<p>My D went on a Rotary Gap year to Peru. Application deadlines are long over for this next year, but it was a great experience, living with a host family. There is some violence in the country, but she was well taken care of by both the Rotary club and her host family. </p>
<p>One of the considerations is the sort of Spanish spoken in the country. Peruvian Spanish is a bit slow, as well as clear. Easy to learn. </p>
<p>My S did a semester abroad in Ecuador. He really did his research and felt he was in the best place possible to study abroad. I visited, and was bowled over by the sweetness of the people, as well as the amazing scenery and cultural diversity. There were some muggings in his exchange group, wallets taken, etc in Quito. Nothing violent. There are many interesting programs in Ecuador, and it has Amazon rain forest as well as high altitude, cloud forest, and many things in between. Plus, close to the US, so cheaper to get to and visit than some places.</p>