Cusco is a traveler’s favorite, and we know you’ll love it too. But unlike the typical traveler, you’ll have the opportunity to make Cusco your home for a full semester. Although Lima remains the official capital of Peru, Cusco was recently designated the historical capital of the country for its glorious past as the center of Incan civilization. UNESCO declared the city a World Heritage site in 1983, and you can easily see why: the legacy of Incan culture is readily apparent in the stunning architecture of the city, as well as its demographics.
Peru is a highlight of South America for its diverse landscape of jungles, beaches, and mountains, as well as for its friendly people, delicious Andean cuisine, fun cities, and remote villages. You will love listening to Andean flutes, staying warm with alpaca sweaters, eating healthy quinoa soup, cheering on the Cienciaro futbol team, learning salsa moves, exploring the hippie San Blas neighborhood, volunteering locally, walking on cobblestone streets to nearby ruins, and relaxing in the famous Plaza de Armas. Cusco is a city you will never forget and that you will love living in for your semester abroad.