Overview
Summer 2027 | Dental SLT | Lima, PE | May 22-30
Starting at $1,983 USD
Deposit $200 USD
Traveling with your MEDLIFE Chapter? Get $50 off your SLT today! 🎉 If you haven’t already, fill out this form to get involved and claim your $50 SLT discount code before registering!
Please wait to book your flight until the trip has at least 15 confirmed participants. For updates or questions, please email info@medlifemovement.org.
Smiles Movement is the dental branch of MEDLIFE, an independently operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working alongside low-income communities across Latin America and Africa to improve access to medicine, education, and community development.
Through your Dental Service Learning Trip (SLT) in Lima, Peru, you’ll experience this mission firsthand—learning from and working alongside local communities while developing the skills to create meaningful, lasting change.
Booking Terms and Conditions
By signing up for a Service Learning Trip with MEDLIFE, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
✓ Materials & Resources. All necessary materials and resources for Mobile Clinics.
✓ Accommodation. 8 nights of dorm-style accommodation, with rooms shared by 6–9 Smiles Movement participants.
✓ Meals. Three meals per day, Monday–Friday, plus breakfast on weekends.
✓ Transportation. Airport transfers (within the established schedule) and transportation to and from all SLT activities.
✓ English-Speaking Trip Leader. A dedicated MEDLIFE leader throughout your SLT.
✓ Safety Equipment. Required safety equipment for scheduled activities.
✓ Travel Health Insurance. Coverage is included; a $250 deductible applies when using the insurance.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
✕ Flights
✕ Tips
✕ Pre- & Post SLT Accommodation
✕ Optional Excursions
✕ Weekend Meals
✕ Cancellation Insurance
YOUR SLT WEEK
About Lima
Lima is Peru’s capital and home to more than 10 million people, but access to oral healthcare is not equal across the city. Many families living in low-income communities on Lima’s outskirts face barriers to affordable dental care, preventive services, and oral health education. Across Peru, 9 in 10 children experience dental caries, making it the country’s most prevalent childhood disease.
These challenges can allow preventable oral health conditions to go untreated and affect a person’s overall health and quality of life. Through Smiles Movement, Dental SLTs work alongside local dental professionals to support preventive care, dental treatment, and oral health education, while learning firsthand about the social and economic factors that influence oral health in Peru.
Highlights of the Week:
Learn about the challenges faced by low-income communities on a Reality Tour
Gain experience shadowing healthcare local professionals at a Dental Mobile Clinic
Shadow and support local dentists as they manage more complex cases at our permanent clinic, Clínica Movimiento Sonrisas.
Gain new perspectives, build meaningful connections, and reconnect with purpose.
Grow as a leader. Make the Dental SLT the first step toward leading your Chapter and inspiring others
Day by Day Itinerary
View the Detailed Itinerary:
View the Detailed Itineraryhttps://info.medlifemovement.org/slt-itineraries
Day 1 & 2 · Arrival in Lima + Orientation
Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) between 5–11 PM, where a MEDLIFE associate will meet you for your transfer to the hotel. On Sunday, attend your Dental SLT orientation and safety briefing, explore Miraflores on a walking tour with your Trip Leader, and enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Day 3 · Reality Tour
After breakfast, join the Reality Tour to visit MEDLIFE partner communities, learn about daily life in Lima’s underserved areas, and understand MEDLIFE’s role in improving access to healthcare. Return to the hostel for an afternoon presentation and receive your Mobile Clinic station assignments for the week.
Days 4–7 · Mobile Clinics & Project
Every day, Mobile Dental Clinics travel to various communities, with 30-minute to 2-hour travel times. Upon arrival, students unload supplies and attend a brief training session before opening the clinic at 8-9 am.
They work until lunch around 11:30 am, then switch stations. Clinics close between 1-3 pm, depending on patient volume. Students will also visit a permanent clinic to learn from and shadow local doctors while overseeing deeper and more complex treatments for patients. Procedures can include surgeries, permanent dentures, and more!
On free days, they can explore the city.
Day 8 & 9 · Optional Ica Day Trip + Departure
Make the most of your trip! Join your fellow participants on a Full Day to Ica & Paracas to explore the Huacachina oasis and Ballestas Islands, or choose one of our Immersion Add-Ons and continue your journey to Cusco. Sunday is departure day, unless you’ve chosen to extend your stay.
add-ons
Explore more cultural immersion add-ons
Extend your trip before or after your SLT with your friends, chapter, or family, or add a Saturday experience on Day 8.
These trips are offered through Good Life Expeditions, a MEDLIFE partner travel agency whose profits support MEDLIFE projects in the communities we work alongside.
Book a meeting with a GLE advisor:
Book a meeting with a GLE advisorhttps://meetings.hubspot.com/medlife-movement/gle-college-interest
Ultimate Andes Expedition: Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain (5D/4N)
Pre/Post SLT
Experience Cusco's rich history, marvel at Machu Picchu's ancient wonders and hike the vibrant Rainbow Mountain. Dive into Andean culture, explore iconic ruins and embrace breathtaking landscapes.
Itinerary linked is the version for SLTs based in Cusco. Minimum 10 participants. Flight to Cusco not included.
Amazonian Wildlife Immersion: Puerto Maldonado (4D/3N)
Pre/Post SLT
Discover diverse wildlife, including jaguars and giant otters, in their habitat. Visit panoramic Lake Apu Victor, the biodiverse Lost Cocha and primate-rich Monkey Island, learn Amazonian culture and stay in a rustic lodge.
Minimum 10 participants. Flight to Puerto Maldonado not included.
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