By Carly Schnitzler, Community Education Volunteer
1. Laze around by the Inca Pools. Make sure to bring snacks and sunscreen!
2. Go on runs with our favorite street dogs.
3. Visit Cusco. Trips to the big city mean good food, lots of dancing, and, if you wake up early enough, amazing deals in the baratillo.
4. Hike! From the Sun Gate to Pinkyulluna, there’s a hike for everyone and plenty of gorgeous views to go around.
5. Shop in local markets. Weekends are prime market days for Ollanta and the surrounding towns in the Sacred Valley. Get groceries in Urubamba and head to Pisac to look at the beautiful textiles.
6. Go on Awamaki’s Natural Dye or Weaving Immersion Workshops. These workshops, which run every couple of weeks or so, are incredible opportunities to be immersed in the culture of communities in and around the Sacred Valley.
7. Hang out with homestay families. Excursions to local ruins and family-owned chakras followed by home-cooked lunches are some of our volunteers’ most cherished memories from their time in Ollanta.
8. Throw welcome parties and despedidas. With a vibrant and evolving volunteer group, the people at Awamaki like to welcome and send off their own with flair.
9. Take in the scenery. Volunteers eat gelato in the plaza or stroll around town, attempting to believe that they actually live in such a beautiful place.
10. Bond with fellow staff, volunteers, and community members because all of the things on this list are better with friends.