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P O W E L L, W y o. - Northwest College is opening to the public its summer 2007 travel class to Peru. Reservations need to be made by the end of November for participants who want to spend 17 days in a total language and cultural immersion in the South American country once home to the historic Inca civilization.
Led by veteran traveler Mary Ellen Ibarra-Robinson, an NWC assistant professor of Spanish, the class studies Spanish in the mornings for two weeks at a language institute in Cuzco. Afternoons are reserved for exploring the city and surrounding sites, while weekends bring more distant excursions to internationally recognized attractions. Travel dates are tentatively set for May 19 through June 4.
Cuzco, the Incan capital city, is home to numerous examples of colonial architecture with stone foundations of Inca temples still visible. It is a destination site for many international tourists because of its close proximity to the famous Machu Picchu ruins and the Inca trail. Afternoon activities in Cuzco include visits to many historical plazas, the cathedral, museums and other Inca ruins. Ambitious students can also learn local dances and explore other topics offered in a variety of short classes.
One of the weekend excursions takes the class to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Difficult to reach, the ancient stone city is recognized as the greatest achievement of Incan architecture. Reserved for military and religious functions, it extends 13 square miles, surrounded all year by towering snow-capped mountains.
The itinerary takes travelers to other prized destination spots like the floating islands on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and the nearby city of Puno, one of the cities most representative of Peruvian culture. Along the way, stops are made to visit Incan ruins. Participants also spend one night in a small village on the island of Amantani on Lake Titicaca.
The class visits Lima, the capital of Peru, last, taking in the main plaza and the famous Anthropology and Archeology Museum among other sites before boarding an overnight flight back to the United States.
The travel schedule leaves plenty of opportunities for souvenir hunting and shopping at Indian markets where wool and other textiles of Peru are showcased by local merchants.
All transportation, meals and admission fees are included in the total cost.
For cost estimates and more detailed information about this three-credit class, e-mail Ibarra-Robinson or call (307) 754-6430, 754-9446 or toll-free at (800) 560-4692, ext. 6430.