Liberal Arts Study Abroad Programs in Peru

I recently studied abroad for 5 weeks in Lima, Peru with WorldStrides. This experience genuinely changed my life, and the staff and accommodations provided to us by WorldStrides were a huge part of this. The on-site team was extremely supportive, and the additional trips planned by staff made my experience 10x better. I highly recommend using WorldStrides if you are considering studying abroad anywhere!

I spent five unforgettable weeks in Peru through the WorldStrides Community Health & Medical Spanish program at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. While living and studying in the Miraflores District this summer, I balanced classes with bonding with my host family and participating in social excursions. Academically, I learned so much. From the simulation labs with other UPCH students to the community clinical experiences at the Piedra Liza Health Center, the exposure to the Peruvian healthcare system was invaluable. Outside of the classroom, I made the most of my time in Peru. Notably, I tried various Peruvian dishes (with lomo saltado quickly becoming a favorite), took a cooking class, hiked Machu Picchu, cheered at a fútbol game, relaxed on a weekend trip to Máncora Beach with friends, rode horses, admired art and history in museums, and sand-boarded at the Huacachina desert oasis. This program challenged me to practice my Spanish daily, immersed me in a new culture, deepened my passion for nursing, expanded my professional network, and broadened my global perspective. I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity, and I will carry the friendships and memories I created during this study abroad experience with me forever.

Choosing to study in Lima was one of the best choices I've ever made. Peru is an amazing country with so much to offer from the jungle to the mountains as well as the coast where we stayed. ISA made everything so easy as well. There was always someone to contact 24/7 if there was a problem, they provided us with so much information like restaurants to go to and things to do as well as what to watch out for and what to do if you need help. The whole time I felt safe and looked out for. I really enjoyed living with a host family because they taught me so much about the culture and current events that I wouldn't have learned on my own. 10/10 experience that I hope everyone gets to have one day.

I did a 5 week program to Lima, Peru and absolutely loved it!! Michelle, our program director, gave us lots of information prior to departure and then she met us all at the airport for pickup! Overall, ISA gave us tons of resources and was in constant contact with our host families and our universities during the whole trip. They also planned many little activities that were optional which I appreciated. These were always local and such a good thing to squeeze in before class! During the weekends, I went on all the weekend excursions that they offered. Our program director knew most of the staff at the places/hotels we visited which comforted many of us and gave us the best experience. Overall, ISA gave us such an awesome group of staff members that not only challenged us, but acted as both our mothers and our friends all at the same time!

We had a fantastic time and learned so much. The teaching and service were excellent. We are coming back again. We had a life changing experience! During this trip we me so many wonderful people. The city is lovely and the country is full of wonderful animals and natural vistas. Doug and Di

I spent a summer in Lima, Perú, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Lima is a huge city filled with endless activities, so you'll never be bored. There's something for everyone between the delicious food, rich history, amazing art, and beautiful beaches. There are also plenty of outdoor activities in the city itself or in nearby towns. And, just to reiterate, the food is a huge part of the experience. Peruvian cuisine is on another level, with Lima being home to FOUR of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, including Central, which holds the top spot. ISA helped make this an easy and enjoyable adventure by always being just a text message away to answer any questions and taking us on several wonderful cultural activities. I can't recommend the program in Lima enough, I loved it so much that I'm doing it again this semester!

I did a summer term in Lima doing community health, and I cannot recommend it enough. The Lima staff is top tier out of all of my experiences. The city has great variety and lots of options for immersion. The program I did was amazing!! We worked firsthand in a clinic with patients, doctors, community leaders, and professors and got amazing insight into health in Peru and overall. The excursions were perfectly tailored as well. Again going to reiterate how exceptional the Lima staff was. Felt extremely supported and listened to. They care a lot about making this program so great!!

I attended a small-group class in Spanish as a beginner with basic-level in order to communicate while travelling in South America. Therefore I joined Maximo Nivel I San Jose for 3 weeks. At the weekends I explored Costa Rica with its beautiful beaches, volcanos and the huge bio diversity of its national parks. I learned quickly the most important expressions and questions in Spanish but also had a lot of fun at class with my classmates and the teachers which teached us Spanish also by using games and connecting the classes with our own experiences we made in Costa Rica. I can definitely recommend Maximo Nivel and also its location in San Jose as it is centrally located, which makes it the perfect location for exploring whole Costa Rica.

I spent the last 2 weeks studying Medical Spanish in Costa Rica at Maximo Nivel. The staff here has been super supportive from start to finish. They are able to turn and anxiety provoking process into a smooth experience. I was picked up from the airport on the day of arrival and taken to Maximo nivel. We had an orientation which was super helpful and then taken to our host family. The host family accommodations were fantastic. Great food and coffee. The host family was super inviting. It was clean. The other students were super friendly. Spanish classes were fantastic as well. I do think that these classes will help me treat spanish speaking patients in the future.

This program was full of adventure and amazing experiences. I loved all the excursions from Ica/Paracas and Iquitos. Not only that but during our free weekends ISA team supported us to safely travel to Cusco because it became unavailable to us as an excursion that would be included in the program. This showed how willing they were able to help us really enjoy our time. As far as academics, the program allowed me to fulfill my Spanish minor in a fun way!

This program was awesome. As a zoology major, I was floored by the amazing wildlife around me. The food was amazing and the beds were comfortable. It was cool at night so we slept well and all of our health needs were taken care of immediately. Safety is the top priority for this program so sometimes rules felt a bit restrictive for experienced travellers but it was just to ensure no one got hurt. I made local friends but I did so on my own time, time I took advantage of when presented. We worked with the community's children, teaching them about environmental issues and we got a well-rounded understanding of the culture, history, language and environmental aspects of the Peruvian Amazon and Andes Mountains.

I was placed at Marian Baker School in Costa Rica for a special education student teaching internship. Although the placement did not provide cultural immersion because it was an English speaking school, it was still a very positive experience. My entire time in Costa Rica was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone. I hope that Maximo Nivel can build stronger relationships with local special education schools to provide students the opportunity to fully understand special education in other countries.

Overall my experience in Lima was absolutely amazing. It was my first study abroad experience and has definitely enticed me to continue studying abroad (I studied abroad in Ecuador the Spring following my experience in Lima). The Program administration for ISA are very patient and helpful. They do a great job of showing us around the city and familiarizing us with the public transportation. In addition, they provide opportunities for us to travel to different parts of Peru, such as the Amazon Jungle and the Sand Dunes. A trip to Machu Picchu was already included in the Program costs! And believe me, Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see (when you decide to go ;))! In terms of the actual city of Lima, there are tons of fun activities for young people to engage in, such as paragliding, Karaoke, salsa classes/ salsa clubs, shopping, Inca Markets, Museums, Parks, and so much more. You will never be bored! Moreover, there are many restaurants that serve food at very affordable prices and the Peruvian cuisine is delicious! I think I gained a good 5 pounds while living there. When I wasn't exploring the city of Lima, I was attending classes and spending time with my host mother. The classes and class work are manageable and resources are available if you need extra help. My only complaint in terms of academics is the lack of variety and lack of abundance of available classes. One other thing that prospective students should worry about is safety. I would not recommend traveling alone at night. Travel in groups of at least 4. This make taxis less expensive as well because you can split the taxis four ways. In addition, students should use radio taxis late in the night instead street taxis because radio taxis are known to be much safer. They are a little more expensive than street taxis but it is worth it to know that you are safe. Also, please please do not carry anything of value on you if it is not absolutely necessary (iphone, camera, passport). I know that you will want to pictures, so plan what days you want to take pictures and bring a group of people with you. Be careful! Put your money in different locations on your person when you do carry money ( bra, pockets, shoes). Don't worry too much! You are going to have a great experience. Remember to come with an open mind and be willing to immerse yourself into a different culture. I highly recommend this program.

I would definitely recommend this program. I had an incredible experience taking Spanish courses at La Universidad del Pacifico and staying with a Peruvian host family. My language skills improved immensely, I gained an appreciation for the Peruvian culture, and met wonderful people from around the world. Study abroad has been a highlight of my college career and a life changing experience. The onsite staff through ISA are absolutely amazing--willing to help out with anything at anytime. I would also suggest signing up for all of the excursions. I went to on trips to the rainforest, Machu Picchu, and to a desert oasis/beach town, and those were highlights of my entire trip.