Amount to Fundraise
From $1,299
Includes
all lodging, 3 meals/day, ground transportation, trip insurance, group activity and entry fees, cookstove project costs, trip leaders, taxes and tips
Excludes
international flights, passport fees
Previous Missionaries
“I came home with a heart full of the beauty of the created earth, the joy that comes from the gift of self, and the love of God given freely in so many forms.”
Ana | Huaraz Missionary
“The experience was that of a lifetime. I am so thankful to God and to everyone who helped me to get down there to Peru. I truly encountered the face of God and I do feel as though my life has been changed from this experience. I understand myself better, and most of all, I understand Love better. And God is Love.”
Anonymous | Creatio Peru Missionary
Clean Cookstove Trip Details
The Need
Around 8 people per minute die globally from regular exposure to smoke from indoor cooking fires. More than half are deaths among children under five years old. By sourcing local materials to build and install clean cookstoves, we will make a significant impact in eliminating these devastating health impacts . Locals will be educated on the harmful effects of indoor open fire cooking. Missionaries will be trained to build these stoves alongside skilled installation experts. We will also be working with the locals to make sure they are trained in the use and care of the stoves.
Locations
Lima
Missionaries will fly into this historic capitol of Peru that boasts several gorgeous cathedrals, historic landmarks, a vast coastline and some of the best cuisine in South America.
Huaraz
This beautiful city, located in the Andes Mountains, is one Peru’s most popular tourist destinations. Despite this, the outlying areas are suffering from great poverty and in need of basic technologies that provide energy, clean water, and safe ways of cooking.
Llupa
This rural village lies just outside of Huaraz. This community is in great need of clean cookstoves and is where most of the planned work activities will take place.
Travel Insurance
The cost of your Adventure Mission with us includes trip insurance. This insurance covers things like trip cancellation/interruption (under certain conditions), emergency medical care & evacuation, travel delays, lost luggage, etc. Travel Insurance only covers the advertised costs and services. If you are purchasing your flights separately (on-your-own) your flight will not be covered by the Trip Travel Insurance, and another policy must be purchased separately.
Travel insurance is required for Creatio trips. A policy in your name will be included in the Experience Price. All policies included in an Experience only provide coverage during the advertised dates of the Experience. If a participant’s personal situation results in canceling the trip prior to departure (e.g. participant gets sick and must withdraw from the Experience prior to departure date), then Creatio’s cancellation policy applies.
Creatio is not an insurance company and has no responsibility for the submission, payment, or adjustment of any insurance claims. Any insurance claims that may fall under the relevant travel insurance policy must be submitted to the insurance company identified in the policy.
If a participant is concerned about recovering costs due to cancelation for any reason whatsoever, Creatio recommends participants to purchase the Add-on Cancel-for-Any-
Medical Insurance
In addition to travelers insurance, it is good to know what your medical insurance covers in foreign countries. Call your insurance before departing and know what is in your plan. Bring your insurance card with you. All participants must have their own medical insurance plan. It is possible to purchase short-term coverage specifically for medical issues while abroad.
Lodging
Creatio partners with local communities, families and hotels to host the missionaries and ensure all accommodations are satisfactory throughout the trip. Because this is a mission trip, conditions may not exactly be 5 star, but basic needs for missionaries will always be met (warm place to sleep, blankets, etc).
Itinerary
(subject to change)
Day 1: Flight to Lima, arrive in the evening
Day 2: Tour Lima, depart for Huaraz
Day 3: Preparation for Mission, Tour Huaraz
Day 4: Community Education Meeting
Day 5-12: Mission Project
Day 13: Adventure Day
Day 14: Return to Lima, depart for US
Spirituality
Creatio’s spirituality is focused on strengthening the four relationships: relationship with self, with one another, with nature and with God. We encourage all of our missionaries to be open to experience a deepening of these relationships while on our trips.
Creatio takes a holistic approach to improving lives by addressing material and spiritual wellbeing of the people we serve. We do this with a Catholic worldview as our foundation, however we encourage Catholics and non-Catholics to join us in encountering the beauty of creation and our Creator. All participants are encouraged to join in group activities such as discussions on faith-based topics or visiting Holy sites, but nobody will be forced to participate in specifically Catholic traditions and practices.
Getting to Peru
Arrival
All participants must arrive in Lima (Jorge Chávez Airport – LIM) between 8pm and 11:59pm on Day 1. Missionaries will be given instructions for airport pick-up (included).
Departure
Participants must depart from Lima between between 8pm and 11:59pm on Day 14 or make other arrangements for lodging and travel.
Additional Details
Please wait until we have confirmed your participation in the mission trip to buy your flights. Please contact us if you’d like assistance choosing flights or connecting with other missionaries to travel together, You are responsible for your transportation and lodging should you choose to arrive early or leave later. If your flights are not within the time range given, you will be responsible to change your flight or pay the extra costs attributed to the change (cost of a new flight in-country, transportation, lodging, etc…)
Health & Safety Information
Zika
Peru as a whole is currently rated by the CDC at “Watch Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions”, meaning that travelers need to practice normal or usual precautions when traveling.
Health Information
We recommend you undergoing a medical check-up before traveling to make sure you don’t have any kind of medical condition that could obstruct your participation in the mission trip.
Food safety is an important issue when traveling internationally. Local tap water in Peru is not potable. Only bottled or treated (disinfected) water should be used for drinking. Do not use ice, avoid getting tap water in your mouth when showering and brushing teeth, and do not use tap water to wash fruits and vegetables. Meats and fish should be thoroughly cooked. Avoid cheap restaurants or food sold in the streets. If you don’t follow these instructions, you will probably go through an episode of diarrhea that can make traveling in the Andes a rather uncomfortable (and memorable) experience, to say the least.
Medical Care
Lima: Medical care in Lima is generally good. There are four good hospitals (Clínica San Borja, Clinica Tessa, Clínica San Felipe, Clínica Javier Prado) that are a 10-15 minute drive from the retreat center. All of these hospitals can treat serious medical conditions or acute illnesses.
Huaraz: The San Pablo Clinic in Huaraz, located in Ancash, offers quality medical service, has over 30 medical specialty offices, 29 modern hospital rooms and an Emergency room that provides medical attention 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Cusco: Medical care in Cusco is generally good. There are three relatively new, medium sized hospitals and other private clinics within a short drive from our residence. All of these hospitals can treat serious medical conditions or acute illnesses.
For more country-specific health and safety information, visit www.travel.state.gov for details.
Creatio trip leaders have years of experience leading trips to Peru. The local guides have all lived in Peru for more than two years, are fluent in Spanish and English, and are knowledgeable about Peruvian geography, history, culture, and safe travel procedures.
During our trip, we will not visit areas that either the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Lima has categorized as dangerous. In Peru, the U.S. Government is able to assist American citizens through their Embassy in Lima. Click here for access to the Embassy website containing the contact information of the Embassy and Consular Agent.
Peru is a developing country that may go through periods of political and economic instability. Labor-related strikes occur with certain frequency in urban or rural areas, and generally cause serious disruptions to road, air, and rail transportation. Demonstrations are often announced, yet not always. We may have to make some modifications to our schedule due to marches or strikes. Participants must be open to unexpected changes.
Like many large cities around the world, Lima suffers from crime. They require care while traveling, but are generally safe places. In these cities we will visit museums, historic places, and other tourist areas that attract large crowds. As you know, thieves operate in places that gather large crowds and therefore you should be especially careful. You are advised to keep your credit cards, cash, and identification in your front pocket or a secure money holder. You should not carry your original passport unless you are traveling by train, bus or plane. If the police request identification, a copy of the passport is acceptable. You don’t want to waste time replacing your driver license, passport, or other identification during your trip. You should limit your cash in hand (just carry what you will need for the day) and unnecessary credit cards. It is better to avoid handbags or objects that hang freely, because those are easy targets for pickpockets.
We urge you to be watchful of your belongings, because if you leave them behind in a tourist area or other location, you will probably not see them again (even if you notice a few minutes later). The idea of a place for “lost and found” objects is unfamiliar in rural areas or shanty towns. During overnight bus or train rides, stay close to your belongings. If you leave the bus during scheduled stops, take your valuable objects with you.
In many cities, you will see plenty of moneychangers in the streets. Even though they may give you a higher rate than the one offered by banks and money exchange agencies, you are advised to avoid them because some of them are a conduit for counterfeit currency.
Pirated goods are widely available. Do not buy them. You will be breaking the law. Additionally, if you bring them back to the US, you could face severe fines (e.g. $ 250,000). Certain drugs that are sold over-the-counter in Peru are illegal in the US. Please be sure you check before attempting to bring them back into the US. For instance, coca-leaf tea is a popular beverage and folk remedy for altitude sickness in Peru and is sold in most Peruvian supermarkets. However, possession of these tea leaves is illegal in the US so do not attempt to bring any back with you.
For additional security information about Peru, you can go to the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website athttp://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/peru.html or the U.S. Embassy in Lima at http://lima.usembassy.gov/.
Required Documents
US Citizens:
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the final day of trip. Passport must have at least one blank visa page.
Non US Citizens or those traveling from outside of the US:
- Visit travel.state.gov to understand visa and vaccine requirements regarding the country from which you are coming.
- Please contact us to confirm non-US citizen visa requirements.
What To Bring
Carry-On Luggage (Recommend a backpack/day pack):
- Passport
- Travelers insurance card
- Medical insurance card
- Emergency Contact Information (we will give it to you before you depart)
- Cash in US dollars
- Bringing money – We recommend bringing $200-$300. You can choose to exchange US dollars for Peruvian soles either before you depart or in Lima. Wells Fargo has a good exchange rate if you are a member. We recommend that you bring at least some cash from the US for anything you might want at the airport.
- Personal debit and credit cards – There are ATMs in Lima, but not many in Huaraz. Be aware of international fees.
- Call your debit card company at least one week in advance to inform them of where you are traveling and the dates (phone number on card).
- Know your PIN. You can’t use your debit card in Peru without it.
- Change of clothes
- Medications – in original containers. Bring any special or over-the-counter medications you need with you from the US.
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc.) – All liquids must be in 3 oz containers or less and all placed in one quart-sized Ziploc bag
- Hand sanitizer
- Spiritual materials – Bible, journal, Rosary, spiritual reading, etc.
- Water bottle – empty to go through security
Checked Luggage (50 lb max):
- Copy of your ID, Passport, traveler insurance card, and medical insurance card
- Jeans/pants, t-shirts, sweatshirt for work (you will get dirty). Please bring only modest clothes – no tank tops (always have shoulders covered) and shorts knee length or longer.
- Comfortable, casual outfits for touring, sightseeing, and walking
- Nicer clothes for mass, restaurants (decent clothes without holes – “dressy” clothes like skirts and dressy pants aren’t necessary, but you may bring them if you would like)
- Shorts (remember length)
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Bathing suit
- Work gloves
- Two warm sweaters
- Coat for nights (it will get cold in the mountains)
- Lightweight winter hat and gloves
- Poncho/rain jacket
- Sandals/Flip flops – for shower
- Walking shoes
- Old tennis shoes or work boots
- Toiletries: Shampoo, toothbrush, baby wipes, etc.
- Small roll of toilet paper
- Towel
- Sleeping Bag (30 degree °F rating or lower)
- Sleeping pad
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Lip balm and lotion
- Secure money/Passport carrying case
- Luggage ID tags
- Prescription glasses – If you wear contacts, please be sure to bring your glasses as well. You will be asked not to wear your contacts certain work days since dust will likely get underneath them.
Optional:
- Camera/batteries/charger
- Leatherman or knife
- Debit card and PIN
- Earplugs
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Granola bars, power bars, trail mix, Gatorade powder packets, etc.
- Cards or small games for down time
- Spanish translation book
- Mass parts and Rosary in Spanish
- Electrical converter – voltage in Peru is 220V compared to 110V in the US. Check any electrical item you want to bring. If it is not able to use 220V, you will need to bring an electrical converter.
Second Checked Bag (50 lb max) – optional:
Some airlines allow two free checked bags. Check with yours to confirm luggage costs. If you would like to bring a second checked suitcase with items to leave, the following are good items the people in Peru need (We recommend using an old suitcase you don’t mind leaving behind.):
- Warm clothes/jackets/blankets
- Rosaries or other religious items (holy cards, “How to Pray the Rosary” booklets, bibles, etc.)
- Work gloves
- School supplies (crayons, scissors, pencils, etc.)
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste (dental hygiene isn’t good there)
- Soccer balls or volleyballs (deflated for travel)