Climb Machu Picchu (August 2009)

Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the most stunning and important archaeological discoveries of modern times, high above a gorge in the Urubamba Valley in a remarkably inaccessible location. Global Volunteer Network has created an opportunity for participants to hike to the ancient city of Machu Picchu while supporting an honorable yet needy orphanage which cares for orphaned and disadvantaged girls living outside of Cuzco.

Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina Orphanage cares for 16 girls, providing them with shelter, food, education, healthcare and clothing. The orphanage was funded through a Catholic Church charities organization known as the Hogar de Cristo until a few years ago. Due to a lack of funding, the nuns who run the facility have had a difficult time maintaining the orphanage. The girls of the orphanage are either orphans or disadvantaged youth whose relatives do not have enough funds to support them. Many of the girls struggle with the emotional distress of having been abused prior to their entrance into the orphanage. In addition to sheltering the girls, the orphanage provides 80-90 children from a nearby village with lunch every day. In order to feed, cloth, teach, and house the children who need them, the orphanage desperately needs a sustainable source of income.

Global Volunteer Network has partnered with a small non-profit organization named Peruvian Hearts in its support of this needy Peruvian orphanage. Peruvian Hearts was founded by Ana Dodson when she was only 11 years old. Ana was adopted as a baby from Cuzco, Peru and has grown up in the state of Colorado in the United States. When she visited Peru in 2003 with her mother, she visited the Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina. She was moved by the girls� existence, as they were suffering from malnutrition and had never received visitors in their remote location in the hills outside of Cuzco. When Ana returned home she was determined to do something to help the orphanage. She started Peruvian Hearts as a "kids helping kids" organization.

Over the past two and a half years, Peruvian Hearts has concentrated on immediate nutrition and education needs for the orphanage. It also initiated a Vitamin Project which supplies multi-vitamins to 100 children daily. Many of the children are no longer malnourished and are doing better in school. This small non-profit has managed through the work of young people and donors throughout the United States to enable incredible progress at the orphanage, but the growing number of children there are still in remarkable need.

Program Location

Machu Picchu is located in Peru, South America. During the journey there, participants will have the opportunity to see numerous famous historical sites including Sacsayhuaman, the Temple of the Sun, the Patallacta ruins, an ancient farming settlement, and Wi�aywayna. After a few days of sightseeing, our trekking partner will drive participants to the beginning of The Inca Trail. For the next three days participants will trek through the lush landscape of the Peruvian mountains. On the last day of the hike they will reach the Sun Gate and the entrance to Machu Picchu.

After a half day of exploring the citadel, participants will travel to the village of Aquas Calientes where they can bathe in thermal pools. That evening they will return to Cuzco by train to prepare for the second leg of their journey. The next morning they will be transported to a local residence where they will stay for the next two nights, providing them an opportunity to spend time with the girls of the orphanage who their funds have assisted. There is a possibility that the group will have an opportunity to take a hand in refurbishing the orphanage during these days, as well. The final day they will say goodbye to their new friends and return to Cuzco to catch connecting flights home.

Program Requirements

To participate in this trek you must:

• Be 18 years of age
• Be in good health
• Be very physically fit
• Have a positive attitude and teamwork mentality

Program Schedule

The 2009 trek will take place between August 16-24 2009. Please see our itinerary for more details.

Program Cost

A US$350 application fee will secure your place on the program, with the trek fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. You only pay your application fee once and then you can access any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years.

Your application fee includes the following benefits:

• Personal Staff Support
• Your Machu Picchu Program Guide
• Your Fundraising Guide and Software
• Access to Your Own Online Journal

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for the trek is $3,600.00 USD. This price covers the following:

Trek Fee - $1,600.00 USD
$1,600 USD Trek Fee will go to our travel partner who will plan all of the logistical aspects of this trip.

Peruvian Children's Fund Fee - $2,000 USD
Until the time of your trek, you will have the opportunity to raise US $2,000 to support our partner organization. $2,000 USD will be donated to the Global Volunteer Network Children's Fund. These monies will allow The Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina Orphanage in Peru to undertake projects such as the construction of a kitchen, the refurbishing of the orphanage, and the establishment of a scholarship fund to pay for school tuitions. Please note that WorldPay takes a 4.5% commission for credit card purchases before GVN receives the funds. Donations made to GVN by American donors are tax-deductible. Non-US donors cannot receive a tax-exemption.

The fees for this program include:

• All specified road transfers by private bus
• B&B accommodation in Cuzco
• Half day guided tour of Cuzco
• All Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu entrance fees
• English-speaking professional guides on the trek with cooks & porters as mentioned below
• All meals on the trek (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, daily morning snack & daily afternoon tea except on final day)
• One hot shower ticket per person at Winaywayna
• Bus ticket from Macchu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket (backpacker service) from Aguas Calientes to Cuzco
• To/From bus transfer from Cuzco to Anta
• Lodging in Anta Cuzco
• Specified meals in Anta Cuzco

The fees for this program do not include:

• International flights from participant's home country to Cuzco and back
• Travel Insurance
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature
• Drinks
• Optional visit to hot springs at Aguas Calientes ($1.50 entrance fee)
• Lunch & dinner on final day of trek
• Additional meals in Cuzco

Please note: GVN/GVNF/Peruvian Hearts reserves the right to determine the dissemination of funds.

To see the cost in your local currency, we recommend you look here.

Apply For The Program

Your application process is free and seamless and if you are successful we will provide you with a choice of application fee payment options that include a secure online service. We also are one of the few organizations that offer a money back guarantee on your application fee up to two calendar months before the month your placement begins. Click here to apply for the Machu Picchu trek.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following page, which answers the majority of questions people have. Click here

Application Process

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program within two working days.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your US $350 application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will refund your application fee if you decide not to go (refer to our Terms of Service for details on the refund policy).

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

(5) Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to working with you to answer any of your questions or concerns. During your placement we are also available as a form of support to you as a volunteer and will email you while in country to discuss how the program is going.

To apply for this program, click here