Should I study abroad in Chile, Argentina, or Peru?

Question

I'm trying to decide if I should spend the Spring '08/'09 semester in Chile (Santiago), Argentina (Buenos Aires), or Peru (Lima). My school has comparable programs for all three, but I just don't know enough about the areas to make an informed decision. If anyone has been to, lived, or studied abroad in any of those places, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

I have personally studied in Santiago, Chile and had a great time. I also considered other Latin American cities, including Lima, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and San Jose, but chose Santiago because it is a safer and has better colleges. I think its a good idea, you could learn some Spanish and visit new countries. I have gone to Buenos Aires and it is a very nice city, but the people from Santiago were more friendly towards Americans. Furthermore, Chileans are much better than the Argentines at speaking English.

All cities are really big. Buenos Aires has 11 million, Lima about 8, and Santiago 5. Santiago is the only one that can be considered safe, as security is a major concern for all major Latin American cities. Buenos Aires, which I visited last week, is in the middle of moderate social unrest. It was difficult to go sight-seeing becuase of the protests downtown and the road-blocks. My parents visited Lima and said it was an awful city, with much pollution, traffic, and poverty. Santiago and Buenos Aires are both much richer cities than Lima, in which people are more educated. Santiago was a very clean city, it is the one that seems to be most well kept and has great roads and transportation. Santiago is more like an American city (resembles Philadelphia in many ways), Buenos Aires is more European.

I would recommend studying abroad in Chile to anyone because it was a great experience and it was great to move away from home for a semester.

Answer 2

Dear friend:

Peru features a FREE information and assistance service called iperú, where visitors can ask about official tourist information on Peru, as well as assistance if the tourist feels the service paid for was not provided as advertised.

IPeru, is the PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT tourist information and assistance service, provide tourist information on the following:

- Attractions, Schedules, routes, cities and services in all over Peru.

There are Iperu offices in the main aiports and main squares in main cities in all over Peru.

Iperu, the tourist information and assistance service, can provide tourists with assistance:

- If, when paying the bill, this contains charges that were not informed beforehand.

- If the tourist made a reservation at as establishment and this was not kept.

- If a travel agency offered a series of services and conditions that were not provided.

- If a flight was delayed or cancelled, and the airline did not comply with providing necessary compensations and information during the interruption.

- If the airline or overland company take no responsibility for loss of luggage.

- If the tourist was charged a higher rate for a service provided due to the fact he or she was a foreigner.

- If the tourist needs advice because he has lost documents or valuable objects have been stolen.

To be able to serve you better, Iperu will need your cooperation to provide them with clear facts and documents. In every case, read carefully the conditions of the goods and services to be paid for.

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Contact info / Informations de contact:

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- Iperu E-mail : [e-mail]

- Telephone 24 / 365: (51 1) 574-8000 (Phone located in Lima).

- Iperu Website: http://www.peru.info/e_ftoiperueng.asp (English version).

- Peru Website: http://www.peru.info/peruuk.asp (English version).

- Iperu Website: http://www.peru.info/f_ftoiperufra.asp (Francaise version).

- Peru Website: http://www.peru.info/perufra.asp (Francaise version).

Answer 3

Peru, I believe you will find some of the most amazing, humble people there. and Lima is BEAUTIFUL

Answer 4

Hola!  

I'm Chilean and I'm obviously going to recommend you Chile as a place for you to come.  Chile is a very complete country which has a very rich culture as all of the countries near here...you'll never stop learning here...every place is so different than another one...you have too much to discover and you will be welcomed because Chilean people are very friendly and helpful.

A detail to make a decision is ....do you speak/understand some Spanish?  If so...feel free to come to Chile and at the same time you'll learn a lot of new funny Chilean words -slangs-

If you main purpose is to learn good Spanish I would suggest you to study in Perú because that's the best Spanish speaking country in SA....In fact, when Chilean upscale families need to teach their children good Spanish they get Peruvian workers for that (teachers or maids).

Answer 5

I just got back from Peru, but it was in the highlands, and I don't know much about Lima (except it's big, flat, and has a big airport.)

But, Peru has a lot of interesting stuff to do and study, like the rain forest, Nazca lines, Lake Titicaca, beaches, highlands, archaeological sites, llamas and alpacas and whatnot.

But then, I was at a dance camp with a guy from Argentina and he was the hottest thing I've ever seen and I think I just made a total fool of myself and I'd personally stay away from Argentina so I'd be less likely to run into him.

But that's just me.

I don't know anything about Chile.

I'd go with Peru.