PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
With Focus On Foundations Of Global Health In Rural Villages
Explore traditional and modern approaches to medicine in rural Peru. Visit Quechua villages to support mobile clinics, learn about natural remedies and contribute to public health projects that have real impact.
Program Overview
On this program, you’ll step into the world of global health in Peru’s Sacred Valley, where modern medicine meets centuries-old healing traditions. During this immersive internship, you’ll support mobile clinics in rural Quechua villages, observe how traditional remedies are used alongside modern healthcare and contribute to community-driven public health initiatives.
Along the way, you’ll connect with local medical professionals and traditional healers, engage with Andean communities and deepen your understanding of rural healthcare and career pathways in the health sciences.
Outside the clinic, your adventure unfolds across the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes. You’ll trek the scenic Lares Trail, experience life in a Quechua homestay, and take in the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu. Round out your journey with adventure activities like rafting and kayaking through mountain rivers.
On GLA’s Peru Internship: Career Exploration in Medicine & Health with Focus on Foundations of Global Health in Rural Villages you will:
- Support mobile health clinics in rural Quechua villages while learning about prevalent public health challenges and how care is delivered in remote communities
- Explore the role of traditional Andean medicine in rural healthcare systems
- Spend a night with a Quechua host family and experience daily life, food and customs firsthand
- Get immersed in Peruvian Andean culture through art, music and culinary workshops and hands-on community projects
- Embark on a two-day expedition to Machu Picchu and camp among snow-capped mountains
- Earn a total of 62 internship hours focused on medicine and public health
Program Menu
PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Cuzco, settle into your Home Base, meet your group and explore the city on a walking tour before enjoying your first Peruvian dinner.
Day 2: Orientation, Cuzco Exploration & Intro To Peruvian Health
Today is our first full day in Peru! Start with an orientation to review goals, learning objectives, and internship expectations, then break into Mentor groups for icebreakers and activities. In the afternoon, take a Reality Tour of health and education sites across rural and urban Cuzco to explore disparities in access to services. End the day with dinner and a stroll through the historic Plaza de Armas, enjoying the city’s Incan and colonial landmarks.
Day 3: Community Tour & Andean Ceremony
Today, we’ll drive to our Home Base in the Sacred Valley. After settling in, we will visit the nearby ruins that tower over our town to receive an introduction to the Inca civilization! In the evening, participate in a traditional Andean ceremony to pay tribute to Mother Earth and create intentions for your time here in Peru!
Day 4: Project Workshop & Community Connection
Start the day with a project workshop to learn about the community development initiatives you’ll support, their goals, and impact. Meet local community members to build relationships, exchange stories, and gain insight into the perspectives guiding the work ahead.
Day 5: Maras Salt Mines, Kayaking & First Aid and CPR Training
Today, we’ll visit the pre-hispanic Maras Salt Mines to marvel at the Incan engineering that has stood the test of time. Following this, we’ll venture to Piuray Lagoon for a kayaking adventure, exploring the source of Cuzco’s water. In the afternoon, we’ll deepen our understanding of medical care by being trained by medical professionals and getting certified in First Aid and CPR!
Days 6–9: Shadowing Medical Clinics, Textiles & Skills Development
Shadow doctors providing pro-bono care in remote Andean communities, explore Incan backstrap weaving traditions, and participate in internship workshops, guest lectures, and group reflections to deepen your understanding of public health in Peru.
Days 10–11: Quechua Homestay & Whitewater Rafting
Experience authentic Andean life with a Quechua homestay, cooking and sharing stories with local families, followed by an exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure before returning to base.
Days 12–13: Shadowing Clinics, Group Activities & Peruvian Dance
Continue shadowing doctors and practicing medical Spanish, while evenings feature cultural activities like traditional Peruvian dance and project workshops enriched by guest speakers on community and public health.
Days 14–15: Environmental Health & Community Wellness
Collaborate with the Quechua community of Ampay on reforestation, medicinal plant projects and a seed bank while learning about nature-based solutions for holistic well-being. Afternoons are for team-building, reflection and preparing for your upcoming visit to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu.
Days 16–17: Lares Trek
Begin the trek in Lares, hiking through farming communities and alpine meadows, camping under the stars, and continuing to the Sacred Valley before taking a train to Aguas Calientes to prepare for Machu Picchu.
Day 18: Machu Picchu
Explore the Lost City of the Incas with a guided tour, visit the local artisanal market and return by train to Ollantaytambo and your Home Base.
Day 19: Cooking Class & San Pedro Market In Cuzco
Travel to Cuzco for a hands-on cooking class featuring traditional Peruvian dishes, followed by a visit to the San Pedro market to sample local flavors.
Day 20: Final Day & Farewell Dinner
Reflect on your three-week journey through presentations, leadership activities and group discussions, and celebrate with a farewell dinner honoring your experiences, growth and lasting connections.
Day 21: Departures
Before we know it, our Peruvian adventure has come to an end. Head to the airport today with memories that will last a lifetime! Staff will assist students with their check-in and accompany them until they have safely departed for their gates. ¡Buen Viaje!
Program Map
PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
Community Service
As part of your internship, you’ll take part in meaningful community service that bridges healthcare and public health. You’ll assist in mobile medical clinics in rural Quechua villages, helping with intake, health education and shadowing local professionals as they provide care in areas with limited access to medical services. As well as clinical support, you’ll contribute to a hands-on public health project. These projects are developed in collaboration with local leaders to meet real community needs and help improve overall health and well-being.
Hands-on Learning
Throughout the program, you’ll learn by doing in mobile medical clinics and within the wider community. Take part in a medical-focused tour that highlights the differences between rural and urban healthcare systems in Peru. Beyond your internship work, connect with local culture through hands-on classes in ceramics, music and dance. You’ll explore the famous Inca sites of Maras and Moray, wander the streets of historic Cusco and spend time with a Quechua family during a memorable homestay in the highlands.
Adventure
Alongside your internship experience, you’ll hike for two days on the scenic Lares Trail, surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes before reaching the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll also raft down glacial rivers and kayak across high-altitude lakes, experiencing Peru’s natural beauty from every angle.
Lodging & Meals
Stay in an exclusive hotel block in the Sacred Valley, outside the city of Cuzco. Students stay in gender-segregated rooms with roommates and have an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold water. There is ample space for group activities, conversation with your new friends and shared meals. During weekend hiking excursions, students will sleep in tents and local lodges provided by GLA.
Home Base staff will prepare authentic Peruvian cuisine for you to try! In Peru, breakfast is simple and typically includes eggs, fresh rolls and jam. Lunch and dinner contain rice, potatoes, fish, and many locally-grown fruits, such as cherimoya, lucuma, citrus fruits and pineapple. Pollo a la brasa, also known as Peruvian chicken, is one of the most consumed dishes in the country. Salsas, sauces or dips are essential to Peruvian cuisine and a must on every table!
PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
Internship Details
Everything you need to know about the travel internship.
Introduction
High school students who participate in this GLA travel internship in Peru will develop essential leadership and career development skills, while working on initiatives centered around the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development worldwide.
This is an experiential career development internship with sociological underpinnings into a specific theme and concentration in a field of interest. Interns will gain experience working in-person with a social enterprise or nonprofit host organization from around the world.
Throughout the course of your session, you will complete 62 total internship hours:
- Contact Hours: 52
- Self-Study Hours: 10
- Service Hours: 36
Learning Objectives
The outcomes of this internship connect to five main objectives:
- Develop a deeper understanding of your goals and professional growth areas, as well as insight into Peru and the medical field.
- Build knowledge of recent trends, terminology, and case studies within healthcare.
- Recognize and articulate multiple perspectives within a larger social context.
- Strengthen your ability to critically analyze quantitative and qualitative information to form informed opinions.
- Apply observation and analysis to real places and situations where impacts and results can be understood in context.
About Our Host Organization
Our partner for this internship, MEDLIFE, began operations in Cuzco, Peru in 2005.
MEDLIFE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to improve their access to medicine, education and community development projects.
Its mission is to build a worldwide movement empowering the poor in their fight for equal access to healthcare, education and a safe home.
MEDLIFE empowers students and volunteers to become advocates for change.
Sustainable Development Goals
The 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development serves as the framework for discussions and the self-study coursework for our student interns here in Peru. During this travel internship, you will focus on three SDGs, including:
- SDG 03: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 06: Clean Water & Sanitation
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Explore topics related to building the case for access to quality healthcare and public health initiatives for an empowered and healthy communities.
Curriculum & Merits
Complete a core curriculum with your peers and through the guidance of your internship supervisor. Build your personal competitive edge, as part of a cohort of student interns working in partnership with our global nonprofit partner in Peru. Create a portfolio from completed project work to enhance your college application or future career resume.
By completing this travel internship you will earn:
- CliftonStrengths Assessment & Debrief
- Personal Mission Statement Updated
- Resume or LinkedIn Resume
- Letter of Recommendation completed by your Internship Supervisor & Internship Director
- Certificate of Completion (62 hours)
- Certificate of Service Hours (variable per internship)
- Professional Headshots for Resume or CV
- Portfolio of Evidence/Internship Log Book (if needed)
- Recommendations via Common App
PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
Dates & Tuition
21-Day Internship
2026 Session Dates
June 27 – July 17, 2026
Program Details
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“I think that this trip was very special to me not only because I learned so much about myself and about how to act in certain circumstances and learned what my true passions were but I also learned how to open up to new people faster and I learned how to adapt more on my own without my family or friends there beside me. I loved learning about the culture and becoming more involved with everything. There were some rules that might’ve not made it the bestest time but it’s for safety reasons which is more important. Overall I had the best experience”
Bella R. | Student | 2024
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PERU INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN MEDICINE & HEALTH
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