The community of La Carolina is located across the river from Calca along a hillside that borders the Urubamba River and faces the direction of the Urco ruins. Families in this agricultural community struggle to secure the water they need to meet growing demands for irrigation in the face of rising temperatures and the diminishing rainfall. 

In partnership with engineering students from U.S. universities, the AASD began working with La Carolina to develop a well and pump system that would allow farmers to route water from the Urubamba River to their fields. However, the irrigation lines do not yet extend to a majority of families in the community. 

The AASD is requesting support to continue its work in this community:  in digging trenches, laying irrigation lines, and expanding the current system to ensure regular access to running water to more families. We anticipate nearly thirty families will benefit from the expansion of the irrigation system in La Carolina. Furthermore, it is our hope that the expansion of this irrigation system will help advance one of our goals at the AASD, to support climate resilience within campesino communities in the Andes.   

The Sacred Valley is known as the breadbasket of the Incas for its agricultural production that fed an empire. The picturesque valley sits at 10,000ft above sea level and is rich in history and archeological ruins, the most famous of which is Machu Picchu. 

AASD most often works in the valley’s high-altitude, Quechua campesino (farmer) communities, where the climate and location create serious challenges to production, and where historical social marginalization contributes to lack of recognition and resources. AASD’s provision of greenhouse materials, agroecological trainings and support are all designed to advance these communities in terms of ecological production, economic stability and cultural pride.  

 The Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development: The mission of The Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development (AASD) is to harness collective intelligence to support community-led development in the highlands of Peru. This means connecting farmers and communities to resources and capacity-building to support their development through trainings at our demonstration farm, community-based workshops, exchanges with local governments, or leveraging the support organizations like Surf for Life. 

In 2009 the AASD began designing and implementing school garden and greenhouse projects to address malnutrition in these high-altitude, isolated communities. In 2012 we implemented the first family greenhouse projects, a natural growth of the school greenhouses, putting the tools for fresh veggies and additional income in the hands of individual families. We now work in six communities and have helped provide the materials and trainings for around 100 greenhouses. In addition, with the help of Surf for Life, we have completed the construction of our farm school, located at our demonstration farm, EcoHuella. There, we host farmers and visitors from from various communities as well as international students and travelers , with the goal of facilitating knowledge exchange and spreading awareness of ecological agricultural practices. 

We continue to support, improve, and expand these initiatives through our experiential learning programs. We believe that responsibly designed intercultural exchanges must focus on listening and responding to community-identified needs, and that this process can result in mutual growth and development. The AASD works with all levels of academia to design and facilitate learning programs that impact communities and visitors, from high-level research with graduate students to service learning programs such as Surf for Life. 

Please note this is a sample itinerary of day to day activities; our actual itinerary might change according to needs of the community, weather, etc. 

Day 1: 

* Arrive in Cusco; Transfer to Calca;

* Check-in and lunch at hotel; Safety briefing; Welcome Dinner @ AASD.

Day 2: 

* Breakfast at hotel; EcoHuella Tour & Workshop; 

* Service Project Orientation

* Lunch @ EcoHuella; 

* Potato King Screening and Q&A; 

* Dinner in Huaran.

 Day 3: 

* Breakfast at hotel; 

* Service project @ La Carolina;

* Lunch @ La Carolina; 

* Urco Ruins and Youth Assn Jewelry Workshop; 

* Dinner in Calca. 

Day 4: 

* Breakfast at hotel; 

* Service project @ La Carolina;

* Lunch @ La Carolina; 

* Salineras; 

* Dinner in Urubamba.

Day 5: 

* Early Breakfast at hotel;

* Depart for Pampacorral and Lares.

* Lunch in Lares; Hotsprings; 

* Return to Calca; 

* Dinner in Calca.

Day 6: 

* Breakfast at hotel; 

* Service project @ La Carolina;

* Lunch @ La Carolina; 

* Afternoon service project.

Day 7: 

* Breakfast at hotel; 

* Depart for Chaihuatire for Weaving workshop; 

* Lunch @ Chaihuatire; 

* Afternoon in Pisac; 

* Goodbye Dinner (Pisac).

Please note that this additional experience will take place after your Surf For Life trip is complete and will be additional to your final booking cost, paid directly to AASD

We will send a separate email on how to book this trip directly with our non profit partner Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development once we receive your booking

Any questions about this add on can be directed to: kerri@alianzaandina.org

What's Included? 

*Roundtrip transfer from Sacred Valley lodging to Ollantaytambo 

*Roundtrip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back 

*Machu Picchu Entry 

*Round trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu entrance 

*Lunch in Aguas Calientes 

**Does not include personal guide; can arrange for an additional $85 USD for up to ten people

Please note that this additional experience will take place after your Surf For Life trip is complete and will be an additional $620 to your final booking cost, paid directly to AASD

We will send a separate email on how to book this trip directly with our non profit partner Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development once we receive your booking

Any questions about this add on can be directed to: kerri@alianzaandina.org

What's Included? 

*transport to Aguas Calientes 

*Accommodations in Aguas Calientes

*Guided entry to Machu Picchu

*Lunch 

Please note that this additional experience will take place after your Surf For Life trip is complete and will be an additional $830 to your final booking cost, paid directly to AASD

We will send a separate email on how to book this trip directly with our non profit partner Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development once we receive your booking

Any questions about this add on can be directed to: kerri@alianzaandina.org

What's Included? 

*transport to Aguas Calientes 

*3 night guided fully supported off the beaten track trek

*camping mules to carry gear

*chef to cook delicious meals along trek

*camping gear provided

*guided entry to Machu Picchu