Arcos Learning Abroad in Lima, Peru

I felt supported throughout the program, and it was a great way to experience Peruvian culture. The housing location and free water were extremely helpful. Key tips: bring a hat, rain jacket, and sunscreen. A constructive note: managing food allergies (like my gluten allergy due to soy sauce in some Peruvian dishes) would have been very difficult without the assistance of a Spanish-speaking, gluten-free student. Overall, a genuinely valuable travel experience.

The directors were incredibly kind and helpful, actively encouraging us to speak Spanish and immerse ourselves in the culture. They made a great effort to ensure we met Peruvian people. A key benefit was connecting with students in my major and learning about Peruvian life. I highly recommend this program for studying abroad. A tip: Go to the beach and Paracas if you get the chance! Overcoming the challenge of speaking Spanish was worth it.

Cesar and Rodrigo were amazing! Cesar was extremely kind and helpful, and Rodrigo was fantastic, spending time with the group and making us comfortable. The biggest challenge was the language barrier, but it wasn't a major issue, as I was able to manage ordering and essential communication. The best benefit was the friendships made. I highly recommend Arcos for study abroad students. Live in the moment and enjoy the trip!

This program offers truly enriching experiences, including the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture, language, and customs. I significantly improved my Spanish skills, allowing for basic conversations with native speakers. I highly recommend this program to prospective students. Tip: research attractions and seize every opportunity in Peru! Remember to bring toilet paper!

The Arcos directors were very nice and dedicated, caring for every participant. The housing was good, though the eggs looked slightly unusual. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper to Cusco and find altitude sickness pills. Altitude sickness was a challenge, but I valued the benefit of seeing my family again. This was a meaningful academic and cultural experience.

Cesar was very helpful, particularly when I felt sick en route to the airport. Rodrigo provided excellent advice and treated us like friends; the whole group thoroughly enjoyed his input and attitude. I highly recommend this experience for the new environment and great friendships you will make. Just be aware of the weather and consider using waterproof bags.

Arcos provided a perfect, immersive study abroad experience. The directors were excellent, even joining us on unscheduled events like the beach trip. While the language barrier was challenging at times, I strongly recommend reviewing Spanish beforehand. The program offered wonderful benefits, including meeting new friends and connecting with the local people.

I highly recommend this program! The Arcos directors Cesar and Rodrigo are fantastic. The biggest challenge was getting acclimated to Cusco, but the benefits of cultural immersion and learning more Spanish were invaluable, plus I earned course credit. I confidently recommend this for students seeking academic and personal growth. Tip: pack a laundry bag!

The directors were always helpful and excited to share their knowledge of Peruvian culture. I recommend this program! Be open to new opportunities. While the language barrier was initially challenging, it became easier over time. The benefits included making new friends and gaining more knowledge.

Arcos Learning Abroad in Peru is a truly amazing program! Both of my Arcos directors were great, and I have no complaints, only great memories. My main challenge was minor altitude sickness, but it wasn't bad. The benefits are countless—I recommend future students apply. Go!

Highly recommended! Step out of your comfort zone; most people are in the same boat. While the lack of downtime can be challenging, it is mostly a once in a lifetime learning experience abroad resulting in a new appreciation for a different way of life and new friendships.

I highly recommend the Arcos Learning abroad program in Peru for students interested in studying abroad—it truly is an enriching and life-changing opportunity in a very cool and interesting South American country that you might not otherwise have a chance to visit.

I loved Lima and this program was well-rounded. I think it was coordinated to allow us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. I appreciated that aspect very much. I will say that because this is a group study abroad, it is difficult to find time to do solo exploring. As someone who is naturally more introverted, I would have also loved to have more time to explore on my own. Nonetheless, I had a great time and I hope to see this program evolve to meet the needs of future groups.

I was nervous for my first time abroad. I didn't know what to expect, yet my experience still exceeded my expectations. I felt supported, safe, and informed every step of the way. My program set me up for academic, personal, and cultural exploration. From the classroom to excursions, from the food to the people, I learned and experienced so much during my time abroad.

Cesar was absolutely wonderful! He truly cared about each student and did an excellent job showcasing the best of Peru. The cultural and language exchange in Lima was incredible—I loved experiencing the food, architecture, transit, and being by the Pacific. Highly recommended! Travel tips: Pack layers for Lima's winter, not many shorts. Buy a large water bottle upon arrival for refills to save money and plastic. Using a laundry service can help you pack lighter.

Benefits included improving Spanish, exploring a mega-city, and enjoying great food. For classes, more time for discussion and application of readings would be valuable. Be prepared for a mild climate (light packing is advised) and similar costs for certain items as in the states. The weather in Lima was challenging for me, but overall, it was a worthwhile experience.

César was a fantastic, guiding director—helpful and generous throughout the trip. The course content was interesting. Be prepared for lots of walking and experiential activities. Despite challenges with language and stamina, this rich dive into Lima's history and culture was unforgettable.

Cesar was an amazing and thoughtful Arcos director who made Peru unforgettable! Future students should bring sweaters, as it is colder than expected near the ocean. I enjoyed the field work and activities that facilitated engagement. Overall, the connections made were the greatest benefit.

Our on-site director was exceptional: available, kind, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel welcome and safe. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring a city so different from my hometown, experiencing a new culture, and learning about Lima's history and planning. I highly recommend this program for students seeking both academic and personal growth. Pack light and explore as much as you can!

Working with Cesar was an absolute pleasure! He was friendly, professional, resourceful, and caring, ensuring everything ran smoothly. I really loved the visit to the Port and PROHVILLA ecological organization. I highly recommend this program to prospective students for its enriching experiences.

Our Arcos Abroad on-site director Cesar was an absolute gem—attentive, fun, kind, and caring throughout the entire trip. I got to visit an eco-organization called PROHVILLA as well as many sights around the city. I highly recommend Arcos for any student looking to study abroad in South America.

I did the Arcos Abroad program in Peru with the on-site resident director Cesar, who was great. I learned a lot, went on the guided excursions and organized acticities, and genuinely suggest considering this program if you are interested in a program in South America.

Cesar is a wonderfully sweet and safety-conscious director. I enjoyed the guest speakers and found the field trips entertaining and informational. The greatest benefit was learning and seeing history, especially the intense but fun Caral visit. Definitely do it!

I have always had Peru on my bucket list so when I found out I could do a study abroad there, there was not a question about it. I was nervous during the preparation but the Arcos team ended up providing us with all that we needed. This trip was amazing. We felt safe the entire time, we explored so much and learned so much history. Cesar and Rodrigo were always there for us not only if we needed something, but also to give tips, recommendations, or more history or knowledge on another topic. I am so grateful for this experience and am ready to return to Peru!

This trip was by far one of the best times of my life and it would not have been possible without Arcos. Ceasar and Rodrigo are great people and even better providers. If your group is thinking about using them to plan your trip I highly encourage you to do so, you will not be disappointed.

Going into this study abroad to Peru, I had an idea of what it was going to be like. All my expectations were blown out of the water. The experience was truly life changing. Cesar and Rodrigo did a great job of planning everything, definitely would not have been able to do everything without their guidance. The biggest thing that I was not expecting was to get so close to the group I was with, from not knowing anyone when I landed in Lima to being good friends by the end of it, truly an unbelievable trip.

The directors were so nice and really cared about our safety and well being. They were always willing to explain things to us and wanted us to enjoy Peru. I also really loved learning about the ancient history of Peru. I would fully recommend this program to future students.

My Arcos director was very easy to access and always very helpful with questions or special requests. I would encourage future students to embrace all cultural activities with an open mind and with a willingness to ask questions and explore. I loved getting to see and do a lot while also understanding the significance of each of the locations we visited. I think taking the time to learn about the history of Peru was really special to my overall experience. I also appreciated the spaces for independent exploration to be a highly effective way to experience Peru. The strong balance between independent group exploration and guided travel is great. Additionally, group activities like making ceviche, dancing, and hiking made me feel well connected with my travel group and allowed Peru to feel like a home away from home. Overall, my experience fostered a deep sense of love for the country of Peru and its people. I would recommend this program to future students.

Loved my Arcos director! He always took care of us and made sure everyone was accounted for at all times. He was very nice, always made everyone feel safe, and was our “trip dad.” He definitely was a big part of my study abroad experience and I’m so glad he was there! The assistant director was so sweet and fun! I really enjoyed getting to know him and it was nice having someone our age to hangout with from Peru. I really liked that he was able to go on tours and to Cusco with us. He also made us feel safe. Definitely try to enjoy your time there since it goes by quickly!

I really appreciate everything my Arcos Director did for me! He was extremely well organized and always provided helpful feedback. The Arcos staff was very helpful with practicing Spanish and giving good advice on local places. The food was also amazing.I would for sure recommend this program to other college students.

I loved making amazing friends, talking to the locals, and broadening my global experience. The Arcos directors were amazing and I really enjoyed them. It was a fantastic cultural experience learning about the culture of Peru and visiting cultural sights. Arcos has my highest recommendation.