Location
  • Peru
    • Cusco
    • Machu Picchu
Length
4 to 51 weeks

Program Details

Timeframe
Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hotel
Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
99

Pricing

Price Details
Internship Programs include:

Airport pick-up
Host family accommodations (private room)
Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
1 hour/day Spanish classes
6-8 hours/day practical work, Monday-Friday
Program orientation and walking tour
Official certificate of internship work
Letter of recommendation
Spanish books and materials
Spanish language tutoring table
Tandem Conversation Program
Office-wide WiFi and computer lab
Salsa dance classes
Cooking classes
Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
Institute is open 7 days/week
Emergency contact number 24/7
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Feb 15, 2022
Aug 24, 2020
32 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Maximo Nivel offers internship programs in Cusco, Peru. Develop professional skills and Spanish language fluency in an international setting. International internships provide excellent work experience and build your professional network. Native Spanish immersion takes your Spanish language skills to the next level.

Internship placements include:

- Education (K-12)
- Special Education
- Micro-Business
- Human Rights
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Medical
- Dental
- Veterinary
- Customized placements available

Internship programs are offered as “Practicums” (4 weeks) or “Internships” (8+ weeks). Internship programs are available year round and new programs begin every Monday. with lots of flexibility to meet your needs.

Internships qualify for university credit via our School of Record: California State University-Monterey Bay.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • New internships start every Monday year-round
  • Academic credit available
  • Dedicated internship advisor
  • Internships available for 4 to 24 weeks
  • All-inclusive—Private accommodations, meals, & Spanish classes

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 15 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Instruction 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Value 4
  • Growth 4.85
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.85
  • Housing 4.6
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 15 reviews
Default avatar
Margarita
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An internship that really makes a difference in other people's lives!

I highly recommend doing an internship with Maximo Nivel. I was looking to get experience after taking the CELTA course and I got more than I expected. I had the chance to work with ACNUR-Cusco, who works in close collaboration with the government, other UN Agencies to assist refugees with protection, humanitarian needs, and community empowerment. I taught English at all levels to kids, teens and adults. My students learned how to assist virtual classes and I feel they excelled over the time I was with them. I really enjoyed teaching my students and hope others be inspired to take the challenge and give to those ready to learn. Maximo Nivel Cusco and all involved were there whenever I needed support.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I think it was that even though I was doing the internship virtually, I still felt very fulfilled teaching my students.
70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Vianka
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Internship

I had such an amazing time here in Cusco Peru as a medical intern. I would 100% recommend this to another medical student or someone interested in the medical field. I will be coming back hopefully soon. The staff I worked with was so helpful and I learned soo much in such a small amount of time. I gave my first injections and I also did my first ultrasound. I was able to measure a pregnant woman's belly and hear baby's heartbeat. Its been a life changing experience one I will never forget.

thank you
Vianka barrios

What would you improve about this program?
perhaps create an outlined day to day project for the interns. Example, one week in triage and one week with the medical doctor.
67 people found this review helpful.
Elliot
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Máximo Nivel - Valuable Experiences and Lasting Memories

I interned as a medical student with Máximo Nivel during the summer of 2017. It was honestly one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, and prepared me professionally for my career in the future.
I lived in Cusco for 6 weeks and during that time I took Spanish classes and interned at a health clinic in Oropesa, about an hour outside of Cusco. At the clinic I was very hands-on with patients which allowed me to physically interact with the patients and provide healthcare in a form that would not be possible in the USA. My main duties included triage, helping doctors with pre-operative care, recording vitals, and assisting in medical emergencies.
My most cherished experience was when I was able to provide medical care during an emergency. A man came in with a big laceration across his chest from an accident with an electrical saw. When I was observing the doctors and assisting with the gauze, one of the doctors called me to the side of the patient's bed and handed me a suture and told me he was going to teach me how to sew stitches. I was shaky at first but after a couple knots my confidence grew and I was closing up a patients chest all by myself! All in all I performed about 15-20 sutures across his wound.
Máximo Nivel also provided Spanish classes that greatly improved my fluency and confidence while talking to locals in the community. The teacher's were energetic, student-oriented, and seemed to love their jobs! You can even choose to leave the classroom and have your Spanish class with your teacher in different places around Cusco. This allows you to practice your conversational skills outside the classroom, where it really matters, such as at a museum, a restaurant, a local market, or any other place!
The homestay that I lived at for 6 weeks was wonderful. The family was so loving and genuinely nice. They prepared meals for us twice a day and invited us to their personal activities such as mass and family reunions. The food was delicious, the sleeping and showering accommodations were super comfortable and my housemates became family to me after just a short time.
During the weekends I was able to visit different cities and landmarks around Cusco. Macchu Pichu was, of course, awesome in the truest sense of the word. The experience on Lake Titicaca was extraordinary and introduced new cultures. The salt mines were mesmerizing and the Amazon Jungle was a wonderland for animal-lovers like me.

Overall, this experience was jam packed with new experiences and educational opportunities. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who is looking for an experience that will develop professional skills, reinforce your love for world cultures, and make you a more-rounded and better human being.

What would you improve about this program?
The only way this program could be improved is if the clinics were bigger (saw more patients). This could be achieved by setting up students in a hospital setting instead of clinics.
69 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mary
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

7 Weeks at 3,399 Meters = Best Decision of My Life

I worked as a medical intern with Maximo Nivel in Cusco, Peru over the summer (2017) for 7 weeks. I was looking for a program in which I would get hands-on experience while also improving my Spanish-speaking abilities and experiencing another culture first hand. I gained exactly that and even more!

During the week, I worked 4-6 hours in the morning at a clinic in Cusco, assisting with a variety of tasks ranging from taking weight, height, and blood pressure measurements, completing paperwork, cleaning, managing patients, visiting local schools, measuring hemoglobin, etc. I was able to learn a lot and develop relationships with the staff at the clinic. I felt I was doing very appropriate tasks for my skill set, having only completed one year of undergraduate pre-med education. One of the most memorable experiences I had was parading with the clinic staff and all medical employees in Cusco just prior to the big festival of Inti Raymi.

In addition to working, I took an hour-long private Spanish lesson every day through Maximo. My teacher was phenomenal and helped me with a range of Spanish techniques, vocabulary, common usages as well as with understanding the Peruvian culture.

I lived with the most amazing family about 20 minutes (walk) from Maximo's office. Three other students also lived with me there. Getting to know my family and celebrating the holidays with them were probably some of the best experiences I had!

And of course, the weekends and occasional weekday holidays were excellent opportunities to travel! Maximo Nivel provides excellent resources to make travel plans, so you truly can go anywhere and do anything. We went to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Puno (Lake Titicaca), Tres Cruces, and more!

What would you improve about this program?
The biggest improvement I can recommend is better communication prior to the participant arriving to Peru.
72 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Adam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

1 month internship in Cusco, Peru

I interned in Cusco, Peru through Maximo Nivel and the experience was amazing (10/10!). Maximo Nivel thoroughly prepares its volunteers/ interns. Every staff member I interacted with at the institute was pleasant and always happy to assist. Cusco, Peru is in a great location as there are many unforgettable day trips available. I was able to visit Lake Hummantay, Machu Picchu and the Salt Mines with other volunteers/interns in the program. The experience I gained at my internship was terrific. As a business management student, I found it fascinating how different the work pace and work culture is from what I am used to. Still, I was able to apply what I've learned from my education in Cusco. I highly recommend the internship or volunteer program!

67 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Allison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel - Micro Business Internship

Thank you to Maximo Nivel for coordinating the perfect Micro-Business Internship. I spent four weeks in Cusco, Perú working in a chocolate making enterprise. Not only did I get to taste delicious chocolate treats and beverages every day, but I was also able to thoroughly study and observe an international business organization. I am so thankful for my coworkers and bosses for all of their patience and kindness during my internship. Additionally, my program included private Spanish lessons each day of the week for one hour with a certified Spanish teacher at Maximo Nivel. My instructor was incredibly kind, helpful, and fun to learn from! Maximo Nivel followed through on all of their promises when it came to comfortable and safe housing, passionate and engaged instructors, and appropriate internship placement. I would sign up for another Maximo Nivel program in a heartbeat!

What would you improve about this program?
I wish they could have notified me of my housing and internship placement before I arrived in country - for peace of mind.
68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alexis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great experience!

Doing an internship thorough Maximo Nivel at Casa Acogida was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. Maximo Nivel made sure I was taken care of and was always making sure that I felt comfortable during my time there. All the staff was amazing, helpful and kind! Maximo Nivel provided me with a great internship and host family.

The host family provided by Maximo Nivel was absolutely amazing, I could not have asked for a better one. They were welcoming and treated us like we were a part of their family. All the family was caring and wanted to make sure we were comfortable during our time there. The food was delicious, the apartment was spacious, and the family was phenomenal!

The girls at Casa Acogida are sweet, loving, and welcoming. They were incredibly appreciative that I was there and spending time with them. Maximo Nivel does a great job in providing support and help for Casa Acogida. They make sure that the interns have the support and supplies they need to have a positive impact there. Doing an internship at Casa Acogida was a great opportunity that I learned from and one I am thankful for.

Overall Maximo Nivel is an incredible program with a great staff to work with. I am grateful for the experience they provided me with in Peru. I was able to immerse myself in their culture, take in the environment, and best of all; enjoy delicious Peruvian food. This experience was life changing and one I am happy that I had the opportunity to do. I definitely plan on returning to Cusco, Peru and I look forward to working with Maximo Nivel again. If you want to travel to Cusco, Peru to volunteer or do an internship I definitely recommend going through Maximo Nivel they are an incredible program to work with!

67 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel Special Education Internship

I did the special education internship for four weeks in Cusco, Peu through Maximo Nivel. Maximo Nivel set me up with a great house family, and the perfect school and orphanage to learn about kids with mental disabilities. Chelsea showed me how to get to each place on my first days there and introduced me to the people and children I would be working with. Everything went smoothly with Maximo Nivel.

73 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers