South America - Ecuador & Peru

South America changed me in more ways than I can articulate, or know. Everyday I think of it and notice the mark it left on me . . . . I do not think I could describe my gratitude in any amount of words.

Kelly Stewart, South America - Spring 2005



Orientation:

After arrival in Ecuador, we either head straight to the cloud forest or the coast for orientation. Nestled in a backpackers' retreat, you'll get your sea legs under you and hit the semester running. Learn more about Ecuador, Peru, the program and each other. During this time you work on communication skills, team-building activities, map out your movements and set your intentions for the semester. We'll have activities and scavenger hunts to get deeper into the local culture and start breaking out our rusty Spanish.

Environmental Work:

Participate as a community member of Rio Muchacho, an organic farm located just outside of the coastal surfing town of Canoa and the port city of Bahia de Caraquez. Here you will spend a week learning the principles of sustainable farming and living practices-like utilizing alternative energy sources, such as solar and biogas (That's right! Putting methane to good use!) as well as the importance of ecotourism, zero waste, and fair trade. Learn the practices that have earned Bahia de Caraquez the bragging rights as Ecuador's first Ecocity. Being so close to Canoa, you can spend your weekend swimming, surfing, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking or relaxing in a hammock under the coastal sun.

Language Study:

Spend 2 weeks studying Spanish in a one-on-one or small group setting. Spend the mornings perfecting your Spanish with your host family, participating in cultural activities like traditional cooking or salsa lessons or explore the city's museums and cathedrals, or help with games and English at the local schools. In the afternoon, you'll have 4 hours of language study, with time spent both practicing with your teacher in the classroom as out in the city using Spanish together. Sneak away on the weekend to mountain bike, hike, or relax in nearby hot springs.

Carpe Diem Gap Year South America

Community Development and Cultural Exchange:

Head north to the quaint town of Otavalo, home of the largest handicraft market in South America. Spend the weekend in and amongst the ethnic diversity of Ecuador's Andean peoples and watch the city come alive.

Just outside of Otavalo, we'll work with a small community in a reforestation project and native plants nursery. This is a rich opportunity to see the agricultural and rural side of life that sustains much of Ecuador. Living with host families gives you another great opportunity to practice your Spanish while giving back to the community.

Explore:

Spend a few days in the vibrant city of Quito, exploring this UNESCO World Heritage city, visiting the "Mitad del Mundo" on the Equator line, and saying your goodbyes to Ecuador before heading to....

PERU

Language Study:

Peruvian Shopping on a Carpe Diem Gap Year We'll start our Peru adventure perfecting our Spanish with another 2 weeks of language school in the high-flying Andean city of Cuzco, Peru. You will again have the opportunity to practice your Spanish skills with a homestay family. Afternoons may be spent helping in local schools, practicing salsa dancing, or further exploring this ancient Incan city.

Free Travel:

Cusco is a perfect jumping off spot for our student directed free travel. Put your traveling skills to the test as you design and implement this great opportunity to explore the beauty of Peru. Work with each other and a budget to find your way to raft down Colca Canyon, explore Pisco, Ica and the Nazca Lines, visit Lake Titicaca, or further explore the Sacred Valley.

Spiritual Retreat:

Appropriately named, we head to the Sacred Valley for our spiritual retreat. This is where we take a little downtime to integrate all that we have learned from each other, our travels and the communities we've been a part of. This is an opportunity to try some Yoga, pay attention to our bodies, minds and spirits, integrating it all in a breath-taking atmosphere.

Machu Picchu Trek:

For the grand finale of our semester, we spend 5 days trekking through the remote villages of the Sacred Valley and summiting the mountain passes of the Andes to the phenomenal ancient Incan city of the clouds. This is one of the most beautiful and sacred walks in South America leading to Machu Picchu, one of the new Wonders of the World. Take the day to explore the ruins, learn of this ancient civilization, and then rest your weary bones in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes.

Program Details

Program Dates:

Spring 2012: February 8 - May 2
Fall 2012: September 18 - December 11th

Group Size:

Machu Picchu

A maximum of 12 Students & 2 Adult Leaders

Eligibility:

Ages 17 and Up

University Credit & Federal Financial Aid:

FAFSA & Up to 18 credits available through Portland State University: www.pdx.edu

Language Requirement:

None

Admissions:

No deadline - applications accepted on a rolling basis until 2 weeks prior to start date.

Program Fee:

$9,900 program fee includes all food, accommodations and scheduled program activities for the duration of the program. International airfare, health insurance and spending money are extra. International airfare estimated at $1400; internal flight estimated at $350. For information on Financial Aid click here.

Program Policies:

For a detailed description of our Program Expectations and Rules - The Sacred 6 - please click this link. These are the rules that we expect of all of our students for their overall safety and to provide the best possible program.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a part of the world that is rich with history and tradition, and learn about yourself in the process. If you are interested in practicing your Spanish-language skills, Carpe Diem's South America study abroad program presents the perfect way to hone your skills. If you're just getting started learning Spanish this program will be the perfect opportunity to learn how to read and write and live it.

Carpe Diem offers exciting opportunities to travel, study and learn about the people of South America, all while making a difference in the communities in which you'll stay. By studying abroad in South America with us, you'll scale mountains, work on meaningful construction projects and experience the unparalleled beauty of Peru and Ecuador. Study abroad in South America and learn about a world you never knew existed.

During many of our semesters you can count on teaching being one of the many types of volunteering that takes place. This recent team that was on our South America program was teaching English to some of the local school kids using the old standby of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." For more videos please visit our You Tube page.