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Internship Extensions With International Medical Aid

South America Adventures

East Africa safari landscape at dawn
Local partner IMA Safaris Africa

East Africa safari overview

IMA Safaris South America organizes educational tours and adventure treks in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. With a focus on student and group travel experiences, IMA Safaris integrates unique tours and safari opportunities into study-abroad and experiential internship programs. We also work directly with colleges and universities to organize faculty-led cultural treks with measurable learning outcomes.

Partnering with award-winning guides and globally recognized lodges, IMA Safaris creates once-in-lifetime travel experiences that foster cross-cultural competency and develop global perspectives.

What to expect

Tailored to Your Schedule

Wildlife and savanna in East Africa

Your International Medical Aid internship is the main reason you are traveling. These South America adventures are optional extensions that make it easier to plan the full trip with confidence, without turning your internship into a vacation schedule.

South America works especially well for internship extensions because it offers two very different experiences without needing complicated planning. Peru gives you iconic heritage sites and the Amazon. Ecuador gives you high altitude landscapes, cultural markets, and the Galápagos, which is one of the most protected visitor ecosystems in the world.

The Best Approach: If you want a South America extension, start with three decisions: How many days you actually have, whether you want a single capstone moment or a slower nature reset, and whether your priority is culture, wildlife, or an iconic landmark.

Safari tours

South America Adventure Options

Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon

Experience the famous Colca Canyon! This canyon is reportedly the deepest in the world, thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA. Unlike most of the Grand Canyon, portions of the Colca Canyon are habitable, with pre- Colombian terraced fields still supporting agriculture and human life! On a visit to Colca Canyon, expect…

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    Cotopaxi National Park

    Cotopaxi National Park

    Take a weekend excursion to Cotopaxi! Only a short one- to two-hour trip from Quito, Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most impressive parks in Ecuador. It is a popular destination for those looking to hike, climb, horseback ride, and enjoy the stunning scenery. The park also contains the famed Cotopaxi Volcano. This active stratovolcano in the…

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      Galápagos Islands

      Galápagos Islands

      Take an excursion to the famous Galápagos Islands! This "living laboratory" of evolution inspired Charles Darwin 175 years ago and continues to offer a unique opportunity to explore a pristine natural ecosystem. The Galápagos Archipelago consists of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 islets and rocks. These areas combine to be 7,880 sq km of land…

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        Hot Springs of Baños

        Hot Springs of Baños

        Baños de Agua Santa is one of Ecuador’s best-known towns for hot springs and easy nature access. For IMA interns, it works because it supports recovery. You can sleep, eat well, and decompress without needing a complicated itinerary. The goal here is not to prove anything. Most interns underestimate how tired they are after program weeks. Baños is…

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          Iquitos (Amazon River)

          Iquitos (Amazon River)

          Take a trip to the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon! Iquitos, located along the Amazon River, is the world’s largest city that cannot be reached by road and is surrounded by the Amazon jungle. You can fly into Iquitos, however, many arrive at Iquitos while boating down the Amazon River. Whichever way you get there, it’s definitely worth…

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            Machu Picchu

            Machu Picchu

            Machu Picchu is one of the most requested extensions for IMA interns in South America because it feels like a true capstone. It is iconic, it is protected, and it rewards students who plan it correctly. That last part matters because Machu Picchu is not a “show up whenever” site. Entry is timed, your ticket aligns to a…

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              Nazca Lines

              Nazca Lines

              The Nazca Lines are one of the most recognizable archaeological sites in Peru. From the ground, they can look like open desert. From the air, the shapes click into place and the scale becomes obvious. The point of this extension is not speed or bragging rights. It is a clean plan that protects your energy, stays respectful to…

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                Otavalo Market

                Otavalo Market

                Otavalo is one of Ecuador’s most recognized artisan markets, anchored around Plaza de los Ponchos. What makes it worth your time is not a “souvenir run.” It is a working marketplace where many families and cooperatives sell textiles, woven goods, leather items, and handmade crafts as part of everyday life in the Andean highlands. For IMA interns, Otavalo…

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                  Uros Islands

                  Uros Islands

                  The Uros Islands are a rare kind of landmark: meaningful, accessible, and easy to fit after an internship schedule. You can stay based in Puno, take a short boat ride onto Lake Titicaca, and spend your time learning how the floating islands are built and maintained. This is not an adrenaline stop. It is a culture-first extension that…

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                    Suggested Extension Bundles

                    1. 4-6 days

                      Peru Classic Capstone

                      Machu Picchu plus one lighter cultural day, with buffer time built in. Good for interns who want one major iconic moment without nonstop movement.

                    2. 6-8 days

                      Peru Nature Reset

                      Iquitos Amazon River as the main extension, with a recovery-first pace. Good for interns coming off demanding clinical weeks.

                    3. 3-6 days

                      Coast Reset

                      Zanzibar, Mafia, Lamu, or Malindi and Watamu as the primary extension. Good for interns who want recovery time, warm water, and a slower pace after clinical weeks.

                    Planning Tip

                    The goal is to help you plan an extension that fits a real program calendar. We plan around your internship start and end dates.

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