Travel with a Learning Curve: Educational Travel Adventures Your Family Will Love

After a family vacation ends, what do you bring home? Certainly, many photos and wonderful memories. You probably have a few fun souvenirs in tow, too. But why not add new recipes and skills to the mix? From cooking classes to standup paddleboarding, there are countless ways to enjoy educational travel adventures.

Read on to learn about some of the educational trip options that we offer and to find out which ones are right for you and your family.

Savor the Flavor of Your Destination

One of the best ways to connect with people around the world? Food. Cooking classes offer countless ways to learn from locals while savoring a destination through its cuisine. We offer many cooking experiences on our family vacations. Here are just a few of your options.

Try your hand at making homemade tortillas at a traditional rancho near Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve in Baja, Mexico. You’ll also learn more about traditional Mexican cuisine and get to taste plenty of delicious dishes.

Or, head to Chorrillos, in southern Lima, to prepare Peru’s national dish, classic ceviche. With fresh-caught fish and a delectable mixture of coriander, onions, limes, and a few secret ingredients, you’ll craft a dish that represents generations-worth of local knowledge.

You can also taste “Pura Vida” cooking at its best in Costa Rica. Explore how to make a variety of timeless, tasty classics. These include frescos (fruit juices), tortillas (flatbread), empanadas (turnovers filled with beans, cheese, and other tasty treats), patacones (fried green plantains), and picadillo (chopped sautéed vegetables). You’ll come away with plenty of new recipes and a full belly.

Learn About the Chocolate-Making Process

Are you a chocoholic? If so, welcome to the club! Chocolate represents a key ingredient of many of our favorite foods, from milkshakes to cookies, cereals to candy bars. But what do you and your kids know about how chocolate is made?

The process from bean-to-bar is an intricate one described during a chocolate-making workshop. An exceptional educational experience for the whole family, you’ll gain hands-on knowledge about cacao trees and local conservation efforts. You’ll also learn about every step in the process. Each workshop ends with plenty of chocolate samples. So, come ready to savor rich, locally-crafted treats.

You’ll enjoy exploring how this delightful treat is crafted during one of our educational vacations to Costa Rica or Peru.

Discover the Ancient Art of Peruvian Wool-Working

Millions of people from all over the world visit the Sacred Valley each year. They come to explore the ancient monuments of the Incas. Places like Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo are, without a doubt, cultural treasures to be visited and celebrated. But visitors sometimes overlook the living traditions of Peru, which prove just as rich and fascinating.

Today’s artisans of the Sacred Valley craft everything from pottery to textiles employing age-old techniques passed down from generation to generation. This is reflected in the markets of the Sacred Valley. There, you’ll find gorgeous examples of decorated Andean ceramics, vibrant woven blankets, hand-knitted Alpaca sweaters, and more.

On our Peru Family Adventure, experience the colorful bazaar at Pisaq, a quaint village nestled at the base of an Inca fort, where hundreds of local artisans sell traditional artisanal crafts. You’ll also have the chance to tour a local farm to gain insight into daily life in the region. During an alpaca wool dyeing, spinning, and weaving demonstration, see how locals create the wool required to craft gorgeous sweaters, blankets, and more.

Give Standup Paddleboarding a Try

Standup paddleboarding (SUP) combines the fun of water play with a full-body workout. And all in a gorgeous natural setting that allows you to soak up a little sun and plenty of nature.

To get started, you’ll need to learn the basics. This includes how to gear up, stand up, balance, fall off, and get back on. You’ll also need to know fundamental paddling techniques and other helpful tips such as how to use the wind to your advantage.

You can learn all of this and more during our Peru Family Adventure, Costa Rica Family Adventure, and Brazilian Amazon Cruise.

Head out onto the calm, mirror-like waters of Piuray Lake in Peru to master SUP basic skills while taking in the stunning scenery of the Andes. This high-elevation lake, located at 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level, offers spectacular vistas and tranquil water.

Or, enjoy a SUP experience on Playa Samara’s beautiful bay in Costa Rica where a local expert will guide you through the basics before you glide to Isla Chora, a deserted white-sand island. Finally, SUP opportunities abound on the calm waters of the Rio Negro in Brazil surrounded by the lush jungles of Amazonia.

Educational Travel Adventures for the Whole Family

But our list of educational travel adventures doesn’t stop there. You can also gain hands-on knowledge about biology and conservation in the Brazilian Amazon, the Peruvian Amazon, and Baja, Mexico. Or, enjoy a capoeira and drums class on our Brazil Family Adventure to Chapada Diamantina and Salvador.

On our Thailand and Cambodia Family Adventure, learn about elephant conservation while caring for elephants and their babies. And on our Patagonia Family Adventure and Atacama Family Adventure, take a cooking class in Santiago before heading out to Valparaiso for a graffiti-making workshop. As you can see, the options are endless.

At Our Whole Village, we craft transformational trips for curious families who want to create lasting memories while making a difference. We’re here to help you and your family experience the world, its people, and its cultures. Contact us today to learn more about the unforgettable experiences that we curate for curious families just like yours.