Internship in the Sacred Valley, Peru

My best friend and I got the amazing opportunity to intern in Peru for 4 months in 2019 through Linguistic Horizons. The usual internship is 2 weeks studying nutrition and natural medicine. We however, asked if we could study nursing specifically and stay for 16 weeks instead. Nicole worked with us to fully customize our time in the Sacred Valley. When we asked to change locations for more exposure to different kinds of medicine, Nicole was prompt to assist. We were able to work in a local natural medicine clinic, a tourist urgent care clinic, and a physical/speech therapy clinic for children with special needs. She also curated many excursions throughout our stay at our request including- hikes throughout the Sacred Valley and trips to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Manu jungle, and and epic overnight hiking trip through the Andes. To say this internship was life changing would be an understatement. 6 years later i am still telling stories from the 16 weeks we lived in our little back house in Urubamba!!

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If you want to learn about Peruvian culture and improve your Spanish while working at a local organization that matches your interests, Linguistic Horizons is the program for you. In my interview with Nicole, the program director, she took into account my specific work interests when placing me in my internship. In Peru, I had the freedom to explore Urubamba (a wonderful town where we stayed) in my free time while feeling comfortable with the support of Nicole and other interns. Nicole also helped me schedule additional weekend excursions, giving me even more opportunities to explore the indigenous culture and incredible mountain scenery. I had the opportunity to stay with a host family, who were some of the nicest people I’ve met. I felt very comfortable throughout the entirety of my four weeks in the program and felt very well supported by Nicole, my host family, the other interns, and my co-workers with anything I needed. Some highlights of the program were the flexibility in organizing my internship to fit with my interests, the organization and efficient administration of LH, the lasting bonds I’ve created with all of the people I met, the opportunity to improve my Spanish at home and at work, and the unique immersion I experienced. I highly recommend choosing Linguistic Horizons if you are hoping to immerse yourself in a new culture, connect with locals, feel safe in a new country, speak Spanish, and learn about different lifestyles.

I loved my time with Linguistic Horizons. Nicole Berry was a wonderful host, looking after all our needs. I split my time filmmaking with Carlos Garavito and the Kai Residence - just a few villages away - on weekdays, and then exploring the sacred valley on weekends. Nicole was amazing at organising our trips - we saw salt mines (Salineras de Maras), did various hikes to visit the remnants of ancient Inca citadels, stayed in Cuzco and had an incredible day trip to Machu Picchu. Staying in Urubamba town is also a wonderful way to fully immerse yourself in Peruvian culture. There’s lots to see, delicious food and you can get a colectivo bus to visit nearby villages as well. I was very lucky to be able to film with Carlos Garavito at the Kai Residency too. He was adventurous and supportive and had great access to the vibrant local community. We ended up making film about the Festival de la del Carmen in Arin, something that’s never been filmed before! We spent time filming the dances, following the processions and then celebrating at the households of the locals. The hospitality was astounding - I’ve never been offered so much food and Chicha! Peru is a beautiful country, with breathtaking views and a rich cultural history. Its myths and legends, so tied to its magnificent landscape, are seductive. I really fell in love with it. Couldn’t recommend Linguistic Horizons more. It gave me exactly what I needed when I went.

The UCCS Hispanic Honor Society Omega Tau Sigma Del Pi organized a trip to Perú and interviewed several abroad options. However, Linguistic Horizons proved to be the best option. The trip met our goal to give back to the locals by engaging in various efforts to support organic farming, donating several hundred pounds of clothing to locals, all while experiencing the beauty of Urubamba, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. Linguistic Horizons met all expectations, handled all logistics, ensured safety, room, transportation, great healthy food, interaction with the locals, learning at a profound and meaningful manner the essence of Machu Picchu as no literature could ever detail. The entire experience was unforgettable and enriching. Thank you Linguistic Horizons your commitment to students!

I started planning my internship experience abroad by learning about the many internship opportunities available in places all around the world. It wasn't long before finding Linguistic Horizons online. Nicole, the proprietor, responded to my message right away, so we had a chance to talk about the schedule, the budget, and the exciting adventures to partake in throughout the experience. She made everything very clear to me and tailored my internship experience to my goals and aspirations for the future. Throughout our trip, she remained upbeat and communicative. Our lodgings were convenient, secure, and easy to find. She also arranged a group excursion so we could all be together and hear about other religions and customs from our tour leaders. We went all across the countryside to see historic sites and sample the local cuisine. The experience broadened my horizons and helped me attain valuable insight into my own way of living. This organization and its fantastic employees come with my highest recommendation.

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This summer I spent a month in Urubamba in the Sacred Valley interning at Yanapasun, a centre which specialises in physical and mental therapies for children with special needs. I had the opportunity to work with a small group of children: playing games, learning basic readings skills, physical exercises and more. The team were very kind and helped me to gain confidence in speaking better Spanish. I also learnt a lot about the culture of the people in the Cuzco region of Peru. On arrival I definitely experienced a culture shock, but Anahí, the Peru co-ordinator, was there to help us through that and to understand better how things worked in the country. There were some communication difficulties and this was something we had to adapt to during our time there. We went on many day trips to see different things around the Sacred Valley such as Machu Picchu, the Maras salt mines, the Pisac ruins and two days in Cuzco which were very fun and interesting. I learnt a lot about the Inca heritage in Peru and the traditional Andean culture. I would recommend this intern program to anyone who wants to improve there Spanish and gain work experience whilst also being immersed into a different culture. It is not an easy process but is so rewarding and you will have lots of stories to tell afterwards!

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My time with linguistic horizon was fun, the clinic we worked in was very interesting and the family that ran it was very friendly, my only complaint was there wasn't much of an explanation of what the plants did in terms of how exactly they helped with different ailments. All in all it was a fun experience to live abroad, meet amazing people, and Nicole was very organized and did a good job organizing activities, but I maybe didn't learn as much about medicine as I would have liked.

Nicole took her time every step of the way when accepting me into this program. She made sure It was right for me and I was right for the program. The candidate profile she made was exactly what I was looking for and I knew this was the program I want to be a part of. I looked for months at other intern abroad programs and couldn't find a single one that I respected and trusted like Linguistic Horizons. In Peru, she greeted me and made me feel like family. She took me to the first day of my internship and made sure I knew where to go and that I felt safe. Peru has forever changed my life and I know my experience wouldn't be the same without Linguistic Horizons, Nicole, Erika, and all the other wonderful interns I met and became family with along the way. I am still amazed at the fact she individually picks out each internship for the candidates. Overall, I had the most amazing experience and feel so blessed to have found this program.

Hi, I'm grateful to have found Linguistic Horizons and to have been able to participate in such a wonderfully coordinated and beneficial internship. One can come to the sacred valley for a variety of reasons, but this was certainly the right reason for me. I came to study and practice with traditional Andean plants and work with their application in the clinical setting. Through Linguistic Horizons and it's great leadership of Nicole Berry and Erika Quintanna, I was able to not only gain the clinical aspect of what I was hoping to gain but I was also able to enjoy more than I could have ever imagined of the Sacred Valley and it's fascinating landmarks, history. The experience was greatly fulfilling and enriching. The clinic was a family run clinic and you hit the ground running. The staff is wonderfully knowledgeable and experienced and if you are willing to help, engage it will be a good fit for you. Speaking, understanding Spanish is a plus but you will be able to make by with understanding just medical/hospital spanish terminology. I was able first hand help assist in the most traumatic of cases to patients presenting for frequent treatments for a variety of conditions ranging from scoliosis, dysplasia, bone fractures, skin conditions, arthritis, etc. Seeing and understanding their use of Andean plants in their treatments was incredible, and seeing the patients response, recovery was even more impressive. My goal was to gain a better understanding of traditional practices here in the sacred valley and take that knowledge home with me. I believe I have accomplished just that. I was able to build a strong relationship with the clinic and I know I will be back and will continue to develop professional exchange. Their incredible humanitarian services and help to the community was notable on every interaction. They fed me like family and helped fulfill a long term goal of mine. This program was wonderful and Nicole is a great leader. They are very thoughtful, the accommodations were nice and the food provided was delicious. She and Erika are very responsive and helpful. I hope you decide to experience Urubamba and the sacred valley with Linguistic Horizons.

Linguistics Horizon gave me an inexplicably mythical experience. Anyone looking for abroad experience needs to go with this program. It’s affordable, it’s fun, and it’s in Peru. Not to mention Nicole Berry is a beautiful person. She goes out of her way just make sure you have the best experience imaginable.

Volunteering abroad in Perú is something I will never forget. Everyday we volunteered for an organization that supports organic farmers in the Sacred Valley. Each afternoon we visited a different site of Incan ruins. We ended the week with a trip to Machu Picchu and a Mother Earth ceremony. Every part of this trip was so genuine and amazing.

To begin, the founder and director of the program, Nicole Berry is absolutely excellent! She is always available to contact through email or phone about any questions or concerns you might have, as well as providing a pre- departure orientation so that you are able to speak to others attending the program, and to prepare you for what can be expected as far as what to bring, what you can expect, as well what is expected of you. As for the program, my focus is in education so I was placed with an organization called Semillas de Jesus. This organization served as a dormitory for indigenous children who were living outside of the main town of Urubama but studied there during the week. The kids would arrive on Monday mornings, live in the dormitories during the week to attend school, then return to their respective outlying towns on Fridays. This was an amazing placement and experience for me because not only did I get to interact with the kids in both Spanish and English, I was able to do community visits with the organizers of the organization to visit the homes and families of the children I was teaching. I was able to create close relationships with the children and it was extremely difficult to leave. It was not only an educational experience but an opportunity for personal growth as well. It was an amazing experience and I am very thankful that I was chosen to participate.

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Nicole Berry is an amazing leader of this program. She cares very deeply about the safety and welfare of all the participants. All the hikes to ruins and surrounding areas were experiences to cherish for a lifetime. There was pressure from Nicole and her local coordinator, Max, to practice speaking Spanish. However, towards the last few weeks, we spoke little to no Spanish at the house.

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I'd like to start this off by saying I have had a lot of friends travel to Perú on their own and that is what sparked my interest initially. Most of them stayed in larger cities such as Cuzco and Lima in hostels or hotels and it was simply not the full experience. If you come visit on your own it is almost as if you are getting the "diet" version of this country. There difference between our experiences is just huge! I can honestly say that my experience was very genuine and authentic as it possibly could be for someone that speaks intermediate Spanish. Nicole and her counterpart, Max, know the quiet town very well and Max runs his travel business locally. They know where all of the best markets are, safest places to eat, and truly allow you to get to know your way around. If there is something you are interested in that is not on the itinerary for your trip, Nicole will go above and beyond to squeeze it in. My favorite part of this internship was not only the people that I met through Nicole and Max's contacts, but the flexibility that they offered me. They will tailor the experience to your interest and benefit, and that made the trip valuable to me. I came to Urubamba to learn more about natural medicine and I do not have a background in Bio or Nutrition. It sparked a new passion for me in leading a more natural life and appreciating the Earth. Nothing short of life changing. There are many travel and internship companies for students like us to choose from but Linguistic Horizons blows all others out of the water, including the programs offered through my school. If you're a student on a budget I would highly recommend this program and I would do it over again myself in a heartbeat. Thank you Linguistic Horizons!

I was interning with a travel agency in Peru. My work experience was helpful and impactful to me. My boss taught so The experience was amazing and fruitful. I have learned so much about Peruvian culture and the language.

The experience was one of a kind. With my background being in modern medicine I was negligent in realizing the effectiveness and possibilities of Alternative medicines. After just a few short weeks in Peru I begun to realize how valuable the use of plant-based medicine really was and how much one can do with the native plants of the Andean mountains. The opportunity to learn about this way of treating and curing people can really change the way you will begin to think about your own health. That is what has stayed with me long after I returned home. I truly enjoyed the lifestyle I had been able to be a part of and the welcoming people of Urubamba and all its' culture has to offer. Bonus: My most favorite part about where I had stayed particularly was the mountain almost literally in our backyard. Whether you're looking at it from the town or you just spent the early morning hiking to the top, it is truly a gorgeuos site.)

I think it is really hard to have accurate expectations when signing up for any abroad experience, but my 4 weeks in Peru were unforgettable. You truly can't go wrong in such a beautiful, humble place. My coworkers at the mushroom farm were both welcoming and forgiving of my elementary Spanish, and the family that my boyfriend and I lived with provided a wonderful home. I love the Sacred Valley, everything from gorgeous hikes, to Wednesday night salsa classes. I really hope to return sometime soon and visit the many friends we now have there!

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The best experience of my life, by far. You get to fully immerse yourself into such a rich and interesting culture, and expand your knowledge in your field! They really make sure that you are comfortable and safe, and that you don't leave without seeing everything that there is to see. I had the time of my life in Peru, and I know it wouldn't have been that way had I not gone through linguistic horizons!

Spending a month in Urubamba was such a treasure, but the time flew! After traveling there with Linguistic Horizons I could see myself returning to visit the Sacred Valley again. The program prepared me to travel on my own and I felt super safe the entire time!

My experience interning in Urubamba was unique! I was able to explore fantastic places like Puno. In this island, we got the chance to spend the night with a local family. They were very kind and cooked for us some of their most representative plates with products that they had previously harvested!!! afterwards, we were able to wear their typical outfits, the dresses were so so beautiful and I even felt like I blended into their culture. I was able to "go out for drinks" and dance Andean music with the locals and other tourists while wearing my beautiful regional Peruvian dress. This experience allowed me to truly immerse myself and have some of the best memories ever. This is something not just to read about, but to experience by yourselves!!