backpacks from REI, EMS and LL Bean. Use your day pack to carry essentials on the plane (but do not use this bag as additional luggage space). Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number. If you are checking your travel pack as luggage, ask the airline to bag it for you. This will help protect the pack.

Packing for Your Program

Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis. In many of the places we visit, it is culturally inappropriate for girls to wear short skirts, short shorts or spaghetti-strap tank tops; this clothing can bring unwanted and possibly unpleasant attention. Please pack accordingly. Be sure to bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering.

Clothing

• Tennis Shoes or Sneakers. Comfortable shoes to wear all day while volunteering and on day hikes.
• Sandals or Flip Flops. Tevas, Crocs, Chacos or similar with a heel strap for rafting trip.
• Waterproof Raincoat. Must be waterproof- summer is rainy season!
• Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt. One only.
• Comfortable Shorts or Skirts. Two; one pair of shorts must be suitable for day hikes.
• Long Pants. Two pairs; one sturdy pair for volunteer work, one for evenings.
• Shirts. Five short-sleeve shirts or tank tops. Two of the short-sleeve shirts should be synthetic. One long-sleeve shirt.
• Underwear. Seven pairs.
• Socks. Five pairs.
• Pajamas. One pair.
• Bathing Suit. One only.

• Hiking Boots
  Waterproof backpacking boots (recommended price range $150 to $225). Choose a comfortable boot that is designed for hiking with a medium-weight pack. Your boots should have a durable leather upper than can be treated with waterproofing wax or liquid, or have a waterproof fabric/leather combination. If the boots you like have a GoreTex liner, that is great, but boots do not need to have GoreTex liners to be waterproof; good quality leather when treated properly is waterproof. Follow the waterproofing instructions from the boots' manufacturer prior to the start of your trip; typically you must wear the boots for at least a week before they will accept waterproofing treatment.
• Backpack
  4,000-5,000 cubic inches. Before you purchase a backpack, find your backpack size by measuring your torso length and your hips. We recommend getting fitted at a store where you can try on a number of different packs. Follow REI's guidelines on how to find your backpack size:
  Measure Your Torso Length. This is key: Your torso length, not your height, determines your pack size.  Here's how to measure it: 1.With the help of a friend, locate the bony bump at the base of your neck. This is where the slope of your shoulder meets your neck, also known as the seventh vertebra. Tilt your head forward to locate it more easily. 2. Using a flexible tape measure, have your friend start measuring at that spot down your spine, following the curves of your back. 3. Place your hands on your hips to feel your iliac crest, the twin pointy protrusions on the front of your hips. Position your hands so your thumbs are reaching behind you. 4. Finish measuring at the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.  
  Measure Your Hips. While less critical than torso length, this is helpful if you're considering a pack that offers mulitiple sizes of interchangeable hipbelts. To measure, take your tape measure and wrap it around the tops of your hips. This is the "latitude line" where you can feel your iliac crest, the two pointy bones on the front of your hips. A properly positioned hipbelt will straddle your iliac crest at this line.
• Water Bottle
  One 1-liter Nalgene (or similar) water bottle. Overland will provide you with a second water bottle on arrival. A CamelBak or similar water bladder is acceptable if you have one already, but water bottles work just as well.
• Gaiters
  Optional. Knee-high gaiters keep water and mud off your boots and legs. Another option is to wear pants, instead of shorts, for hiking, to keep your legs covered.
• Sleeping Bag
  Warm to –10 degrees Fahrenheit.  Lightweight and compact (when stuffed in a compression stuff-sack it should be no larger than 12" x 20"). Synthetic or down is acceptable, though synthetic is preferred as it will be more effective when wet.  Carry on the plane with you.
• Sleeping Pad
  Compact, full length.  Closed cell foam (thin and firm—e.g., RidgeRest) or self-inflating (e.g., Therm-a-Rest) is acceptable. Carry on the plane with you.
• Utensils
  6" to 8" plastic dish or bowl with top, spoon, fork and insulated plastic mug. These don't need to be special camping utensils. A Rubbermaid (or similar) dish and regular spoon/fork are fine.
• Headlamp
  Small and lightweight. This comes in very handy in camp when it's dark and you're using both hands.
• Small Safety Whistle
  Plastic or metal with string or lanyard attached.

Gear & Miscellaneous

• Valid Passport. Also bring a photocopy of the inside front cover of your passport and leave another at home.
• Student ID. Current school identification (if you have one).
• Spanish-English Dictionary. Small travel size.
• Toiletries. All travel size.
• Beach Towel (medium size) & Quick-Dry Towel (optional- for rafting trip).
• Water Bottle. Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.
• Leather Work Gloves. One pair.
• Sunglasses & Hat. With visor (e.g., baseball hat).
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellant.
• Flashlight and/or headlamp. Some accommodations do not have electricity and require flashlights to navigate at night (e.g. on our rafting trip).
• Small Daypack. A small pack to carry daily items in (it can also be used as a carry-on for the flight).
• Camera/Batteries/Memory Card
Optional. Interested in seeing your photographs or videos on Overland's website next year? Bring a camera with lots of pixels (10 or more) and lots of memory (4GB or more). Buying a new camera? One of our favorites is the Canon PowerShot SD960 IS digital camera.
• Spiral Notebook & Pen. For class.
• Journal. Optional.
• Pictures From Home & Small Gift for Your Homestay Family. To share with your family: something unique to the U.S., your state or hometown (e.g., local t-shirt or maple syrup).
• Community Donation Items. A few items of second hand clothing (for children or adults), arts & crafts material (e.g., markers, paint brushes, construction paper), or your favorite children's book (in Spanish).

Note: Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).

We do not permit personal electronics on our programs (for example, cellphones and iPods). We do, however, allow students who fly to their program to carry a cell phone while traveling; on arrival, Overland's leaders will collect all cell phones for the duration of the program and return them for flights home. Perhaps, a better option would be to bring a pre-paid phone card so that the leaders do not have to carry cell phones for the duration of the program.

Admissions

Below is the Admissions Material packet and other information for Language Immersion & Service Peru.

Admission Material 2010

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

Apply

We welcome your interest in joining Overland this summer!

To apply, please complete and sign the application on page 47 of the Overland catalog or download an application. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the application).

Please refer to page 46 of our catalog for important information you should know before signing the application.

Send your application and $795 deposit to:

Overland
P.O. Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

For overnight mail via UPS or FedEx, please use our street address:

Overland
63 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Sorry, we are unable to accept applications by fax, and we do not take credit cards. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

To learn about our admissions process, please click here.