I studied in Cusco a little over 2 months and fell in love with the place. Starting with my host family, they were so sweet. My ‘mom’ always made the best food and after dinner we’d often play cards with my ‘brothers’ and ‘dad.’ I quickly felt like I was part of the family. The city itself is extremely fun! There are so many outdoor activities like hiking, rafting, zip-lining, bungee jumping, all types of cool things to do. You’re surrounded by history in Cusco so there are also many fascinating museums to learn more about the Incan and pre-Incan cultures. On top of all that, the nightlife is awesome. People really know how to party in Peru! With all the tourists mixed in with the locals, you meet a lot of interesting people who are all looking to have some fun. But I wouldn’t have discovered all that this city has to offer without the help of the amazing ECELA staff. Right off the bat Ygor was very friendly and offered many ideas of places to go and things to see as activities with the school and on your own time. He was always only a phone call away whenever you needed anything, which is very comforting when you’re in a foreign country. Erik, a great professor and friend, always made classes very engaging with jokes, city tours and discussions on real life situations. My entire experience with ECELA was beyond amazing and I highly recommend the program to anyone looking to really learn Spanish and experience life in South America.