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Cusco, Peru
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Peru
is a country of borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and
the Pacific Ocean. With a population of more than 25.000.000 indigenous,
mestizo (mixed Indian and European blood), African, Japanese, Chinese and
other mixed peoples, the country was the capital of the great Inca Empire.
With two official languages (Spanish and indigenous Quechua), the country
has three distinct regions, a narrow coastal belt (along the Pacific Ocean),
the wide Andean mountains and the Amazon rainforest.Peru is renowned as the land of the Incas, but many other great pre-Columbian civilizations flourished there, such as the Nazca and Moche. Visitors can see the ancient ruins of these civilizations in and around Cuzco.
This ancient city
founded in 1100 AD was once the capital of the great Inca civilization and
is home to magnificent examples of colonial and Inca architecture. The
stone foundations of Inca temples are still visible in the colonial
buildings in and around the city.
The variety of colonial Spanish and ancient 
Inca
sites make the city a fascinating place to learn Spanish. The Spanish
legacy has left the city a host of colonial arcades, churches such as La
Merced and convents, while Inca sites like the Temple of the Sun dot the
landscape with fabulous stonework and unique designs. Many international
tourists are drawn to Cuzco for its proximity to the famous Machu Picchu
ruins and the Inca Trail. Due to the high elevation, it is cold at night
and cool during the day year-round. However, this can be a great excuse to
seek out the many markets selling the beautiful wool sweaters and textiles
of Peru.
| Cuzco |
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The
school occupies a large building on one of Cuzco's main avenues, Avenida
El Sol, directly in front of the most important sites from pre-Colombian
Cuzco, the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun). The building houses two full
floors with about 15 classrooms, a video room, a full kitchen, an
entertainment room and a sundeck. Our Cuzco school is conveniently located
next to the main post-office, Internet cafes, banks, money exchanges, etc.
It is about four blocks from the main square, the Plaza de Armas, the
central meeting area of Cuzco (a great place to people watch!). Classes
are held in rooms decorated with typical Peruvian handicrafts. |
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Programmes Offered
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| Accommodations |
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- Homestays
Families belong to Peru's middle class, although students should take note that living standards in Peru are generally lower than in Europe or North America. Family homes are located in neighborhoods usually no more than a 10 minute bus ride to school. Participants choosing to stay with a family should recognize that a certain degree of flexibility will be required to adjust to the Peruvian customs and way of life. Distance to school is normally a 20-minute walk. The rest are a 10-15 minute bus ride or 5-10 minute taxi ride to school. Students are offered a single room with the family that includes half board.
| Excursions & Activities |
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As part of the language program, we offer 3-4 organized activities every week. In addition, students will find a daily schedule of cultural events in Cuzco and surrounding areas, locations of theaters, museums, festivals as well as ticket prices are available.
- Activities include
Visits to local areas of interest, dance classes, cooking classes, cultural classes, Parties & Fiestas, Spanish languages videos & movies, Seminars & Discussion Groups
Please Note: You may need to pay "out-of-pocket" expenses (bus fare, entrance fees, etc.) when activities take place outside of the school. - Excursions
In cooperation with local tour operators, Casa de Lenguas (Enforex) can help you arrange excursions to different places of interest both locally and throughout Peru. These excursions range from several days (e.g. a weekend) to longer.