Peru: Spanish in Cusco

Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture by spending three weeks engaged in language study in Cusco, Peru. Participants will take daily University-level Spanish classes for a total of 60 contact hours. When not in classes, participants will have free time to explore the vibrant city of Cusco, attend cooking and dance classes, visit Machu Picchu, and participate in a week of community outreach service-learning. Students will be placed in local homestays, which will provide a room and two meals per day.

Travel Dates

May 25 - June 13, 2026

Program Eligibility

  • All participants must be 18 or over.
  • Central Piedmont students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Associated Courses

After completion of the courses in Peru, students must take and pass the final exam of the course at Central Piedmont to earn the 3 credit hours of transferrable language credit. This process of course enrollment will be facilitated by the Center for Global Engagement. Placement exams will be administered on the first day in Peru.

  • SPA 111
  • SPA 112
  • SPA 211

Program Leaders

Program Highlights

  • Service learning 
  • Homestays
  • Imperial city of Cusco (Cathedral, La Compañia, San Blas, Plaza Nazarenas, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Regocijo, City Hall, etc.)
  • Dance lesson (salsa-merengue)
  • Machu Picchu
  • Cooking lesson (causa limena and chicha morada)
  • Visit traditional vegetable and fruit market / San Pedro

Predeparture Engagement Requirements

  • Required: in-person predeparture meeting. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive information about the date and time of this meeting.

Money Matters

Estimated cost: $3,555 + $100 application fee

This estimated cost includes:

  • airfare and transportation
  • lodging
  • some meals
  • program costs
  • travel insurance

Payment deadlines will be posted soon.

Additional Expenses

The following expenses are not included in the program fee:

  • passport and visa fees (if applicable)
  • personal expenses, such as meals not included, souvenirs, and activities outside of the itinerary
  • course registration fees at Central Piedmont that are associated with the program

Application Instructions

  1. Apply for the program through the Campus Community link.
  2. Create an account or log in to Campus Community with your Central Piedmont email through the provided link.
  3. Complete the Study Abroad application thoughtfully and in its entirety including the video submission and essay questions. Studying Abroad is an educational opportunity; your application should demonstrate your commitment to and interest in this program.
  4. Pay the $100 nonrefundable application fee and follow the instructions to submit proof of this payment in Campus Community.

Note: If any of these steps are not completed, your application will not be considered.

Please email any questions to The Center for Global Engagement.

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