Peru Study
The Peru Study Abroad Program is one of the most unique study abroad programs offered by any university in the country. The program offers students a chance to spend five weeks living in Cuzco, Peru while obtaining 12 units of academic credit. Students study Spanish and take Cal Poly general education courses that incorporate hands-on, community-based development work. Excursions include trips to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon rainforest. The program runs from June 16 to July 24, 2010.
Few places in the world capture the imagination like Peru. Peru is located in the heart of Andean South America and has a population of 28 million people. It is a place of outstanding natural and cultural diversity. The Peruvian Andes are home to millions of highland Indians who preserve much of their traditional way of life and still speak the indigenous language of Quechua. Referred to as the "Land of the Incas," Peru is also the undisputed archeological capital of the Americas, and Machu Picchu is its most famous site. Peru 's varied landscapes also include the famous Lake Titicaca which generations of school children have studied. Just east of the Andes lies one of the world's most biologically diverse regions, the Peruvian Amazon.
Students will travel to and study in Cuzco, Peru. Cuzco is a city of 350,000 people situated at 10,800 feet in southern highlands. Cuzco, which means "naval of the universe," was the capital of the Inca Empire and is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city. Conquered by the Spanish in 1533, Cuzco is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Latin America. Inca-built walls line the city's narrow and cobbled streets and still form the foundations for many buildings. The city is so rich in history and culture that it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. In addition, Cuzco 's location offers convenient access to the Sacred Valley (including Machu Picchu ), Lake Titicaca, and the Peruvian Amazon.