VentureCo - travel, ethics, purpose

Inca & Amazon

Learn Spanish-Volunteer on an aid project-Adventure with purpose!
The ultimate South American Gap Year.

A complete and in depth exploration of South America and the Amazon region. We get under the skin of this area, get to know its people, their culture and learn their language.

You will be accompanied by qualified leaders throughout your venture....read all about Wilson Garcia - our amazing Peruvian guide.

Did you know? With over 8,000 indigenous animals, countless numbers of unknown plants and insects still uncategorised by science, the Amazon jungle itself covers around eight million square kilometres and produces more than 20% of the world’s oxygen.

START: Quito
FINISH: Santiago

Group Size: Maximum 16 / Average 12 (plus 2 experienced leaders)

VentureCo’s Gap Years all follow our 3 phase philosophy to ensure you and your hosts gain the maximum benefit from your gap year. Learn – Volunteer – Explore

Your gap year begins in the UK – 6 weeks before departure you’ll be invited to a Travel Safety weekend in the Peak District. A great opportunity to meet the rest of your group and ask all those nagging questions. 

Getting your hands...and face dirty is a requirement of this Venture

The 3 Phases...

Learn | Weeks 1-2 + 10

Your Gap Year begins by learning Spanish in the vibrant Ecuadorian capital of Quito. A refresher course in ancient Cusco in week 10 is also included. Your cultural introduction goes beyond language alone: you’ll get a chance to savour the flavours of local cuisine during your Ecuadorian and Peruvian cooking course. There are even salsa classes for those who feel the need to ignite those Latin rhythms… Your afternoons and weekends remain free to explore Quito and Cusco, trying anything from haggling for goods at Otavalo’s world famous market, to climbing the world’s largest active volcano to mountain-biking down again.

Volunteer | Weeks 3-4 + 6-7

Project 1
During the volunteer phase you will join our unique Book Bus project. The location of the bus depends on your date of departure...you could be in the Amazon jungle travelling by bus and canoe to read with local children or in the Andes Mountains working with remote communities. Wherever you’ll be this magical project is sure to put a smile on the children’s faces as well as yours.

Project 2
In the sea just off fishing village Puerto Lopez' stunning beaches and coastal forests, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of migrating humpback whales. Your time in the village will be spent helping construct much-needed classrooms and day centres alongside local people, which also gives you the opportunity to build on the practical Spanish skills you began to develop in weeks 1-2. You can also help teach English to children, or assist in the construction of a mountain bike trail which will help attract visitors to the area.

Explore | Weeks 5, 8-13 + 15

The exploration stage of this venture really is extensive. You'll descend from the Andes to the Amazon, rafting, climbing, surfing and relaxing as you journey into Peru. Trek 2,400 metres above sea level to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, sail across sacred Lake Titicaca, traverse deserts and salt flats. You'll fly over the mysterious Nazca lines, giant desert geoglyphs constructed over a thousand years ago. Mountain biking, horse-riding, white-water rafting and trekking your way around these memorable lands, this exploration will be no walk in the park. After venturing deep into the Amazon basin, following the waterways in a canoe, you’ll swim with pink river dolphins, though keep watch for both anacondas and piranhas.