Itinerary Overview:
October 1-7, 2024
Our first day begins with our arrival at the Jorge Chavéz International Airport in Lima, from which we will shuttle to our accommodations for the night. Those arriving early can choose to join a late afternoon bus tour through historic and bohemian neighborhoods along Lima’s coastline. We will convene as a full group for dinner and a brief orientation to our week.
Lodging: Hotel in Lima
We will start the day with an early morning flight to Cajamarca, a city perched at 9,800 feet in the coastal mountain range in the northwest of Peru. Cajamarca will serve as our home base for the week as we visit a variety of Green Empowerment projects throughout the region. After checking into our hotel, we will meet Rafael Escobar, founder and director of our partner organization Energía, Ambiente, y Sostenibildad (EA&S), for lunch and open discussion. In the afternoon, we will visit the local cathedral and other key attractions in the city.
Lodging: Hotel in Cajamarca
On Thursday, we will venture east out of the city and into the rural Jose de Sabogal district to visit two Green Empowerment and EA&S projects. In Camish, a small agricultural community of about 150 people, we will see firsthand how solar tech is enabling water access in remote areas with a tour of their new solar water pumping system. In the afternoon, we'll dive into the fascinating world of rural water management at the Huaylla drinking water system, chatting with locals and learning about the impact of metering firsthand.
Lodging: Hotel in Cajamarca
Note: we will walk 300 meters to visit the system in Camish. Please let us know if this presents a difficulty.
Heading out of the city to the west, we will visit the El Triunfo Irrigation Project. This water-for-agriculture project boosts both food security and economic opportunity. We’ll see the system, reservoir, and water distribution in action and have time to speak directly with those benefiting from this initiative. We’ll also enjoy a community lunch before returning to Cajamarca.
On our third day of community visits we will travel south to the Asuncion District with our second regional partner, Water For People. The water committee in San Miguel de Matarita will share a presentation on their drinking water system, with special focus on meters and how their water tariff system is allowing for long-term sustainability of the project. We will also be invited into local homes to view the system in action. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Asuncion wastewater treatment plant where Green Empowerment has supported improvements for sustainability of the system.
Lodging: Hotel in Cajamarca
On Sunday we will take time to digest all that we have seen and enjoy some breathtaking vistas and archeological wonders that surround Cajamarca, such as the Stone Forest of Cumbemayo, a cluster of massive volcanic pillars that stick out from the landscape of grass covered plains. This natural wonder is also the origin point for a pre-Incan aqueduct system, dated to 1500 BC.
Lodging: Hotel in Cajamarca
Finally, on Monday we will fly back to Lima and conclude our trip with a day of sightseeing around the city, including options to visit some of Lima’s rich and abundant museums. In the evening, we will gather for a final debrief and celebration dinner.
Lodging: Hotel in Lima