Peru is certainly not lacking in high school programs to suit the tastes of any high school student seeking an incredible international experience. Program opportunities range from high-adrenaline adventure travel to rural cultural integration to language immersion to volunteering projects covering everything from conservation to archaeology to medicine.
Community service programs are the most popular type of high school program in Peru. Service programs typically involve volunteering during the week, with weekends set aside for pre-arranged tours to places of interest, including the must-see Machu Picchu. For those seeking hands-on experience, volunteer programs are excellent, as these programs are carefully structured, use bilingual guides, and allow participants to contribute to pre-organised volunteering projects. Not to mention students can earn some very valuable community service hours, possibly up to 100 hours for a three week trip alone.
While service programs tend to spend a longer period in a specific destination(s), adventure travel programs will generally begin in Lima and then take students to many other fascinating parts of the country. When we say adventure travel, we mean wildlife watching, sandboarding in a desert oasis, and hiking through incredible mountain landscapes, including, of course, Machu Picchu. Plus, if you want to make your time in Peru even more meaningful, some programs combine adventure travel with a short stint of volunteering (two for the price of one? kind of!).
Fancy learning Spanish or Quechua? Peru is a great location to take language immersion courses. Language courses, in some cases, are available through local universities and require you to have previous knowledge of Spanish. But, never fear, the vast majority of language programs in Peru for high school students cater to those with only beginner level Spanish skills. By combining language immersion with a volunteer project, as is offered through many programs, you’ll have an excellent environment in which to practice your new vocabulary.
Regardless of which type of high school program in Peru you choose, the perfect time to visit is in June or July, when the majority of programs happen to run (lucky for you it’s the dry season, which will make the experience vastly more enjoyable!). If you’re between 16 and 19 years of age, then there are plenty of program options to pick from in Peru, and there are even a few programs for students as young as 14 too.
