Cusco
Peru
Once the capital of the Incan Empire, Cusco is most famous as the jumping off point for treks along the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu. But Cusco has so much more to offer than that. It's a beautiful city perched high in the Andes. Once you've acclimatised to its dizzying altitude, you can discover the beautiful side streets of San Blas, explore the surrounding Incan ruins on horseback, and pick up hand woven artisinal garms made from alpaca wool at the local market. Not to mention the plethora of rafting, mountain biking, and trekking opportunities in the region!
Key Location Info
Study Abroad Fees:
$2,650
N/A
We don't run Study Abroad Programs to this location currently.
This is where fees start for a 6 week Study Abroad Program to this location.
It's important to note that program fees increase as programs draw closer, so typically the sooner you secure your place on a program the lower fees you will pay.
Sometimes we run programs that are not 6 weeks. The fees for those programs will reflect the time frame.
To see what's included in your program fees, head to our dedicated Study Abroad page.
Gap Year Fees:
$2,850
N/A
We don't run Gap Year Programs to this location currently.
This is where fees start for a 6 week Gap Year Program to this location.
It's important to note that program fees increase as programs draw closer, so typically the sooner you secure your place on a program the lower fees you will pay.
Sometimes we run programs that are not 6 weeks. The fees for those programs will reflect the time frame.
To see what's included in your program fees, head to our dedicated Gap Year page.
Program Living Expenses:
$1,116
This is what we suggest Edumads bring as spending money on a 6 week program to this location. This estimate includes allowance for all:
- Food & drink
- Activities
- Entertainment
- Excursions
This figure is our estimate for a typical experience on a program. It's possible to spend far more or far less depending on your choices and priorities during your time abroad.
Our estimate for Gap Year programs and Study Abroad programs is the same.
Solo Edumad Budget:
$1,127
This is what we estimate it would cost per month to live in this location if you were to organize your own trip.
We teach students how to organize their own trips in the Edumadic Academy.
Machu Picchu
The wonder that put Cusco on the map, Machu Picchu is what brings most to this part of the world. An engineering miracle perched high out of sight from reality, the city is synonymous with the Incas. A tourist trap? Sure. But one that absolutely lives up to the hype!
Rainbow Mountain
These mountains are the newest additions to Perus tourist trail. They're a result of geological forces inflicted on the region when it was covered in ice.
Before 2014 almost nobody visited the mountains due to their inaccessibility. The only way to reach them was via the 5 day Ausangate Trek. Now they're reachable via a 3.5 hour drive from Cusco, followed by a 2 hour hike, which is still extremely strenuous due to the 5,200m altitude. That's only 189m lower than Everest basecamp!
Understand the Incas
The Inca Empire was the largest ever in the Western Hemisphere and in it's heyday had a population of over 10 million people, which was a lot back in the 1400s!
Cusco was the capital of the Empire and still oozes Inca, from the rainbow flag, to the colourful clothing, and on to the ruins that can be found on the outskirts of the city and beyond.
Lake Titicaca
6 hours by bus from Cusco you'll find Lake Titicaca straddling the Peru - Bolivia border. It's one of the largest lakes in Latin America and is the highest navigable body of water in the world. It's famous for being the birthplace of the sun in Andean folklore and having floating islands. The whole area is a picture of peace and well worth exploring for a couple of days.
Shop till you drop
Cusqueñans are known for their handwoven textiles and colourful designs, which are some of the finest textiles in South America. Alpaca wool is famous the world over, and there are hundreds of small artisanal shops on every street selling ponchos, sweaters, hats, and a plethora of other items made using it. You'll be able to pick up Alpaca wool garments at a fraction of the price you'd find back home.
