Peru

Volunteer Holidays currently has opportunities to work on a range of projects in Peru. Volunteers can become involved in childcare, teaching, construction, healthcare, cultural, and conservation/wildlife projects.

Peru boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in South America and volunteers will primarily be based in the city of Cusco, the historical capital of the Inca Empire. In contrast to its stunning geography, which attracts growing numbers of international visitors to Peru, poverty and unemployment remain high throughout rural regions and more than half of the population live below the poverty line.

Program Location
Volunteers will primarily be 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.

Online Spanish Lessons
We have established a partnership with the Spanish school Instituto Exclusivo, which offers our volunteers a 5% discount off their online Spanish lessons. This is not like other courses which give you pages of web material or recordings of various phrases to repeat. You will speak to, and see your instructor as he/she is giving you a private lesson, tailored to your level of Spanish.

Peru Programs

- Spanish Lessons and Tandem Exchange Program
For your first week you will take Spanish lessons provided by our partner. These are taken 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, with the rest of your day at your volunteer placement. Volunteers will also be provided with a Native Spanish Program book.

For the remainder of your stay you will take part in a Tandem Exchange Program. This program pairs volunteers learning Spanish with a Peruvian student who is learning English at their headquarters in Cusco. This way you practise Spanish with your partner for one hour a day, as well as provide invaluable practice for the Peruvian student learning English. It's also a great way to get to know local students in Cusco. If you wish to extend your formal Spanish lessons beyond your first week, this can be arranged for an extra fee.

Please note that for the Andean Cultural Immersion and Conservation/Wildlife programs the Tandem Exchange Program is not available as for these program volunteers are placed in the Sacred Valley.

- 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 boarding school for deaf children and at a school for children and young adults with Down syndrome. 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.

- 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.

- Construction
At construction projects volunteers assist with construction and/or renovation usually at a childcare project. Construction projects change all the time, but our partner organization is currently helping to build a new orphanage in Oropesa, near Cusco. 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.

- Healthcare
There are two options for this program: the first is to 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.

The second option is to 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/Wildlife
There are two options for this program. The first is to volunteer at a zoo in Cusco, assisting with cleaning and feeding. This is a small zoo which also houses injured animals. These are taken in and rehabilitated to go back into the wild. The second option is to work at the Manu National Park in the south-east jungle region of Peru. At the jungle project, volunteers may assist in orchid planting, bamboo removal, teaching at the local school, and creating an inventory of species. Please note that for the Jungle project volunteers will complete one week of Spanish lessons in Cusco before heading to Sacred Valley for the remainder of their stay.

- 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 for this program volunteers will complete one week of Spanish lessons in Cusco before heading to their host family in the Sacred Valley for the remainder of their stay. Volunteers will require at least intermediate Spanish for this program.

Program Cost
A US$97 application fee (fully transferable) will secure your place on the program, with your program fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. You only pay your application fee once and then you can access any of our volunteer programs over the next 5 years.

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for your time in the Peru program is:

Program Fee – from US $45 a day

Andean Cultural Immersion, Childcare, Healthcare Disabled, Teaching English projects
1 week: US $1397
2 weeks: US $1597
3 weeks: US $1797
4 weeks: US $1997
6 weeks: US $2247
8 weeks: US $2497

Construction, Conservation/Wildlife, and Healthcare Clinic projects
1 week: US $1397
2 weeks: US $1597
3 weeks: US $1797
4 weeks: US $1997
6 weeks: US $2297
8 weeks: US $2597

Placements longer than 8 weeks are available, please contact us or apply online for details.

To see the cost in your currency, we recommend you look here.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations, project transportation, departure from the program.

We recommend you allow a weekly budget of US $25 for your other expenses such as bottled water, personal items, beverages, transportation and entertainment.

Program Schedule
Start Date: Every Monday of each month
- Volunteers should arrive in Cusco on the Sunday before their start date to attend the orientation session on Monday. (Accommodation will be covered beginning that Sunday you arrive).

Length: 1 week to 24 weeks

Please note: All international travellers fly into Lima before catching a connecting flight to Cusco.

Contact Us
If you would like more information on any of these projects, or if you have any questions, please email Lee-Anne or phone 03 6224 7444.


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