Choose your Summer 2026 Program!
| Step into the vibrant heart of Peru, where ancient history meets a modern Pacific pulse. Designed for high school students ages 14–18, this 15-day immersion combines intensive Spanish learning with dedicated service, offering a profound window into the resilient spirit of Lima.
Situated where ancient history meets a modern Pacific pulse, the Lima program offers a high-impact, 15-day residency designed for high school students seeking to fulfill community service requirements while achieving measurable linguistic progress. The curriculum centers on a structured daily integration: mornings are dedicated to communicative Spanish workshops at a local language school, followed by afternoons of meaningful volunteer work at a local casa hogar (children’s home). By combining vetted homestays in the secure Miraflores district with intensive service and regional expeditions, the program provides a profound window into the resilient spirit of the "City of Kings."
Program Location: Lima, Peru
Eligibility: 14-18 years of age
Group Size: Typical cohort of 6–8 participants (Min: 5 / Max: 10)
Community Service: 20 hours
Focus: Community Service & Spanish Language
Level of Spanish: Basic level recommended
Accommodation: Homestay (2-3 students per home)
Arrival & Departure Airport: LIM (Jorge Chávez International Airport)
Room & Board | Onsite Directors & 24/7 Support | Tuition | Community Service Placement | Excursions | Cultural Activities | Airport Transfers | International Medical Insurance
A consistent daily blend of learning and action. Unlike our multi-phase programs, Lima integrates language and service every day, allowing students to immediately apply their classroom skills to their community projects.
8:30 AM: Breakfast at your Homestay. Start the day with a traditional Peruvian breakfast and fresh maracuya juice at your vetted local residence.
9:00 AM: Spanish Language Immersion. Intensive morning sessions (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) at our partner language school, focusing on Peruvian culture and vocabulary.
1:00 PM: Lunch & Cohort Bond. Enjoy a packed lunch from home or gather for group meals featuring Lima’s world-famous cuisine—from a Ceviche contest to a local café in Barranco.
3:00 PM: Community Service Impact. Spend your afternoons (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM) at our partner youth center, engaging in mentorship, sports, and facility improvements.
6:00 PM: Coastal Discovery. Explore the bohemian district of Barranco, visit the ancient adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, or join a Peruvian dance class.
8:00 PM: Dinner & Reflections. Return home for a warm meal and conversation with your hosts—the perfect time to practice your Spanish.
10:00 PM: Evening Curfew.
Where tradition meets contemporary impact. In Lima, Arcos bridges the gap between Peru’s storied past and its dynamic present. Through daily immersion, students build the linguistic confidence to engage deeply with the local community and the country's diverse landscape.
The Pachamanca Experience. A journey to the Peruvian countryside to participate in a Pachamanca—an ancient earthen-oven cooking ritual. This hands-on experience connects students to the agricultural traditions that have sustained the Andes for millennia.
Marine Discovery at Islas Ballestas. An expedition to the "Galapagos of Peru." Students navigate the Pacific to encounter sea lions and Humboldt penguins, exploring the unique ecology and conservation efforts of the Paracas National Reserve.
The Urban Canvas of Barranco. Guided explorations of Lima’s most creative district. From street art tours to coastal cliff walks, students experience the modern, bohemian energy of this global cultural capital.
Learning in Lima doesn't stop at the classroom door. Our expeditions are designed to pull back the curtain on Peru’s complex identity, taking you from the ancient adobe pyramids of pre-Incan civilizations to the rugged wildlife of the Pacific coast. Each journey is a curated opportunity to apply Spanish in the field while uncovering the historical and natural wonders that make Lima the "City of Kings."
Marine Discovery: Islas Ballestas & Paracas. Often called the "Galapagos of Peru," this high-speed boat expedition takes students to the Ballestas Islands. You’ll navigate past the mysterious "Candelabra" geoglyph to encounter massive colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and diverse marine birds in their natural Pacific habitat.
The Pachamanca Ritual: An Ancestral Feast. Journey to the countryside for a Día del Campo to experience one of the Andes’ oldest traditions. Students participate in the preparation of a Pachamanca, an earthen-oven feast that serves as a profound lesson in Peruvian agricultural heritage and community spirit.
Ancestral Heritage: Huaca Pucllana. Explore history in the heart of the modern city. Students tour this massive clay and adobe ceremonial pyramid, built by the Lima Culture around 500 AD. It serves as a stunning backdrop for understanding the layering of pre-Hispanic and colonial history.
The Urban Pulse: Barranco & Street Art. Immerse yourself in the bohemian soul of Lima. This guided walking expedition through the Barranco district focuses on the vibrant mural culture and contemporary art scene, crossing the famous Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) to reach the ocean cliffs.
Culinary Mastery: Ceviche & Gastronomy. Students participate in a hands-on ceviche-making workshop and friendly cohort competition, learning the secrets of leche de tigre and the cultural importance of the Pacific’s bounty in the culinary capital of South America.
A focused 15-day immersion. At Arcos Journeys Abroad, we manage the logistics of this high-impact Peruvian residency so students can focus on language and service. From the cliffs of Miraflores to the youth centers of the local community, every detail is curated for safety and growth.
Intensive Language Study: 30 hours of professional Spanish instruction at our partner school, tailored to Peruvian culture and service-based vocabulary.
Community Service Placement: 20 hours of coordinated impact work at a local youth center, including orientation and onsite supervision.
Vetted Homestays: 14 nights of accommodations in the safe residential districts of Miraflores. Includes breakfast, dinner, and a daily packed lunch.
Regional Expeditions: All transportation and guides for the Islas Ballestas boat tour and the Paracas National Reserve excursion.
Cultural Access: Guided entries to Huaca Pucllana, the Ceviche cooking contest, and traditional Peruvian dance workshops.
24/7 Arcos Leadership: Continuous on-ground mentorship and the security of the Arcos "Group Bubble" protocol.
Global Protection: Comprehensive international medical insurance and all local ground transportation, including airport transfers (LIM).
Not Included: Round-trip airfare to Lima (LIM) and personal spending money for souvenirs or additional snacks.
Student well-being is the primary metric of success. Arcos combines the cultural immersion of Peru with a rigorous supervision model built for high school travelers. This framework provides the professional structure and local expertise necessary for a secure and confident experience in the "City of Kings."
Navigation is managed with constant oversight. All commutes to community service sites and group cultural excursions are led by Arcos Directors to ensure safety and local guidance throughout the city.
Resident Directors are on the ground and available around the clock, providing immediate support, local expertise, and a direct line of communication for families.
Homestays are located exclusively in Miraflores, a secure residential district renowned for its walkability, coastal parks, and high safety standards.
Discovery is balanced with a strict 10:00 PM curfew and a mandatory buddy system, ensuring a structured and predictable environment for every student.
A native of the historic port of Callao, César is a seasoned economist and educator with over a decade of experience leading U.S. university study abroad programs in Peru. He combines academic rigor with a deep-seated passion for social equity, having led numerous volunteer initiatives for both local and international organizations. A dedicated mentor and expert on Peru’s "mysteries and wonders," César provides the essential local leadership and community connections that define the Arcos experience in the City of Kings.
"The 15-day structure was perfect for my summer. I loved that we didn't wait to start our service work; we were at the youth center every afternoon applying what we learned in Spanish class that morning. Living in Miraflores made me feel incredibly safe, and the view of the Pacific every day never got old." — Eden, 10th Grade, The Paideia School, Atlanta, GA
"The highlight of the trip for me was the Pachamanca. It wasn't just a meal; it was a window into how ancient traditions still thrive in Peru. Between the boat trip to the Ballestas Islands and our daily conversations with our host family, I felt like I truly understood the 'City of Kings' by the time I left." — Leila, 11th Grade, Somerville High School, Somerville, MA
"I arrived in Lima nervous about my Spanish, but the teachers at the language school and the kids at our service site were so encouraging. By the second week, I was leading soccer drills and navigating the district with my friends. It’s an experience that really pushed me to grow as a leader." — Andre, 12th Grade, The Beacon School, New York, NY
Safety is the cornerstone of the Arcos experience. During the initial orientation, Directors lead students through their specific routes to ensure they are comfortable with the local geography. For all service-related travel and group excursions, students move within the Arcos Group Bubble, accompanied by program staff. Our vetted homestays are located in the secure, pedestrian-friendly district of Miraflores, and a strict 10:00 PM curfew is enforced to ensure a structured and secure environment.
Arcos partners with established local youth centers to provide consistent, meaningful support. Because this is a 15-day intensive program, the service is integrated daily. Students typically engage in youth mentorship, leading sports clinics like soccer or basketball, and assisting with facility improvements. These projects are carefully selected to be age-appropriate and safe, allowing high schoolers to see the immediate impact of their work while practicing their Spanish in a real-world setting.
No prior fluency is required. The program is designed to accommodate all levels, from true beginners to advanced speakers. By holding intensive Spanish workshops in the mornings, students build the specific "service vocabulary" and cultural confidence needed for their afternoon placements. Our instructors at the partner language school specialize in communicative teaching, ensuring that every student—regardless of their starting point—makes measurable linguistic progress during their stay in the "City of Kings."
