PERU PARTNERTRIP: April 18-27, 2009

Preliminary Itinerary (Subject to change)

*Update: See our Faceook slideshow on the Peru PartnerTrip!

Saturday, April 18 (Travel day: Seattle to Lima)

• Flight from U.S. to Lima
• Spend night at hotel in Lima

Sunday, April 19 (Lima; Arequipa)

• Breakfast conversation at hotel with local authority to discuss the current social, political, and economic realities in Peru and better grasp the context in which microfinance is at work in the country.
• Overview of Global Partnerships’ strategy, methods, and impact in expanding microfinance in Latin America—presented by Ana Maria Echeverría, of Global Partnerships’ Managua office.
• In-country flight from Lima to Arequipa
• Sightseeing in Arequipa

Monday, April 20 (Arequipa; Chivay)

• Visit headquarters of FONDESURCO, a Global Partnerships microfinance partner institution. Introduction to FONDESURCO’s work presented by local leadership.
• Visit FONDESURCO clients in the vicinity of Arequipa
• Travel overland to Chivay (approx 3.5 hours)

Tuesday, April 21 (Chivay)

• Travel with FONDESURCO representatives to visit clients who have benefited fromFONDESURCO’s services in the region. Learn about their businesses and gain a deeper understandingof the impact of microfinance on their lives

Wednesday, April 22 (Chivay)

• Sightseeing in and around the Colca Canyon. The Colca Canyon is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon and provides excellent opportunities for seeing giant condors in flight.

Thursday, April 23 (Cusco)

• Visit headquarters of Arariwa, another Global Partnerships microfinance partner institution. Introduction to the work of Arariwa from their leadership.
• Accompanied by Arariwa staff members, spend day visiting borrowers served by Arariwa at their homes and businesses.

Friday, April 24 (Cusco)

• Spend time with additional clients of Arariwa, including attending a village bank meeting to observe the group lending model at work.

Saturday, April 25 (Cusco; Machu Picchu)

• Travel by train from Cusco to Machu Picchu
• Explore the historic Inca ruins at Machu Picchu.
• Return by train to Cusco

Sunday, April 26 (Cusco; Lima)

• Free time in Cusco in the morning
• Fly from Cusco to Lima to then catch overnight flight from Peru back to the U.S.

Monday, April 27 (U.S.A.)

• Arrival back in the U.S.