Cusco, Peru
Clinic and community health work in the Andes, based in Cusco.
From $1,121 for one week
Medical Spanish › Clinical immersion trip
Use your Spanish in a clinic abroad
Spend one to four weeks working alongside doctors, nurses and therapists in hospitals and clinics in Peru, Guatemala and Costa Rica. You practise real patient conversations in Spanish, in the place where they happen. The trip is open to licensed medical professionals and to students in the last two years of medical school.
Where you could go
Placements run in three countries, in four locations. Prices below are for one week.
Antigua, Guatemala
Clinic and outreach work based in Antigua, working alongside local medical professionals.
From $1,121 for one week
San José and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Placements in San José and Manuel Antonio. San José starts at one week and Manuel Antonio at two.
From $1,269 for one week in San José
What you would do
Placements are in hospitals, clinics, assisted living and other healthcare facilities, working alongside doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals. What you do depends on the placement, your medical experience and your Spanish. You also learn how healthcare works in each country, and groups can take part in week-long medical campaigns and vaccination programs.
- Shadowing a doctor or nurse
- Assisting with general check-ups and triage
- Taking vital signs
- Helping to run medical campaigns
- Organizing patient records and preparing materials and equipment
What a week looks like
- Three to four hours of placement work a day, Monday to Friday, in the morning or the afternoon depending on the project.
- The minimum stay is one week. Two weeks or more is recommended, because the longer you stay, the more you are trusted to do.
- Projects can be within walking distance of where you stay or need public transport.
Placements are real clinics, not a schedule built for visitors. How busy a site is changes with the season and the field situation, so there is no guarantee of what you will do on a given day. Bring initiative: the volunteers who get the most out of a placement are the ones who ask questions and connect with the people around them.
What you need
- Proof of your academic and professional training
- Your own scrubs, stethoscope and closed-toed shoes
- Basic or better Spanish. The more you have, the more you can do
- A flexible, positive attitude and a willingness to help with whatever the project needs
Earlier in your training?
If you are studying health sciences, pre-med or nursing, or you are in the first two years of medical school, there are placements for you too. They are usually in specialized living facilities, where you help care for people with disabilities and elderly patients: general care and companionship, mealtimes, exercise and hygiene workshops, and arts and crafts. The clinical placements above are for licensed professionals and students in the last two years of medical school.
Prices
| Length | Antigua or Cusco | San José | Manuel Antonio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week | from $1,121 | from $1,269 | Not offered |
| 2 weeks | from $1,600 | from $1,802 | from $1,937 |
| 3 weeks | from $1,998 | from $2,336 | from $2,471 |
| 4 weeks | from $2,396 | from $2,828 | from $2,963 |
Prices are "from" prices. Ask about start dates and placements when you get in touch.
Get ready before you go
The more Spanish you have on arrival, the more you can do on placement. Become Fluent tutors prepare you in private one-on-one online lessons built around your specialty: taking a history, asking about symptoms, explaining a plan and understanding the answers in realistic patient speech.
- Book a trial lesson and tell us your specialty, your level and when you want to travel.
- Choose a destination and length of stay.
- Study with your tutor before you leave, so your first week is spent talking with patients, not looking up words.
Read more about medical Spanish lessons.
Frequently asked questions
Who can join the clinical immersion trip?
The trip is open to licensed medical professionals and to students in the last two years of medical school.
How long are the placements?
Trips run from one to four weeks. Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica starts at two weeks.
What would I do during a placement?
It depends on the placement, your medical experience and your Spanish. Examples include shadowing a doctor or nurse, assisting with general check-ups and triage, taking vital signs and helping to run medical campaigns.
Where do the trips take place?
In Antigua in Guatemala, Cusco in Peru, and San José and Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. The placements are run with a partner organization in Latin America.
How many hours a day would I work?
Placements are three to four hours a day, Monday to Friday, in the morning or the afternoon depending on the project. The minimum stay is one week and two weeks or more is recommended.
What do I need to bring?
Proof of your academic and professional training, plus your own scrubs, stethoscope and closed-toed shoes.
Can I go if I am not licensed yet?
Yes, if you are studying health sciences, pre-med or nursing, or you are in the first two years of medical school. Those placements are usually in specialized living facilities, caring for people with disabilities and elderly patients. The clinical placements are for licensed professionals and students in the last two years of medical school.
Is the trip a medical qualification?
No. The trip is a chance to use your Spanish in a healthcare setting. It is not a medical qualification or an interpreter qualification.
Ask about a clinical trip
Tell us your specialty, your Spanish level and when you would like to travel. We will help you choose a destination and plan your lessons before you go.
Ask about a trip