Where ancient civilization and vibrant modern culture combine, your language skills will soar. Spanish class will never be the same! Discover Cuzco, the cultural heart of the Inca Empire, you will immerse yourself in its sights and sounds—ancient flutes, traditional clothes, cobblestone streets and absorb the language. While you volunteer on various projects to improve the lives of indigenous residents in the regions surrounding Cuzco, practice your Spanish with patient, friendly native speakers. On the weekends, explore the Sacred Valley and hike through the
Andes mountains to visit Machu Picchu.
Living and volunteering in Cuzco, besides being culturally stimulating, also provides an excellent opportunity to practice speaking Spanish in real-life situations. In spite of the city’s success in tourism, poverty and classism continue to thrive in Cuzco’s rural areas. Depending in community needs at the time of your arrival, your service may include various community development projects or making infrastructure improvements that ease the difficulty of daily life. Interact with the children and families you’re serving and experience locals’ generosity and charm as they help you improve your speaking skills.
Take advantage of a unique language immersion curriculum that combines classroom time with practicing speaking Spanish in everyday conversations with locals during service, excursions and by participating in cultural activities. All levels are welcome and you’ll be placed with peers at a similar level of speaking and comprehension ability. Improving your Spanish communication skills will also deepen cultural learning experiences, including participating in Andean music and dance workshops, listening to talks about cosmology, and meeting traditional healers.Experience local culture through soccer games, meeting with farming communities, and engaging in discussions with non-profit organizations.
Peru’s diverse natural landscape creates the perfect playground for outdoor adventures like whitewater rafting and biking. These roads and rivers are the same transportation routes that Andean people have been taking for thousands of years, so you’ll see ancient ruins and historic relics along the way. No trip to Cuzco is complete without a trek to epic Machu Picchu. Retrace the footsteps of countless Inca natives, and even bathe like they did in the nearby natural hot springs!
Home Base is located in one of the picturesque villages of the Sacred Valley, one hour outside the city of Cuzco at an elevation of 9,850 feet. You’ll live in a family atmosphere among high mountains , snowcapped peaks and fields of crops. Students stay in gender-segregated rooms with roommates and have access to showers and Western-style toilets.
