Do You Want to Teach School in Peru?

Do You Want to be a Teacher in Peru?

Note from Lon:
The following letter was written by Vioricka Rodriguez from Peru to two young school teachers from the United States. They want to help teach English at the new school that PAC Tour is buildings in the jungle. These teachers are volunteering three months of their time to travel into the jungle and work at the new school.

February 6th, 2008

Good morning,
I understand your are restlessness to want to know of the conditions that will be in the KM 46 Village. The village is 30 miles from the big city of Iquitos at KM 46 and that is the name of the school. The main highway passes two miles from the village. You must walk one hour in the jungle from the bus to the village. There is no electricity in the village. There is no drinkable water for the people there. The village takes the water from the rain when the water runs in the gorges and collects in the puddles. I think there are three options for you to drink the water. #1 if you bring your tablets that are put in the water to treat water. #2 to boil the water on the fire before you drink it. #3 to buy bottled water to take to the village for your drinking and cooking.

Now I tell you the status of the foods in the village. You do not have to buy all your own foods. You can eat the food which grow at the village in KM 46. There is banana, yucca, and some fruits of the region. For meat there is guinea pig, frogs and lizards. Do you like to eat the GUINEA PIG? The people keep the guinea pigs under their houses as pets and the meat is similar to a small rabbit.

For your house to live there is a big round house. It is the house for the community and is made of wood and rustic materials with a thatched roof. You can live in the hut and have privacy there. It is possible to be comfortable there and make a simple wood bed with materials of the forest. You do not have to worry about the cost for the house because it is part of the aid we give to you.

I tell you about the pay from the government. They do not have a budget to give you a contract to teach in the school. The reason is the diminishing contracts of teachers in Peru without a budget from the government. Maybe something will change in the 2009 season. This year the four teachers for the government receive $200 each month. The village do not have money to pay more teachers. Maybe it is possible to ask Lon for a small amount of money for you to buy bottled water for drinking and some basic groceries from the city for eating.

You must take caution against the mosquitoes and spiders. There are many mosquitoes that carry the Malaria and Yellow Fever disease. The long legged spiders are poisonous and the bites can cause red bumps on your skin. It is important you use the repellant. In the night you can use the kerosene lamps and the smoke will keep the mosquitoes away. The snakes are most active in the afternoon and you should be careful about walking in the jungle during those hours.

I tell you how the people of the village live every day. They depart the village very early in their morning and go to their small farms in the jungle to cultivate the seeds for their bananas and yuccas. Sometimes they hunt animals to sell them for food. Sometimes also they are going to catch the fish. They are dedicated to cut the trees to remove wood and to sell wood. There are about 30 families that live in the village. I estimate there are a total of 50 more families and 400 people who live outside the village in the jungle. Total there will be about 200 children who will attend the school.

The language they speak is not their original Indian language from the jungle. Their historic language is forgotten and now they speak Spanish. The majority do not know how to read or write. The parents of families and children never have gone to school. To have teachers and a school in their village is an amazing opportunity for them. They can learn to read and write their names. The adults and children will have a better future and make something better for their lives.

Sincerely,
Miss Vioricka

Note from Lon: The village worked to clear the land and dig the foundation in December and January. The school building is in progress during February. The plan is to have the building completed in time for the new school season in April.

If you would like to learn more about the new school project please see the PAC Tour website listed as “New 2008 Projects in Peru”.

Tax deductible donations can be made to:

Christ Lutheran Church Peru Fund
P.O. Box 303
Sharon, WI 53585

END

Peru Tours 2008 Description

See photos from these areas on the PAC Tour
website listed under Peru Tours 2008...after March 1st

Daily Schedule Across Peru

Introduction to Peru Tours 2008

We are excited to offer three unique tours in Peru for 2008. These tours will give the serious PAC Tour cyclist a good challenge while providing enough time to participate in the local culture. Lon began traveling these routes by mountain bike in 2002 and was impressed with the cycling potential of these roads. Since then the roads have been under construction and are now ready for road bikes. Lon and Susan rode the route over the Andes Mountains in 2006 on their Bike Friday Folding Bikes and enjoyed the climbs and towns along the way. It is important to mention that PAC Tour is the only touring company offering tours to these remote regions. You will be traveling to areas not usually visited by tourists. We will be traveling with local guides meeting many new people along the route.

This is our 10th year traveling in Peru. Although traveling in Peru is unique, it is helpful to understand how to be safe and comfortable. To help you prepare, we have 20 pages of hints and suggestions to get you ready that will be sent to you by e-mail during the months before your tour.

There are three tours this year. They are scheduled to be separate tours or joined together to add additional adventures in Peru.

Tour #1
Cycling Over the Andes
November 1-10
$1,350 single room $225 additional

Tour # 2
Amazon River Boat Adventure
November 8-15
$1,150 single room $150 additional...not possible on boat

Tour #3
Road Race Across the Jungle
November 12-18
$950 single room $150 additional

Save $250 for each additional tour your join.

Tour #1 and #2 together cost $2,250...a savings of $250

Tours #2 and #3 together cost $1,850...a savings of $250

All three tours together cost $2,950...a savings of $500

What is included;
Tours include airlines and taxes in Peru, airport shuttles, hotels (some nights are single or double occupancy), breakfast, evening dinners, snacks during three rest stops per day, transportation in Peru by bus, van, boat, and moto taxi, guide fees and commemorative travel shirt or T-shirt.

What Is Not Included
Airlines to and from Peru (Lima). Extra airline baggage fees for bikes on Peru flights ($2.00 per pound over 50 lbs.) Long term luggage storage at the Lima Airport of $5.00 per day per bag. $10 per day for bicycle cases. There is an extra fee for transportation of hard shell bike cases of $100 during the tours. Extra roadside snacks, lunches and souvenirs are on your own.

What Kind of Bicycle to Bring
All three tours are for road style bikes. Tour #1 has some steep mountain climbs similar to the Rocky Mountains with 7% grades. Tires should be 23-25 mm wide and suitable for pavement but short patches of gravel road construction are to be expected. Riders should bring at least one foldable tire that fits in their gear bag and three spare inner tubes, frame fit tire pump, and basic bike tools to assemble their bicycle from the airlines.

Bike Cases and Storage
During Tour #1 and Tour #2 full size bike cases will need to shipped by truck to our final hotel. This cost is an extra $100 per bike case. Riders can avoid this cost with the following solutions: Bring a Co-Motion style take apart bike with S N S Couplers and use the smaller bike case as your gear bag, or bring a Bike Friday folding bike and use the suitcase as your gear bag, or bring a bike in a cardboard box and throw the box away during the tour and then rebox your bike at the final hotel., or bring an old racing bike in a cardboard box and give your bike away at the end of the tour to a local racer. During Tour #3 it is fine to arrive in Iquitos with a hard shell bike case and keep the case in your hotel room until the tour is over.

Non Cycling Option
Tours # 2 and #3 are suitable for noncyclists who want to travel in Peru. Noncyclists can travel in our support van and will have time to stop and visit sites along the way. These tours will also include some visits to villages to deliver supplies that will be available to all tour members. Tour #1 is not well suited to noncyclists because each day will include six to eight hours of cycling and limited space in our support vehicle for sightseeing.


Tour #1

Cycling Across the Andes
Saturday, November 1 to Monday, November 10

Day 1
Travel to Peru and Arrival in Lima
We will spend one night in Lima as the group arrives on various flights during the night. Local guides will meet our group and help transport us to our hotel in Lima. All flights must arrive before midnight Saturday night, November 1. If Saturday flights are not available then participants can arrive on Friday, October 31 and stay in Lima for an additional hotel and transport fee of $75.

Day 2
Sunday morning we will have time for a Lima city tour to the historic area of the city. Our flight to Piura will depart in the afternoon. It is a 90 minute flight north to Piura. When we arrive in Piura we will stay at a resort hotel on the outskirts of town. After we assemble our bicycles we have the choice of several restaurants in downtown Piura for an evening dinner together.

Day 3
Piura to Chulucanas...38.0 miles
Today is when we begin the cycling section of our tour. Piura is located in the coastal desert region of Peru which rarely sees rain from March to December. The local translation of Piura means “The city of eternal heat”. Breakfast will be at the hotel this morning. We will be able to start riding in the cooler morning hours. The route today is a good warm up ride into the rural area east of Piura. The road is well paved with a rideable shoulder. Most of the terrain is dry and sandy and the temperatures will be in the 90’s by noon. The town of Chulucanas is located six miles off the main highway on a dead-end type mining road. There will be time this afternoon to walk through the rustic market area and see the traditional lifestyle of the working people.

Day 4
Chulucanas to Olmas...77.5 miles
The dry terrain continues again today. Scrubby trees line the road and the temperatures will be in the 90’s again. The landscape resembles a dry African movie scene and you expect to see giraffes or zebras on the horizon. However the only animals you will see are horse drawn carts carrying 50 gallon barrels of water. This is the only way the rural farms get their water from a common well. There are a couple rolling climbs but nothing too serious. The town of Olmas has an interesting downtown area where many local people meet after dark.

Day 5
Olmos to Pucara...77.5 miles
The first half of today is uphill gaining almost 5,000 feet during 30 miles. The climb continues through many hillside villages that sell refreshments of bottled water and soda. There are many impressive overlooks above the valleys. The road twists and turns while climbing 7% grades up the side of the mountain. Occasionally you can see a glimpse of the road high above you and you wonder how you are ever going to get up there. This is toughest climb of the tour similar to a long mountain pass in Colorado. The summit is at mile 33.0 and the rest of the day is a steady 3% downhill. There are 20 miles of flooded rice fields built into the terraced valley. The town of Pucara is an small working class village with an okay hotel and restaurants.

Day 6
Pucara to Bagua Grande...70.0 miles
The gradual downhill continues for the first 50 miles by dropping from 2,700’ elevation to 1,300’. The climate becomes drier and hotter the lower we drop into the river valley between the mountains. The irrigated areas still grow rice but the rest of the area is arid and rocky. The road is still in good condition for road bike tires. Bagua Grande is a bigger town with many repair shops and stores without frills.

Day 7
Bagua Grande to Pedro Ruiz...41.5 miles
Today begins a gradual climb along the river. There is more vegetation along the steep cliffs and mountains. Landslides and patches of road damage are common today. This section of road is in constant repair but should still be rideable with a road bike. There are several bridges and small towns to visit and get snacks every 6-10 kilometers. This is a short mileage day but it will still be a five hour bike ride including lunch at a roadside cafe.

Day 8
Pedro Ruiz to Nuevo Cajamarca...97.0 miles
This could be the toughest overall day with several 3,000 foot climbs and descents. There are two passes on this road above 7,400 feet. On the other side the rain forest begins and the dry landscape changes to misty wet clouds. The vegetation is more dense as the jungle is closer to the road. Bring a raincoat and leg warmers because it could be chilly at 7,000’ feet elevation in the rain. Small towns are common again today so it is easy to find snacks, soda or a cup of hot tea.

Day 9
Nuevo Cajamarca to Tarapoto...101. miles
We drop down to 2,700’ elevation most of today through a large valley growing sugarcane and other jungle crops. The road pavement continues to be smooth and excellent with many other local cyclists riding one speed bikes between villages. Roadside venders have displays of bananas, pineapples and coconuts. You have arrived in the dense green jungle which is different from any of the mountain terrain so far. Leaving the town of Moyobamba at mile 30 we are following the Rio Mayo (river) but our road climbs up the bluffs and then returns to the river several times. There are a few steep climbs but today is mostly stair step downhill dropping almost 2,000 feet to Tarapoto. The road surface continues to be excellent without much road damage. The city of Tarapoto has a population of 50,000 people and a modern airport. Today is when the new group of riders will join the tour for Part #2.

Day 10
Riders from Tour #1 fly back to Lima in the afternoon and return to the United States on flights in the night.



Begin Tour #2

Amazon Riverboat Tour to the Iquitos School
November 8-15

Day 1
Saturday, November 8
Fly to Lima, Peru from the United States...most flights arrive in the night.

Day 2
Sunday, November 9
A local guide will meet you and and take you on a tour across Lima.You will see landmarks of the historic city by going on a shopping mission to buy school books for the jungle schools. You will box and bundle the books and prepare them for delivery from the riverboat. In the late afternoon we will fly one hour into the jungle to the town of Tarapoto. At the Tarapoto Hotel we will meet the cycling group coming from Piura on Tour #1. We will assemble bicycles for the next day and have a nice group dinner that evening.

Day 3
Monday, November 10
Today we ride 85 miles to Yurimaguas. The first 35 miles are over the mountains to the jungle town of Poco Caynarachi. Along the way we will visit the waterfalls and villages selling fossils. The final 50 miles are through the low jungle on a good paved road to Yurimaguas. In Yurimaguas we will visit the boat we are riding tomorrow and buy the necessary supplies for the boat tour.

Day 4
Tuesday, November 11
Tour the fish markets of Yurimaguas in the morning. Buy supplies for the riverboat trip. The boats usually depart at sundown. The sunsets are beautiful on the river and we will spend much of the first hours fascinated by watching the silhouetted trees along the riverbanks. We will probably have late dinner after the rest of the boat passengers have eaten. Most of the passengers are getting ready for bed at 10:00 PM and we need to decide if we are sleeping in the cabins or outside on the hammocks and mats. The boat is traveling at about 15 mph so there is a strong breeze blowing through the boat. The night air is cool compared to the jungle afternoon. A jacket or sweatshirt is needed when sitting outside on the deck at night. That is why blankets are needed when sleeping in the hammocks.

Day 5
Wednesday, November 12
The boat usually travels nonstop the first twelve hours before stopping to deliver supplies at riverbank villages and pick-up more bananas. During our full day on the boat we will take a small motorboat to visit schools along the riverbank. We will have 20-20 minutes to walk into the villages to deliver school books before catching up to the big boat again. Tonight we sleep on the riverboat again.

Day 6
Thursday, November 13
At sunrise the cyclists get off the boat in Nauta and ride 60 mile on pavement to Iquitos. Non cycling people stay on the riverboat and get off at noon in Iquitos. People joining for Tour #3 will arrive in Iquitos this afternoon. Everyone meets in Iquitos for dinner. We will sleep in a nice Iquitos Hotel downtown and enjoy the comforts of air conditioning, hot showers and television.

Day 7
Friday, November 14
Tour Iquitos and visit the Jack Wolff School . This is the school PAC Tour helped build in 2004. It has grown from 200 to 500 kids in the past five years. We will ride our bikes 15 miles to the school. The school kids want to make a ceremony for our group with dancing and singing. There is an option to add 20-80 more miles on the route we will be racing from Nauta on Sunday. At night we will organize a birthday party for 40 kids who live on the street. We will pass out invitations to a secret restaurant for a dinner of chicken, rice and birthday cake. This has become a tradition during our tours to Iquitos and one of the most memorable nights of the trip.

Day 8
Saturday, November 15
People from Tour #2 and not staying for Tour #3 will fly back to Lima this morning and then to the United States at night.

Tour 3
Race Across the Jungle
November 12-18

Day 1,
Wednesday, November 12
Travel to Peru and Arrival in Lima
We will spend one night in Lima as the group arrives on various flights during the night. Local guides will meet our group and help transport us to our hotel in Lima. All flights must arrive before midnight Wednesday night, November 12. If Wednesday flights are not available then participants can arrive on Tuesday, November 11 and stay in Lima for an additional hotel and transport fee of $75.

Day 2
Thursday, November 13
Thursday morning we will have time for a Lima city tour to the historic area of the city. Our flight to Iquitos will depart in the afternoon. It is a two hour flight northeast to Iquitos. You will meet the riders arriving from Tour #2. After you assemble your bicycles we have the choice of several restaurants downtown for an evening dinner together.

Day 3
Friday, November 14
You will have a chance to road test your bicycle today and visit the Jack Wolff School . This is the school PAC Tour helped build in 2004. It has grown from 200 to 500 kids in the past five years. We will ride our bikes 15 miles to the rural school. The school kids want to make a ceremony for our group with dancing and singing. There is an option to add 20-80 more miles on the route we will be racing from Nauta on Sunday. At night we will organize a birthday party for 40 kids who live on the street. We will pass out invitations to a secret restaurant for a dinner of chicken, rice and birthday cake. This has become a tradition during our tours to Iquitos and one of the most memorable nights of the trip.

Day 4
Saturday, November 15
Everyone will have time to relax before the bike race tomorrow. If you want to go on a bike ride we suggest a 20 mile tour of Iquitos on the city streets along the Nany River north of town. In the afternoon we will go on a jungle boat ride the Bora Indian Village and exotic animal tour. Saturday night in Iquitos is very lively with lots of street performer and worth a walk downtown 2 blocks from our hotel to see the activities.

Day 5
Sunday, November 16
Today is the Bike Race from Nauta to Iquitos. At 7:00 AM we will travel by bus 65 miles to the town on Nauta. The bike race will begin at 10:00 AM. If you would like to ride your bike to Nauta and make a 200 kilometer round trip ride you should depart Iquitos at sunrise about 5:30 AM. The race from Nauta will be on one straight road with a few rolling climbs. Most of the hills are 3% grades and can be ridden on the big chain ring. Several hundred riders are expected to join the race. They will be competing for a $1,000 first place cash prize which is equivalent to three months wages. The finish line will be in downtown Iquitos. A celebration and awards ceremony are planned with local music and dancing.

Day 6
Monday, November 17
We have an optional cycling day to the new school located 55 kilometers from our hotel. You can either ride your bicycle or take the bus. There is a two mile hike into the jungle to reach the village of New Triumph where the school is located. We will take part in the ceremonies and dedication of the new school building that PAC Tour helped build during 2008. These ceremonies are always a lot of fun and a good example of local festivities.

Day 7
Tuesday, November 18
Fly back to Lima in the morning or mid afternoon. Nights Flights back to the United States.

End

Peru Tour Schedule 2008

Here are the dates for the three different Peru
tours we will have in Novmber 2008.

Daily Tour Schedule Across Peru

Tour #1
Cycling Over the Andes

Entry fee $1,350
Single hotel room $225 additional

Day 1 Sat. Nov. 1 New members fly USA to Lima
...sleep in Lima

Day 2 Sun. Nov. 2 Fly Lima to Piura in the afternoon

Day 3 Mon. Nov. 3 Piura - Chulucanas 38.0 Miles

Day 4 Tue. Nov. 4 Culucanas - Olmas 77.5miles

Day 5 Wed. Nov. 5 Olmos - Pucara 77.5 miles

Day 6 Thur. Nov. 6 Pucara - Bagua Grande 70.0 miles

Day 7 Fri. Nov. 7 Bagura - Pedro Ruiz 41.5 miles

Day 8 Sat. Nov. 8 Pedro - Nuevo Cajamarca 97 miles

Day 9 Sun. Nov. 9 Cajamarca - Tarapoto 101 miles

Day 10 Mon. Nov. 10 Fly on airplane to Lima in morning
...return to USA at night


Tour #2
Amazon Riverboat Adventure

Entry fee $1,150.00
Single hotel room $150 additional
...not possible on the boat

Save $250 discount if combined wth week #1

Day 1 Sat. Nov. 8 New members fly USA to Lima
...sleep in Lima

Day 2 Sun. Nov. 9 New members fly Lima to Tarapoto
and join Tour #1 group

Day 3 Mon. Nov. 10 Bicycle Tarapoto to Yurimaguas...85.0 miles

Day 4 Tues. Nov. 11 Begin Boat tour in afternoon
...sleep on Amazon boat

Day 5 Wed. Nov. 12 Ride Boat...sleep on Amazon boat
...deliver school books to six remote schools along the river

Day 6 Thur. Nov. 13 Get off the boat
...Bicycle 65 miles from Nauta to Iquitos

Day 7 Fri. Nov. 14 Day trips near Iquitos
...Visit Jack Wolff school
....optional 60 mile bike ride...sleep in Iquitos hotel
...organize birthday party of 40 kids who live on the streets

Day 8 Sat. Nov. 15 Fly on airplane to Lima in morning
...return to USA at night


Tour #3
Race Across the Jungle

Entry fee $950
Single hotel room $150 additional
Save $250 if combined with Week #2

Day 1 Wed. Nov. 12 New members fly USA to Lima
...sleep in Lima

Day 2 Thur. Nov. 13 New members fly Lima
to Iquitos in the afternoon...join tour group #2

Day 3 Fri. Nov. 14 Visit Jack Wolff school
....optional 60 mile bike ride

Day 4 Sat. Nov. 15 Visit Iquitos
...Bora Indian Village Tour

Day 5 Sun. Nov. 16 Bike Race Nauta to Iquitos 62 miles

Day 6 Mon. Nov. 17 Visit new KM 46 school ceremonies

Day 7 Tues. Nov 18 Fly on airplane to Lima in morning
...return to USA at night

END