The University of Akron School of Law Spring Break 2025 Study Abroad Program offers the phenomenal opportunity to visit Peru, a beautiful country with stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. Students will explore historic sites and local attractions in Arequipa, Cusco, and Puno, while expanding their knowledge of legal practice and education from a unique global perspective.

Local Artwork at UCSM

We will partner with la Universidad Cátolica de Santa Maria (UCSM) in Arequipa. While in Arequipa, students will have the opportunity to visit UCSM as well as local courts, law firms, bar associations, notary organizations, and/or trade organizations (exact site visits TBD). Additionally, students will explore the beautiful regions of Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Steps of Machu Picchu

Please Note: all below information regarding this trip is tentative and subject to change.

Dates (tentative)

Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 30, 2025

• These dates correspond to Akron Law's spring break.

Tentative Itinerary

• Friday, March 21: Fly from Us to Arequipa
• Satruday, March 22: Explore Arequipa
• Sunday, March 23: Excursion to Colca Canyon
• Monday, March 24: Arequipa: Scheduled activities with UCSM, including visits to local courts, firms, and/or other legal/business organizations (exact sites TBD)
• Tuesday, March 25: Arequipa: Scheduled activities with UCSM, including visits to local courts, firms, and/or other legal/business organizations (exact sites TBD)
• Wednesday, March 26: Arequipa: Scheduled activities with UCSM, including visits to local courts, firms, and/or other legal/business organizations (exact sites TBD)
• Thursday, March 27: Travel from Arequipa to 0Cusco; explore Cusco
• Friday, March 28: Excursion to Machu Picchu
• Saturday, March 29: Train ride to the lake region of Puno exploring Peruvian countryside
• Sunday, March 30: Return flight to US

Registration and costs

Please note: all costs are approximate and subject to change.

Select scholarships may be available. Scholarships are open to any Akron Law student in good standing. Scholarship amounts are still TBD. Students will be notified upon applying and submitting seat deposit.

Additional Expenses

Personal expenses vary widely by individual. You will have free time in each place we go, which means you will have a small portion of meals to cover yourself and may choose to enjoy a variety of experiences. Here are some additional personal expenses to consider budgeting for:

• US Passport Fees (if you don’t currently have one)
• Pre-trip vaccinations (more info below)
• Entertainment and meals on your own
• Souvenirs (students may buy various mementos)

Non-refundable security deposit

Planning for travel and accommodations to Peru will require Akron Law to incur some up-front costs. For this reason, the payment of the security deposit is non-refundable. To be clear, this payment is non-refundable for any reason: including but not limited to unforeseen circumstances for the student, and/or changed international travel restrictions, and/or civil unrest and/or changed travel risk assessment for Peru by the U.S. State Department.

Payment of a $200 non-refundable security deposit is due on or before December 16, 2024, to be received by Dean Andrew Costigan. The security deposit will be credited toward the $500 program fee (which is also non-refundable).

No language prerequisite

While interested students are encouraged to become familiar with the basics of the Spanish language, this is not a requirement. Akron students should not miss this opportunity simply because they do not speak Spanish.

Vaccination requirements

It is up to each participant to make their own decision regarding the extent of compliance with CDC recommendations. However, it is strongly recommended that each participant discuss their vaccination status with a healthcare professional (including your local health department) well before your travel date.

Here is the full list of CDC recommendations for Peru: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru

Make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines are chickenpox, DPT, flu, MMR, polio and shingles.

Hepatitis A, B are recommended.

Dengue is a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases of the disease. Travelers to any of these places can protect themselves by taking steps to avoid/prevent mosquito bites.

Typhoid and rabies vaccinations also may be recommended.

Safety considerations

The U.S. State Department rates Peru as Level 2: “Exercise Increased Caution.” The general rating of Level 2 is due to crime and also the possibility of civil unrest and/or kidnapping. Some areas in Peru, mostly near the Colombian border and the VRAEM region, even have Level 4. We will be avoiding such level 4 areas on our trip.

Country Summary from the U.S. State Department: Crime, including petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime is common in Peru and can occur during daylight hours despite the presence of many witnesses. The risk of crime increases at night. Organized criminal groups have been known to use roadblocks to rob victims in areas outside of the capital city of Lima.

For more information, go to: http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/peru-travel-advisory.html

About UCSM and Arequipa

The Catholic University of Santa María (Spanish: Universidad Católica de Santa María – UCSM) is a local private University in Arequipa, Peru, and has been in continuous operation since it was founded in 1961. It was founded by William Daniel Morris Christy, an American priest from St. Louis, Missouri. UCSM is the second oldest private university in Peru.

Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city, with an urban population of about 1 million. It is the capital of the eponymous department of Peru and the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru. It is often dubbed the "legal capital of Peru.” Its historical center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At an elevation of 7,661 ft., the city is higher than Denver (5,279 ft.).

According to Destination Arequipa, the city “is dominated by its volcanoes. This is apparent in the walls of its streets, buildings and churches [and] in the wonderful geography that has created a fertile valley and one of the world’s deepest canyons. Imagine yourself enjoying the warm waters of a thermal pool as you look out towards green mountains crowned with perpetual snows.”

For more about Arequipa, see Arequipa - Wikipedia

Class Information – Law & Economics

The corresponding class with this study abroad trip will be Law & Economics, taught online/asynchronously by Professor Gaughan. Students may take this class for either 1 credit or 3 credits. This counts towards the total number of credits students will be taking in the spring semester. Law & Economics also satisfies the Upper Division Writing Requirement.

Student Guests

Students are able to bring a guest(s) with them on the trip (e.g., partner, parent, etc.) if space is permitting. Please contact Dean Costigan to discuss if you are interested in bringing a guest with you. If it is determined that there is space for your guest, your guest will also need to complete the application form. Scholarship will not be available to guests.

Trip requirements

Although expressly subject to change, the minimum requirements to make the trip are:

• Compliance with all travel recommendations by the U.S. government
• Compliance with all requirements of UA’s Education Abroad Office (faculty leaders will work with students to comply with these requirements)
• A valid U.S. passport
• All required inoculations

Questions?

All questions regarding the Spring Break 2025 trip to peru should be directed to Dean Costigan at acc142@bj7dian.com.