Patagonia, Adventure Volunteering - Peru - Chile - Bolivia - Argentina

Product Details

In small groups we travel through South America. We Learn, we Volunteer, we Explore!

Located at the very tip of South America and covering parts of both Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is a land of contrasting terrain, from the dramatic peaks of the Andes to the awe-inspiring glaciers of the south. In some places the raw, unspoiled land has a population of just one person per square kilometre making it an area perfect for exploration.

Learn

Your experience begins in Cusco, where you'll learn Spanish in one-to-one lessons while living with a local Peruvian family, absorbing their culture. These friendly hosts will show you the sites and sounds of their town, giving you the chance to practice your Spanish as they improve their English. In week nine, a Spanish refresher course takes place in the outdoors activity town of Pucon in Chile. Your weekends are free to white-water raft in the stunning Sacred Valley, mountain bike in the high Andes or shop at any of Cusco’s many markets.

Volunteer

A variety of conservation projects take place in the Andes, from tagging and recording wildlife populations, to reforestation projects, to constructing centres for the local community. You'll get the chance to work alongside community members and put your Spanish into practice as you help out on these varied conservation efforts.

Our aid projects involve working directly with local people on a small-scale practical projects.

Explore

Explore the length of South America from Peru's ancient city of Machu Picchu to Tierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip of the continent - the ‘end of the earth’. You'll cross the Uyuni salt flats, a surreal ten metre thick sea of solid salt and sail across the world’s highest navigable lake, the sacred Lake Titicaca. The frozen glaciers of Patagonia give way to a breathtaking trek through the wonderland of Torres del Paine, with its snowy peaks, waterfalls, glaciers, forests and lakes. Finally, you'll fly to Buenos Aires, where we can arrange extra nights if you'd like to explore.

• 6 weeks of pure adventure.
• Trek through stunning Andean landscape to the magical lost city of Machu Picchu.
• Sail across Lake Titicaca experiencing life on the ancient mythical islands.
• Catch your breath in Potosi, the highest city in the world
• Cross the surreal Uyuni salt flats where all is not as it seems
• Trek on the Patagonian ice cap as part of the awe inspiring 9 day Torres del Paine trek.
• Venture to the southernmost part of mainland earth in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

All this is possible with this unique 3 phase ethical venture.

Highlights

• Travel survival course in the UK before departure, included in the cost and a great chance to meet your fellow travelers.
• Three weeks of one-to-one Spanish tuition in Peru and Chile along with cultural orientation.
• Community development projects in Peru, work with the people and live their culture.
• Trek to Machu Picchu on an amazing 5 day high altitude trek.
• Sail on boats made of reeds and stay on the worlds highest navigable lake
• Visit the witches market in La Paz where you can pick up a dried llama foetus for good luck!
• Travel by 4x4 jeep across the Uyuni salt flats, incomparable to anywhere else on earth.
• Explore the Atacama Desert, Chile where very little survives and no rain falls.
• Climb a volcano in the Chilean Lake District
• Trek on a glacier in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park.
• Adventure activities including mountain biking, surfing, white-water rafting and sand boarding
• New friends and the time of your life!

This is an all-inclusive trip with full support and a range of services provided before during and after the Venture. You will be accompanied by VentureCo guides throughout the whole journey as well as in country project and activity co-ordinators.

The VentureCo Trust

Registered Charity No: 1111268

Funding for our development projects comes directly from the VentureCo Trust. For each person that joins a Venture, we as a company, donate a set amount to the Trust. 100% of the money the Trust receives is spent on projects. To date, the Trust has funded 63 development projects around the world.