Explore Health, Culture, and Language in the Peruvian Andes and Amazon

More information available from the Global Education Office.

Explore social-cultural histories, health disparities, community health mitigation efforts in the Andean and neighboring Amazon region of Peru with Duke in Perú! This 6-week, 2.0 credit program in Peru includes two signature courses that contextualize health in the indigenous communities, as well as a twice-a-week non-credit Quechua course.

  • Study health and justice at their intersection: Examine how cultural dynamics, environmental change, and linguistic diversity impact healthcare access and outcomes. 
  • Explore two distinct regions of Peru: From Lima to Cusco and into the Amazon, this program spans urban centers, highland communities, and rainforest ecosystems. 
  • Learn from local experts and communities: Collaborate with Peruvian organizations like Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC), Conservación Amazónica–ACCA, and Vidawasi. 
  • Develop your language repertoire in Spanish and learn the basics of Quechua Collao: Deepen your fluency in Spanish through academic coursework and develop foundational skills in Quechua, one of the most widely spoken Indigenous languages in the Americas.  

PROGRAM FAST FACTS

Location: Lima, Cusco, Urubamba, and Pilcopata, Peru

Term: Summer II 

Dates: Arrival: June 28, 2026 - Departure: August 7, 2026

Application Deadline: February 1st (Rolling Admissions).There are currently no active application cycles for this program.

Academic Themes: Quechua, Spanish, Global Health, Public Policy, Linguistics, Environmental Sciences, Latin American Studies, or planning careers in cross-cultural or public service settings.

Credit Type: Duke Credit 

Eligibility: Must have completed at least one 300-level Spanish course.

Duke Affiliation: Co-Sponsored by Duke’s Department of Romance Studies & the Duke Global Health Institute 

Housing Type: Residence Hall 

Independent Travel Time During Program: Not permitted.

Academics

Students will be enrolled in the 2 program signature courses, as well as a twice weekly, non-credit Quechua course. Courses meet from 9-11:30, Monday – Thursday, with an experiential component that includes shadowing at Vidawasi, UTEC, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, and other sites in Cusco and Lima from 1-5 p.m. Excursions will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Neither the pass/fail option nor auditing is permitted.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Spanish 204; successful completion of a 300-level Spanish course is preferred. Students who have already taken SPANISH 317 or Spanish 408 are not eligible to participate.

Courses & Credits

SPANISH 317A
Community Health and Intercultural Awareness: Health Initiatives in the Andes/Salud comunitaria y conciencia intercultural: iniciativas de salud en los Andes 
(CZ, CCI, EI, FL / IJ) 1.0 credit
This course delves into the complex relationship between community health and intercultural awareness. It explores how socio-historical practices and interaction with the land not only influence understandings of health, well-being and illness but also profoundly influence health care access, delivery and outcomes within indigenous communities in Urubamba, Cuzco. Students will gain specific knowledge related to these communities and their health practices and outcomes. Students will also develop an understanding of the relevance of developing intercultural competence.

SPANISH 408A/LATAMER 408A
Language, Rights, and Health in Peru: Culture and Indigenous Communities in the Andes and Amazon
(CZ, FL / IJ, LG) 1.0 credit
This course examines linguistic rights in Peru with a special focus on Indigenous Andean and Amazonian communities and their access to health services. Using critical interculturality as a guiding framework, we explore how language, culture, and power shape citizenship, inclusion, and the fulfillment (or denial) of rights. Through historical texts, policy documents, audiovisual materials, and contemporary testimonies, students will analyze the relationship between language, health, and justice in multicultural societies. Course methodology combines critical discourse analysis, reflective writing, and applied research, encouraging students to connect theoretical debates on linguistic rights with the lived experiences of Indigenous communities.

*All courses subject to change.

ACTIVITIES

Duke in Peru blends classroom learning with cultural immersion and hands-on experience. Excursions and site visits are designed to reinforce course content, engage students with Indigenous knowledge systems, and provide access to Peru’s incredible history, landscapes, and communities. 

Past experiences have included: 

  • Cusco city tours and historic site visits – Explore the former Inca capital and its living cultural traditions through guided walks and museum visits. 
  • Trip to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley – Understand the cultural and spiritual significance of these iconic Andean sites and their relation to Indigenous identity. 
  • Field work with Vidawasi and ACCA – Shadow professionals and engage in community projects that address pediatric care and environmental health. 
  • Lima and Beyond: Historic Center, Memory Sites, and Histories of Enslaved Peoples – Discover how colonial legacies, present-day activism, and rapid urban growth shape life in Lima today. 
  • Language and cultural immersion through Quechua workshops – Develop communication skills and gain insight into Andean cosmovision and oral traditions. 

Excursions typically take place Friday through Sunday and include transportation, meals, and lodging when outside primary program sites. 

Note: Activities may vary from year to year. A final itinerary of events will be provided to students before their departure. 

HOUSING

Students will stay in double rooms at a residence hall or hotel, depending on the program location. Accommodations may vary between Lima, Cusco, and other sites visited during the program. 

Housing is arranged by the program and designed to support student access to academic and excursion sites. Additional details, including specific lodging assignments, will be provided to participants prior to departure or upon arrival. 

Meals 

Students cover their own dinners and some lunches in Lima. In Urubamba and Pilcopata, most meals are included Monday through Saturday. 

SUMMER 2026 SCHEDULE

Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted. 

  • Arrival: June 28, 2026
  • Departure: August 7, 2026