Plan a trip to Peru, contribute to meaningful projects whilst discovering the highlights of this incredible and diverse country. Projects can be joined in places like Cusco, Lima and the Amazon Rainforest.
Best Volunteering Programs in Peru
About Peru
Peru is a land of contrasts, where from one end to the other you will have quite different experiences, not only with regards to the environment and climate, but also with culture and food.
With an area of 1,285,215 square km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina. Located in western South America, it is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.
The Andes mountain range runs parallel to the coast, dividing the country into three distinct geographic regions. The coastal region, to the west, is a narrow plain; the sierra is the mountainous region of the Andes; the selva (jungle) is the third region, a wide expanse of flat terrain covered by the Amazon rainforest that extends east, encompassing almost 60% of the country.
Development in Peru
In the 20th century Peru had been troubled by guerrilla groups, external debt, ever-growing inflation, a surge in drug trafficking and political violence. The seemingly intractable problems of poverty and unemployment remain, with more that half of the population living below the poverty line.
Peru is rich in copper, silver, lead, zinc, oil and gold. Despite this, Peru’s progress has been held back by corruption and the failure of successive governments to deal with social and economic inequality. 51.6% of its total population is defined as poor, including 19.2% that is extremely poor.
How You Can Help
Discover a new culture, accomplish something unforgettable, and explore the best Peru has to offer! You have the opportunity to contribute to childcare, teaching, construction and healthcare. You also have the chance to take part in an Andean Cultural Immersion and conservation or wildlife projects.
Volunteers provide assistance to disadvantaged socio-economic groups within Peruvian communities, focusing primarily on orphaned children, animals, rural communities and school children. As a volunteer in Peru you can provide love, affection, education and support to orphaned children. You will help to improve education in schools ensuring children learn and flourish.
As a volunteer you can practice and teach preventative healthcare, and hygiene. Depending on your interests you can also contribute to building projects in impoverished communities, or in animal/environmental conservation projects. You will also provide education, inter-cultural exchange and understanding in Peruvian communities.
Popular Projects
Volunteers are usually based in Cusco, but may also participate in projects in the Sacred Valley. Cusco is a city in south-eastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range. Cusco is at an altitude of around 3,500m (11,500 ft). Volunteers on the Jungle and the Andean projects will spend their first week in Cusco attending the Spanish lessons before being taken to the Sacred Valley for the remainder of their placement. The Sacred Valley, known as the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes close to Cusco. The accommodation for these programs will be more basic than for the other programs.
Childcare
At childcare placements volunteers assist the children with their homework, organise educational activities, and provide the children with love and attention. There are many different childcare placements available in Cusco, including working at orphanages, homes for abused children, daycares for babies, community centres, and at shelters. There is also the possibility to work at a program for kids with disabilities. If you have an area which you are particularly interested in please let us know, although it will depend on availability as to which project you will be placed.
Construction
At construction projects volunteers assist with construction and/or renovation usually at a childcare project. Tasks on the construction program may include: renovation, labouring, painting, decorating, and carpentry. Volunteers will assist with cement mixing, sand sifting, cutting wood, and transporting building materials. The building projects are to help the community improve their schools and community centres. Be prepared to be very patient and flexible, and to get your hands and clothes very dirty.
Teaching English
At teaching English placements volunteers assist the full time teacher with speaking, listening, writing, reading, grammar, and vocabulary lessons. Volunteers may also be asked to help with specific learners in terms of their pronunciation and for one-on-one tutoring.
Conservation Jungle
Volunteers work at either the Manu National Park or the Tambopata Jungle in the jungle region of Peru in the Sacred Valley. At the jungle project, volunteers may assist in orchid planting, bamboo removal, teaching at the local school, helping maintain trails and creating an inventory of species. Please note that Jungle volunteers will NOT be able to take part in Spanish lessons during their time in the jungle. However, we can arrange for Spanish lessons before or after your project though, this may include additional costs for housing.
Andean Cultural Immersion
At the Andean project, volunteers live with a host family in the mountains in the Sacred Valley. They assist their family with agriculture and textiles practices. They will also provide some workshops to members of the local community, for example teaching English or reading and writing. Please note that due to the remote location of this program, volunteers in the cultural immersion program will NOT be able to take part in Spanish lessons during their project. However, we can arrange for Spanish lessons before or after your project, though this may include additional costs for housing.
Healthcare Disabled
Volunteers work at a clinic for mentally and physically disabled children. This project does not require any qualification or experience. It is in a clinical setting but volunteers essentially help to look after the children, organizing activities, and helping at meal times. There are options at this project to assist in physiotherapy and to shadow a doctor as well.
Healthcare Clinics
Volunteers work at a clinic for low-income families. This project is for med students or qualified nurses or doctors. Volunteers for these projects require at least intermediate Spanish as the staff they will work with have limited English. Notarized documentation of your medical school, nursing school, or other medical credentials will be required.
Conservation
Volunteer at sanctuaries, assisting with cleaning and feeding. This is a small zoo which also houses injured animals and volunteers are needed to maintain the facilities and support the staff in a variety of tasks (such as food preparation, cleaning of enclosures, hosting visitors).
FAQ
Activities
Visitors to Peru will be delighted by the cultural sights and activities that are available. Take on the challenge of hiking Machu Picchu (or catch the train!), take free salsa lessons and get some dance practice at one of the many happening bars, or take it easy posing for photos with local Llamas. Shoppers will enjoy hitting the Pisac markets for traditional textiles and jewellery, while nature enthusiasts can take a cycle tour through the Sacred Valley. And if all that’s not enough adrenaline for you there’s always bungee jumping!
Spanish Lessons
If you want to improve your Spanish skills lessons can be provided by local schools. These are taught by professional teachers, either certified in teaching Spanish as a foreign language or with their Masters in Education, and you will have two hours of lessons per day, usually in the mornings, so that you spend the afternoons at your volunteer placement. Volunteers will also be provided with a Native Spanish Program book.
What is the climate like in Peru?
Peru is divided up into three distinct geographical regions: the coast, the mountain highlands, and the jungle:
The Mountain Highlands (Cusco): Mid April – October is the dry season, with hot, dry days, and cold, dry nights, often hovering just above freezing, particularly in June and July. November – Mid April is the wet season with most rain in January and February. It’s usually clear and dry most mornings with outbursts of heavy rain in the afternoons. The daily temperatures are typically mild with only a small drop at night.
The Coast (Arequipa): December – April is summertime on the coast where the weather is hot and dry. Temperatures on average range from 25 – 35°C. There is little or no rain during these months. May – November the temperature drops a bit and you’ll find blankets of sea mist engulfing the coast from the south right up to about 200 km north of Lima.
The Jungle: April – October is the ‘dry’ season with daily temperatures averaging 30-35°C. However cold fronts from the South Atlantic are common when the temperatures can drop to 15°C during the day and to 13°C at night. November – March is the wet season, hot and humid, when you can expect heavy rain at anytime.
Join dates
All programs are available year round. Some of the teaching projects are not available from December – March; however there are alternate placements available during this time.
Getting to Peru
Most participants fly into Lima or Cusco airport, Alejandro Velazco Astete.
How safe is it to volunteer in Peru?
As in many countries, foreigners are perceived as wealthy in Peru. Although the people are generally warm and friendly towards foreigners, as well as appreciative of the work done by volunteers, not every individual is the same. We work extremely hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering and security policies are in place to achieve this. However, as in any situation at home or abroad, there is no way to erase all potential threats.
In Cusco and other major cities in Peru it is important to be wary of pick pocketing, especially in crowded areas. You should also avoid extremely remote areas where you will be alone. Furthermore, you should be aware that there are active volcanoes in Peru and minor earthquakes are relatively common. Volunteers will be given further safety advice, including for the case of natural disasters, in their orientation session.
Visa
If you need one, you will need to organise your visa before you leave for Peru. Volunteers from the majority of countries are automatically given a 90-day tourist visa on entry into Peru. If volunteers wish to stay longer than 90-days, they have the option of crossing the border into Bolivia or Chile and re-entering Peru, where they will be given an additional 90 days. Alternatively, our partner can take volunteers to immigration in Cusco where they can extend their visa for 30 days up to 3 times (at a cost of approximately US$30 each time).
Accommodation
Most volunteers are accommodated in a traditional homestay in Cusco. You should expect to share a room with at least one other person. 3 meals a day will be provided at your accommodation. For volunteers on the Andean Cultural Immersion program you will be housed at a home stay in the Sacred Valley. Conditions for this program will be more rustic then for those in Cusco. For volunteers on the Jungle program you will be housed at the Manu National Park in dormitory-style accommodation.
What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
The schedule for each project is different but most volunteers work for 3-4 hours either in the morning or the afternoon. The only project with unusual hours is the teaching English to street children project, which runs from 6:30pm – 9:30pm as this is when the children are not working. A typical schedule would be: 7:30am wake up and breakfast, 9:00am Spanish Lessons, 12:00pm lunch, 1:30pm take bus to project, 2:00-6:00pm work at project, 6:00pm return to accommodation, 7:00pm dinner.
How many volunteers are there on site at any one time?
This will depend on the time of year and the project you choose. Volunteers are almost always placed with at least one other at their placement.
What clothing is appropriate for the program?
Volunteers should dress conservatively at all times, according to the custom in Peru. Volunteers need warm clothing for the nights – Cusco is at an elevation of 3,400m (11,154ft) and therefore the nights are very cold – and also light, loose clothing for the day, when it can hot.
What languages do I need to be able to speak to become a volunteer?
For healthcare programs volunteers must have at least an intermediate level of Spanish (i.e. be able to hold a relevant conversation, understand and follow instructions, and so on). For the other programs there is no language requirement, but we do recommend that you learn some basic Spanish before you start volunteering. Most staff speak English, but the locals at your specific project may have very limited English. All volunteers are entitled to one week of Spanish lessons and then for the duration of their stay can practise with a Spanish speaker wanting to learn English, as part of a language exchange program. Please note that volunteers at the Jungle and Andean Cultural Immersion projects will NOT be able to take part in Spanish lessons during their time in the jungle/remote village. However, we can arrange for Spanish lessons before or after your project, but this will include additional costs for housing.
What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid
Tetanus
Malaria – recommended only for those visiting areas below 2000 m (6,561 ft).
Yellow Fever – recommended only for those who intend to visit any jungle areas of the country below 2,300 m (7,546 ft) or those who come from an infected area.
Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering?
Yes. Volunteers have their weekends free for travelling and we do recommend that you take advantage of being in Peru to see some other places of interest. Our partner organisation is able to book tours of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Sacred Valley for you.
Reviews & Feedback
“Everything is working out really well… My sister and I are working in an all girls orphanage.. and we go there every afternoon and basically just help them with their homework, chores, play with them and give them lots of attention. It has been the most amazing experience.” – Caroline
“At my arrival there were about 25-30 girls aged from 6 to 13. They all came running toward us, opened their arms and wanted a hug. People here are gentle, courteous and eager to assist anytime. Here you can see, experience poverty, and generosity first hand. My host family is very humble, modest, gentle people. In the evenings we sit around the dinner table and share our daily experiences, some of us working with the children in an orphanage, in a day care centre, in construction (building garden sheds in the orphanages), teaching English to children and young adults, nurses students assisting in medical centre or hospital. We also share travel experiences. Everyone is so enthusiastic and eager to help in any way possible. I believe every student, as they leave school should have an experience in these places. It should be compulsory, a service experience. No one will ever complain about job unfairness, living cost, traffic, food, money, family dispute and lots more. The world would be a better place to live in.” – Anna
“I’d like to send a big Thank You for being the bridge that linked me to a fantastic volunteer opportunity. The program in Cusco was all-around top notch. Your local affiliate did a great job of providing every necessary facet that an international volunteer needs. As I have now volunteered in a number of places throughout the world, I can confidently say that my program in Cusco, Peru is in many ways, unparalleled. No program that I’ve come across to date has, to the same extent, the benefits of providing the following: a) A worthwhile volunteer experience that allows you to make a difference. b) An intensive, cost-effective foreign language education program. c) Access to incredibly unique local and international volunteer community that exists in Cusco, Peru. d) The fringe benefit of having one of the most breathtaking sights on the planet…. that being Machu Picchu, within a few hours reach. Volunteering helping to make my dreams a reality.” – Joe
“The family I am living with in Cusco is amazing. They make a lot of efforts to speak Spanish with us and make us comfortable. The food is excellent and the facilities very good (even though it’s impossible to get a hot shower here, but I was prepared for that, hehe). My program is great too. I work with disabled children in an orphanage quite close to where I live. The first days were very hard, especially emotionally but the staff there is very helpful. Unlike people on other projects, I feel very useful as they are obviously understaffed and very thankful for the help we are giving.” – Valerie