Alpaca Your Bags

Trip Region: South America
Country(ies): Peru
Partners Trek? No
Cost: $2866
Airfare Estimate: $1000
Structure:   •   Lodging:   •   Nightlife: 7   •   Activity: 8

Alpaca your bags…we’re going to Peru! Business school boils down to three things – the b-school bod, booze and best buddies (and getting a job, but that doesn’t start with a “B”). We’re going to make sure you’re equipped to handle them all after 10 days with us. Fend off the b-school bod (like the freshman 15, only worse ‘cause we’re old now) with hiking, biking, swimming and a few dance floor dance-offs. Discover a new favorite drink (before all you can afford is the free tab at Skeeps) with Pisco tastings and plenty of cerveza. And leave with 16 new besties who you’ll inevitably be stuck with for life. After surviving Machu Picchu with this motley crew, you can definitely survive Stats*.

Come along with us as we eat, drink and explore our way through Peru. Alpaca your bags…Vamanos!

*Disclaimer: Joining this MTrek does not guarantee a P in Stats, but it does guarantee a few shoulders to cry on when you get that first LP.

Day 1 — Sunday, Aug 19

Welcome to Lima! It’s been a long travel day, so we’re going to go to bed early to rest up for the big trip ahead. Yeah...right! See you at the bar!

Day 2 — Monday, Aug 20

What better way to meet the Martha Stewart to your Snoop Dogg than over a cooking class? We’ll start the day with a tour of the local food market and pick up ingredients for our cooking class. What’s on the menu? Peruvian favorites like ceviche or lomo saltado. Mama Meelz says “please wash your hands,” because we’ll eat what we make. After lunch, we will work off those calories with a bike tour through some of the city’s coolest neighborhoods, to fields of olives and, finally, to the famous cliffs of Malecon de Miraflores! We’ll wrap the day with dinner and drinks, made by professionals this time.

Day 3 — Tuesday, Aug 21

Get your first taste of Mark’s rap magic as he serenades us with “I’m on a boat” all morning as we set sail from the port of Callao to explore the the rocky coast of Peru. The main event? A belly flop contest between Shaun and the sea lions. That’s right...don a wet suit and dive right in to swim among the sea lions and penguins. And challenge Shaun...if you dare. Back on dry land, we’ll explore the vibrant el Callao district before heading home to get ready for a night out.

Day 4 — Wednesday, Aug 22

Lima, it’s been real. And don’t worry...we’ll be back! But today we’re heading to Cusco! Once we settle in, we’ll take a Cusco “Magic City Tour” (no, Mark, not the same Magic City Ludacris raps about). Take it all in from the San Pedro Market, to the Golden Temple (yes, actual gold), to the Main Square. After getting our culture on (you are going to be global business leaders, after all), we will have dinner as a group and call it an early night. But wait, you want to go out you say? Yeah, okay, twist our arms. We can do that, too!

Day 5 — Thursday, Aug 23

Let’s get to know our new city a little better, shall we? We’ll have the morning to explore Cusco before getting friendly with pisco, the national spirit of Peru, at an afternoon tasting. It’s Thursday, so of course we’re in search of Cusco’s version of Skeeps for a night out.

Day 6 — Friday, Aug 24

Today we start our trek to Machu Picchu. En route to Aguas Calientes (the jumping off point for Machu Picchu), we’ll stop in Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is a quaint town that offers a truly unique mix of Incan and Colonial influences. We’ll have a chance to visit the artisan markets where you can buy jewelry, textiles, and gifts for your Trek leaders (or your parents, kind of the same thing). Finally, we will visit one of the last remaining Incan town, Ollantayambo. Onward to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll have dinner and, for the first time, get some good sleep. We got the big guns tomorrow, after all. Who are we kidding though? A nightcap at the hotel bar never hurt anyone.

Day 7 — Saturday, Aug 25

Ladies and Gents (and boys, Shaun). Drum roll please….it’s MACHU PICCHU DAY! We’ll start the morning with a hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain in the background of all the famous pictures of Machu Picchu) before heading down to the Machu Picchu citadel. Y’all, this is a big deal...this is ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD!! Go ahead, check it off the bucket list. We’ll wait. Take it all in. One more time selfie. One more group shot. Now one with an alpaca (this is where we win the MTrek photo contest). Oh...you’re not done? Ok, we will wait... #DoitfortheGram

Day 8 — Sunday, Aug 26

Congratulations! You (hopefully) survived Machu Picchu. We know it’s been a lot, so today you can choose your own adventure. Want a break? Take it. Want to spend the day exploring Cusco? Go for it. Need more hiking? So does Sandy. She’ll take you out to Rainbow Mountain. You do you. On this day, the world (or at least Cusco) is your oyster. We’ll all come back together for dinner and story time.

Day 9 — Monday, Aug 27

Lima...we’re baaaaccckkk! A quick morning flight back from Cusco before checking off the remaining “Must Sees” in Lima. Sadly, this is our last full day so we’ll end the trip with a big farewell dinner to send you all back to Ann Arbor in style (aka with a hangover).

Day 10 — Tuesday, Aug 28

Say it isn’t so...it’s time to head back to Ann Arbor. But don’t fret. You’re going home with 16 new besties, many memories and even more pictures of the memories you don’t remember. And fear not, for this is just the beginning for our new little family. We’ll see you lots throughout the year!