How Tina moved her compulsory placement to Lima – and why she'd do it all over again

Tina is 25, comes from Donauwörth, and is currently completing her teacher training. Her compulsory placement as part of her Business Education degree could have been done in Germany – she chose Lima instead. Three months at the “Deutsche Schule Alexander von Humboldt”, followed by a month of travelling across Peru, Bolivia and Chile. And, of course: alpacas.

We asked her to tell us what an internship abroad in South America actually looks like – all of it, from admin and preparation to daily life in the classroom and a remarkable journey along the way.

The Decision: Compulsory Placement, But Make It Abroad

Tina's degree programme offers the option of completing the compulsory placement in several South American countries – Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Guatemala are all on the list. There is also the possibility of applying for a scholarship through the DAAD. Tina chose Peru. The official reason: the chance to travel, practise Spanish and experience a new culture. The inofficial one: alpacas.

The logic was similar to anything that involves a long journey: if you're going to the effort of flying that far, you might as well stay longer. Two months of teaching, one month of travelling – that was the plan. And it worked.

Before You Go: What Actually Matters

Visa – not an issue, if you know what to expect: German citizens do not need a visa for stays of under 90 days in Peru – entry is straightforward with a passport, no prior registration required. Anyone planning to include a second country like Bolivia or Chile should check the entry requirements separately and apply for tourist visas accordingly. Things look slightly different if you are employed locally under a paid contract – for Tina, that fortunately wasn't a concern.

Vaccinations – sort them early: This is the point Tina emphasises most clearly in hindsight: vaccinations take time. There are required intervals between individual jabs, and some vaccines are not always immediately available. Yellow fever and Hepatitis A and B are essential – a Dengue vaccination is also currently recommended. Best to visit a travel medicine clinic or tropical institute four to six months before departure.

Finances – two cards, and don't forget cash: Tina carried two credit cards – Visa and Mastercard – and everything ran smoothly. That said, cash was still useful for everyday life in Lima and especially while travelling: many markets, smaller restaurants and local providers work exclusively with it.

Health insurance – clarify, don't assume: Tina was covered through her private health insurance and the SDK, and didn't need to adjust anything specifically. Anyone with statutory insurance should check early whether international cover is included – and whether additional protection makes sense for a longer stay.

Phone & data – she'd do it differently today: At the time, she picked up a local Claro SIM card on arrival – and as she puts it, getting a suitable plan sorted was "very tedious". Today she would use an eSIM through Airalo: buy before you leave, activate the moment you land, done.

Flight – go via Europe: Tina flew Air France from Frankfurt via Paris to Lima, and on the return from Santiago via Paris to Munich. Her clear advice: avoid routing through the USA. The travel time is longer, and the ESTA authorisation adds an unnecessary hurdle. European connections like Madrid with Iberia or Paris with Air France or KLM are a much more straightforward option.

The Job: Seven Hours of Teaching a Week – and Never Quite Enough

The Deutsche Schule Alexander von Humboldt in Lima is a substantial institution: kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and vocational college all under one roof. Tina taught at the vocational college – business subjects for students training as industrial clerks and office management specialists, plus English. Seven lessons of 45 minutes each per week, alongside lesson preparation, assessment tasks and marking - if you are only starting your career and have not yet established a career, this adds up to a full-time job. And a two-day school trip to Huampaní that she won't forget in a hurry.

What surprised her: how well-mannered and friendly the students were. Independent working was a challenge, though – something she says is deeply embedded in Peruvian work culture. The beautiful school grounds and free lunch in the canteen made things noticeably easier. And for anyone curious about how affordable food in Lima can be for travellers: a full lunch of rice, vegetables and egg at the market costs the equivalent of around €3.

What was less smooth: the headteacher wasn't always a source of warmth. "He threw us in at the deep end," says Tina – and then honestly adds that she learned an enormous amount because of it. The responsibility she was given as an intern was real. The insight into professional life correspondingly so.

Her advice for anyone planning a similar placement: the priority isn't the perfect lesson structure you learned at university. It's about standing in front of a class, building a relationship with your students and getting to know your own teaching personality. Teach as much as possible, observe as little as you can get away with. And weekly yoga with a colleague was part of the deal too. Peru can be very relaxed.

The Travels: From Laguna 69 to the Salt Flats

After two months of teaching, Tina and her friends had a month of travelling before the new semester began. She made full use of it.

Peru

Her absolute highlight and her clearest recommendation: Laguna 69 at 4,600 metres, ideally combined with the Llanganuco lakes. Anyone who loves hiking and has prepared for the altitude will be well rewarded.

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is her second favourite – four days, more nature than the classic Inca Trail, and a route that genuinely feels like you're making your way towards something special. Tina booked through Machu Picchu Reservations and would recommend them. One important note: book your Machu Picchu tickets at least six months in advance if possible. Tina and her group once had to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes because no tickets were available at short notice. Anyone who already had onward plans at that point simply missed out.

She liked the city of Trujillo – colourful, on the coast, and noticeably less touristy than Lima. A trip into the jungle to Iquitos on the Amazon is also worth it, even though she had an experience there she won't forget: the worst stomach pain she'd ever had, and very nearly no flight to Cusco. A doctor's visit helped. Since then, a packet of activated charcoal tablets has been a permanent fixture in her travel bag.

An insider tip that deserves to be better known: the restaurant Kjolle in Lima – currently ranked 9th best restaurant in the world. The current world number one, Maido, is also in Lima, as it happens.

What she would skip: Nazca. The journey from Lima takes around ten hours, and the town itself didn't win her over. The Nazca Lines and the museum dedicated to Maria Reiche – the German mathematician who researched the geoglyphs – are worth seeing, but not a must.

Bolivia, Chile and a Route That Spans Three Countries

Continuing from the Salkantay Trek all the way to the Chilean Atacama Desert is almost a natural progression once you're already there.

In La Paz, Tina found a modern, surprisingly clean city high in the mountains, connected by an urban cable car network – the Teleférico. From there, the route continues to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, one of the most impressive places she has ever seen. If you have the choice: after rainfall, the flats turn into a vast mirror – a sight you won't forget. In the dry season, you can see the characteristic honeycomb patterns on the surface. Both are worth it.

Bolivia's Death Road – a mountain bike descent through cloud forest at nearly 4,700 metres – sounds more dangerous than it is: "It's all downhill, you just stay close to the rock face." One warning from Tina all the same: don't go for the cheapest bike. The person in the group who did fell off multiple times.

The tour conveniently ends in the Chilean oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama – a relaxed, increasingly hip place with good cafés, from which you can explore the vivid landscapes of the Atacama Desert.

Getting Around South America: What Works

For long distances within South America, Tina used the bus company Cruz del Sur – reliable, affordable and equipped with reclining seats. The connections between major destinations in Peru and neighbouring countries are well covered. For domestic flights within Peru, she used LATAM, also without any issues.

What Tina Takes Away – and What She Wants to Pass On

The most important thing she's taken from these three months can be summed up in three words: preparation is key. Good preparation – whether for a lesson or a journey – makes the difference. But equally important: stay flexible, have a plan B, and don't schedule things so tightly that there's no room to breathe.

And Spanish helps – even just the basics. In many parts of Peru and Bolivia, you can get by without English if you've picked up a few fundamentals.

On South America as a destination, she has one personal observation to add: Western media tends to focus on the negative when reporting on the political situation in Peru and the surrounding countries. The reality Tina experienced was different – she felt safe on the streets and encountered an open, welcoming population. The usual caution applies, as anywhere: stay alert and do your research beforehand. But the picture painted in the media doesn't reflect what most travellers actually find.

And the alpacas? Fully lived up to expectations.

All recommendations in this article are based on Tina's personal experiences during her time abroad. They were not selected on the basis of extensive research or a comparison of different providers.

Tina reviewed and approved this article before publication. Thank you – and enjoy the next adventure, wherever it takes you.

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