Empire Engineers: Incan Ingenuity & Ecological Wisdom

Empire Engineers: PERU

WITH EDUCATORS

Led by Jennifer Douglas & Rodrigo Del Castillo

COST PER STUDENT:
$1800

AGE GROUP:
• 8-12

PERFECT FOR:
Empire Engineers is designed for curious, creative learners ages 8–12 who love asking big questions, building things with their hands, exploring outdoors, making connections across subjects, and learning through authentic experiences rather than textbooks.

With a maximum of just 12 students, this small-group adventure provides individualized support while fostering meaningful friendships and collaborative learning.

Whether your child is fascinated by history, engineering, science, archaeology, art, languages, nature, or simply loves exploring new places, this interdisciplinary adventure offers countless opportunities to discover, create, and grow.

How did the Inca engineer thriving communities in harmony with the Andean landscape?
This question becomes our guide as students spend five unforgettable weeks exploring Peru's spectacular Sacred Valley through the eyes of engineers, historians, scientists, artists, architects, and explorers.
Rather than simply learning about the Inca, students investigate their remarkable achievements firsthand. Ancient cities, soaring mountain terraces, bustling markets, weaving villages, rivers, and archaeological sites become living classrooms where every excursion inspires new questions and every classroom investigation prepares students for their next adventure.
Each week follows WorldWise's signature rhythm of two classroom days and two field-learning days, allowing students to build background knowledge before applying it through authentic experiences across the Sacred Valley.
Alongside lead teachers Jennifer Douglas and Rodrigo Del Castillo, students explore how engineering, ecology, astronomy, agriculture, mathematics, architecture, language, and culture combined to create one of history's most extraordinary civilizations.
Students receive two hours of formal Spanish instruction each week with Rodrigo and approximately two hours of individualized mathematics tutorials each week with Jennifer and Rodrigo.
Throughout the five weeks, students create beautifully illustrated field journals inspired by Waldorf Main Lesson Books, combining scientific observations, engineering sketches, maps, botanical illustrations, Spanish vocabulary, watercolor paintings, diagrams, reflective writing and historical notes into a lasting record of their learning.
Families who wish to extend their adventure may also choose to join an optional guided weekend educational excursion to Machu Picchu, where students investigate one of the world's most remarkable examples of engineering, architecture, and landscape design.
- Incan engineering & architecture
- Terrace agriculture & irrigation
- Astronomy & sacred landscapes
- Geography of Peru & the Andes
- Ecology & biodiversity
- Spanish language
- Quipu mathematics
- Traditional weaving
- Natural dyes
- Ethnobotany & medicinal plants
- Traditional music
- Sustainable agriculture
- Scientific inquiry
- Artistic field journaling
- Systems thinking
- Collaborative engineering & design
- 🏔 Optional Weekend Add-On — Machu Picchu — Families may choose to extend their Sacred Valley experience with a guided educational weekend exploring one of the world's greatest engineering achievements. Together we'll investigate remarkable stone architecture, gravity-fed water systems, agricultural terraces, solar alignments, and the ingenious ways the Inca designed a thriving city in harmony with the surrounding mountains.
- Pisac Archaeological Park – Discover spectacular mountain terraces, temples and agricultural systems.
- Ollantaytambo – Investigate remarkable stone masonry, urban planning and create a traditional quipu.
- Maras Salt Ponds – Learn how salt has been harvested for centuries while exploring geology and evaporation.
- Moray Agricultural Laboratories – Explore Incan agricultural experimentation and mountain microclimates.
- Traditional Weaving Centres – Learn traditional weaving techniques, natural dyes and symbolic patterns while creating your own woven work.
- Amaru Community – Discover ethnobotany and medicinal plants through local knowledge keepers.
- TAKINUNA Museum – Explore a private collection of pre-Columbian and Incan instruments.
- Traditional Ceramics Workshop – Create ceramic tiles inspired by Incan symbolism.
- Urubamba Produce Market – Practice Spanish while exploring the extraordinary agricultural diversity of the Sacred Valley.
- Hummingbird Garden – Study pollination, biodiversity and ecological relationships.
Students collaboratively design and construct a Living Incan Village Model demonstrating their understanding of agriculture, water engineering, architecture, astronomy, medicinal plants, textiles, quipu communication, music and ecological stewardship.
Families are invited to a final Celebration of Learning where students share both their model and the journey documented throughout their Waldorf-inspired field journals.

- Five-week immersive learning adventure
- Maximum of 12 students
- Two classroom days & two field-learning days each week
- Jennifer Douglas – Lead Teacher (Multidisciplinary Learning)
- Rodrigo Del Castillo – Lead Teacher (History, Spanish & Local Culture)
- 2 hours/week formal Spanish instruction
- Approximately 2 hours/week individualized math tutorials
- Transportation on scheduled Tuesday & Thursday field-learning days
- Student entry fees for scheduled activities
- Curriculum materials
- Personal field journal
- Final showcase
- International airfare
- Accommodation
- Meals and snacks
- Travel & medical insurance
- Transportation other than scheduled Tuesday/Thursday field-learning days
- Adult excursion fees where applicable
- Optional Machu Picchu Educational Weekend
- Optional Amazon Expedition

Empire Engineers Brochure

Enquire Now

CONTINUE YOUR ADVENTURE (Optional Extension)

Many families choose to extend their time in Peru before or after Empire Engineers. We are delighted to offer two optional educational extensions that complement the core program.

🏔 Machu Picchu Educational Weekend (Optional)

Join Jennifer and Rodrigo for a guided weekend exploring the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu. More than simply sightseeing, this educational experience brings our driving question to life as students investigate one of history's greatest feats of engineering while deepening their understanding of Incan architecture, astronomy, water management, and mountain design.

Perfect for families who would like to experience Machu Picchu together while benefiting from the educational expertise of the WorldWise team.

🌿 Upper Amazon Expedition (Optional – 7 Days)

Following Empire Engineers, continue your Peruvian adventure with Rodrigo Del Castillo on a seven-day family expedition into the Upper Amazon (30 November – 6 December 2026). Together we'll explore rainforest ecology, biodiversity, conservation, Indigenous and local cultures, sustainable agriculture, waterfalls, and extraordinary wildlife through immersive outdoor learning.

FAQs ABOUT THE EMPIRE ENGINEERS LEARNING ADVENTURE

Empire Engineers is designed for curious learners ages 8–12 who love hands-on discovery, big questions, and exploring across subjects. With a maximum of 12 students, it suits children who thrive in small, collaborative groups and learn best through real experiences rather than textbooks.
Families arrange their own accommodation in the Sacred Valley, ideally in or near Urubamba to stay close to the daily classroom and field-learning locations. We're happy to share suggested areas and family-friendly options once you enrol.
Families arrange their own local travel to and from the daily meeting point. On scheduled Tuesday and Thursday field-learning days, WorldWise provides group transportation to and from excursion sites.
Transportation is included on scheduled Tuesday and Thursday field-learning days. Daily travel to the classroom and any other transportation is arranged by families. Transportation for the optional Machu Picchu weekend is arranged separately as part of that add-on.
The program runs four days a week over five weeks, following WorldWise's rhythm of two classroom days and two field-learning days, with formal Spanish instruction and individualized math tutorials built into the week.
Machu Picchu is not part of the core five-week program. It is offered as an optional guided educational weekend add-on. Families who wish to visit together can join Jennifer and Rodrigo to investigate its architecture, water systems, terraces and astronomical alignments firsthand.
An optional seven-day educational expedition through Peru's Upper Amazon, led by Rodrigo Del Castillo, immediately following the program. It explores rainforest ecology, biodiversity, local cultures and sustainable agriculture. It is booked and priced separately from Empire Engineers.
Students bring day-to-day essentials for outdoor field days — comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water, and weather-appropriate layers. A full packing list is shared with enrolled families before the program begins.
Field-learning days are designed for the students and their educators. Where a site allows adult participation, parents may join for an additional excursion fee. Details are confirmed closer to each excursion.