Peru Summer 2025 Information

Llama, Machu Picchu

 

WHY STUDY LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH IN CUSCO, PERU?

Cusco is the cradle of many civilizations of South America, including that of the mighty Inca Empire. After the Spanish invasion of the American continent beginning in the 1530s, Cusco became a mix of Inca and Spanish influences still seen today. The city has been built around ancient landmarks and is surrounded by incredible ruins, and is also the gateway to the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu, an Inca creation whose giant walls, terraces and ramps are nestled in a tropical mountain forest on the eastern slope of the Andes. In this program, you will be able to see, experience, and be in many spaces where history happened. What’s more, the conversational Spanish class will allow you to converse and learn Spanish directly from a Spanish-speaking country. The blending of Latin American history and Spanish-learning in Cusco, Peru, will give you a deeper connection to the land and the language. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS

  • Walking tour of Cusco including entrance to the Cathedral and Qoricancha Museum
  • Half-day visit to Sacsayhuamán
  • Half-day visit to Tambomachay and Puka Pukara
  • Half-day visit to Pikillaqta
  • Full-day excursion to Raqch’i
  • Two-day, one night excursion to Machu Picchu including transportation between Cusco and Aguas Calientes by private bus and Vistadome train; overnight in Aguas Calientes in twin or triple rooms with breakfast included

Included in all planned cultural activities are transportation and a professional English-speaking guide.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

  • Students participating in this program will earn units in courses taught by Santa Rosa Junior College faculty. This program is offered in partnership with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which arranges excursions & transportation, living accommodations, and a wide range of student support services. Units earned on this trip will appear on transcripts issued by Santa Rosa Junior College. 
  • Open to students age 18 and older with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or more. If you are below a 2.00 GPA and place a deposit for this program, it will be returned to you, and you could be assessed a nonrefundable $50 application fee from AIFS. If you’re not sure about your academic status, please check your SRJC portal or contact the Study Abroad coordinator, Patty Warne (pwarne@santarosa.edu).  
  • Students will be taking HIST 8.1 (History of Latin America to 1830) and SPAN 50A (Spanish Conversation for Beginners) for a total of 6 units. (Students who have already taken HIST 8.1 or SPAN 50A will take an independent study course as a substitute). 
  • AIFS will offer an optional round-trip flight transportation package (minimum of 10 students) at additional cost. You’ll be able to choose either the flight package or find your own flight. If necessary due to flight schedules, the transportation package will also include an overnight stay in twin or triple rooms in Lima. The flight package will also include all airport transfers once in Peru. The price of the airfare package will probably be known sometime in November. Round-trip flights SFO-CUSCO tend to be somewhere around $2,100.
  • Accommodations will be in host families in single or twin bedrooms with daily breakfast and lunch. Laundry is included once a week. Host families are typically located in the suburbs of Cusco up to 35 minutes travel time by public transport or walking.
  • Transportation included for all excursions and travel days.
  • AIFS will provide an on-site orientation program as well as a dedicated coordinator to ensure the smooth running of the program.
  • AIFS will provide 24-hour on-call service in Cusco for the duration of the program.
  • Student medical insurance will be included as outlined in the AIFS brochure.

PROGRAM DATES

  • Depart U.S.: Sunday, June 8, 2025
  • Arrive Cusco: Monday, June 9, 2025
  • Depart Cusco: Friday, July 25, 2025   

APPLICATION DEADLINE

  • The deadline to apply and place your deposit is March 7, 2025. Please note that this program is first come, first served and once it reaches its full capacity of 30 students, the program will be closed.
  • Right now it’s too soon to apply. Once the application link is ready (either in summer or early fall), you’ll find it on the Peru Application Process page.  https://study-abroad.santarosa.edu/peru-summer-2025-application-process

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Your Peru instructors, Laura Larqué and Noelina Gomez, will be holding informational meetings on this program either via Zoom or in-person on both the Petaluma and Santa Rosa campuses. The schedule of those meetings is still to be determined, but once ready, we will post the days and times here. If you’d like to receive emails that announce upcoming meetings, please request to be placed on our Peru Summer 2025 contact list by emailing Patty Warne, Study Abroad coordinator, at pwarne@santarosa.edu.  

PROGRAM COSTS/SCHOLARSHIPS/FINANCIAL AID

  • The AIFS program costs will have a base price of 5,295. These costs will include all lodging, scheduled field trips, medical insurance, and AIFS services. They will not include airfare, day-to-day expenses such as meals (except breakfast & lunch as indicated), and class tuition and books. AIFS will be offering a group flight option at additional cost, which will also include transportation from the airport in Peru to your first night’s destination. Check back here later for the AIFS fees, as well as a run-down of what is and isn’t included in them. 
  • Scholarships Information: There will be one AIFS scholarship available for $500, provided you’re willing to maintain a blog. All students in the Peru program are eligible. Check back here later for the AIFS scholarship application and instructions. (Note: you’ll only be able to find the scholarship application here; do not go to the general AIFS website). The deadline for the scholarship will be March 7, 2025.
  • Financial Aid: Financial aid in the summer is more limited than in the fall and spring, but the Promise Grant and the Pell Grant are still available for qualifying students. In addition, if you are eligible for the Pell Grant, check out the Gilman Scholarship. The application usually opens mid-January and the due date is usually around the first week of March: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

AIFS REFUND DATES & CANCELLATION FEES

Refund requests must be done in writing to AIFS. They accept emails and that is generally the easiest way (customizedfacultyled@aifs.com). See the official refund policy on your Agreement & Release form on the AIFS application. Dates to remember regarding AIFS refunds once you are enrolled in the program:

  • Friday, March 14, 2025: Last day to request a refund of your $450 deposit less $150 in processing & non-refundable fees. After that date, AIFS will not refund any of the $450 deposit. Students will also be potentially subject to any nonrefundable canceled reservation fees by AIFS after this date. See details on the AIFS Agreement & Release form on your application.
  • Friday, April 11, 2025: Total program fee is due. NO REFUND OF PAYMENTS after this date.

AIFS PROGRAM CANCELLATION POLICY

Please click here for a summary of the AIFS program cancellation policy.