Peru

Experience Cusco from a local perspective living in one of the most culturally important destinations in the world. Cusco, a beautiful, historic town in the Andes, is the gateway to the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu. Peruvian culture is steeped in history and heavily influenced by the Incan Empire and Spanish colonization. IPSL’s program includes spending time exploring the Sacred Valley with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

“I was motivated to participate in an IPSL program when I found out that they give you the opportunity to provide hands-on service with grassroots organizations and they are a social benefit organization that reinvests its program revenues back into the communities where they have partnerships. The best thing about the IPSL program is that if you have a social cause, you are passionate about, they offer you an opportunity to bring your ideas to life at local organizations.“ –Alex, IPSL Alum

Learn

Learn about the concepts related to Indigenous Knowledge and analyze the role of traditional healing in rural communities in Peru and its potential applications in modern medicine. Compare and analyze the fusion of traditional healing and shamanic practices with contemporary medicine both locally and globally. Academic courses are available and are conducted in small groups with lots of good discussion, excursions, lectures, and hands-on learning opportunities.

• Spanish Language (Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced) 
• COSA in Peru (Community Organizing and Social Activism) 
• Indigenous Knowledge, Health and Human Rights in Peru
• Environmental Justice as a Social Movement

Serve

Volunteer service opportunities allow participants to make great connections and understand the challenges Cuzqueños and other Peruvians face. IPSL works with each participant to find a volunteer organization that serves the community and leverages your talents and interests. Volunteer options may include:

• Promoting entrepreneurship: business sustainability for women and youth
• Teaching English
• Child development and education: teaching English in a rural school
• Health care: working with children/young adults with disabilities
• Social work and rehabilitation: working at residential home for abandoned children with Downs Syndrome
• Promoting intercultural work: assisting at a residential facility for low-income rural people relocating to the city
• Working on environmental projects with Indigenous peoples

Live

IPSL's participants live with a Peruvian family so they get to know Peruvian life (from the inside!). Homestays offer the opportunity to make life-long friends as well as gain higher proficiency in Spanish language. Participants are matched with the type of household they prefer (no pets, lots of pets, young children, smoking or no-smoking environment, etc.). Most meals are included, and our host families love to share meals to make our participants feel welcome and part of the family. 

Meet Franko, IPSL Program Director in Peru

For over 2 decades, Franko has been warmly welcoming visitors to his hometown of Cusco, Peru, through his Cultural Immersion Organization. He and his dedicated team are passionate about introducing students to the real Cusco—its rich culture, traditions, and community.

Franko holds a degree in Tourism Management and Business from the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco. His academic background provides a strong foundation for supporting IPSL students in their cultural and service immersion programs. His favorite part of the work? Sharing the beauty of his culture and country while ensuring each student's experience is as seamless and meaningful as possible.
While no trip to Cusco would be complete without visiting iconic sites like Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Franko encourages travelers to slow down, connect with the local Cusqueños, and savor the region’s incredible cuisine. And for the adventurous, he recommends trying a bit of cuy (guinea pig)—a traditional Andean delicacy.

A passionate traveler himself, Franko is also a devoted family man with two young daughters who are already catching the travel bug. To him, the most important thing in life is spending time with family. When you arrive in Cusco, you can count on Franko and the entire IPSL team to greet you with enthusiasm and welcome you into the IPSL family.