If you decide to learn Spanish in Peru, you'll probably hear local saying, "El Perú lo tiene todo" (Peru has everything), which is not far from the truth. The country boasts some of the richest cultural heritage, most breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife in the world.

Peru lies on the Western side of South America and can be divided into three main geographical regions - jungle, coast and mountains. The tropical rainforests of the Amazon Basin are teeming with flora and fauna and the arid desert coastline is famous for its variety of bird species, including Humboldt penguins, pelicans and cormorants. The Andean mountains, over 6000 meters high and 400 kilometers wide in places, stretch the entire length of the country and are home to the condor, one of the world's largest flying birds.

If you take a Spanish course in Peru, you'll be quick to realize that Peruvian culture is one of the most varied in the world, combining Inca, Pre-Inca, Spanish, African, Italian, Japanese and Chinese influences .

Often called "Land of the Incas", by the 15 th Century, the country was dominated by the powerful Inca Empire, which wiped out many of the earlier civilizations. Don't miss Peru's most famous Inca site, Machu Picchu, which recently became one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Meaning "old peak", the lost city of Machu Picchu is located at over 2000 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.

In 1532 the first Spanish conquistadors set foot in Peru, seized the power from the Incas and within a decade had established the Viceroyalty of Peru, which ruled until the early nineteenth century. Baroque colonial art, music, architecture, customs and traditions joined those of the ancient civilizations to form the cultural melting-pot that defines the essence of Peru today.