Volunteer in Peru
Peru Overview
Friendly childrens home high in the Andes needs you!
Volunteer work in Peru and assist at an orphanage in Cuzco, known as the backpacking Mecca of South America and set against the spectacular Peruvian Andes. Volunteer work in Peru is an ideal starting point for first time volunteers and experienced volunteers alike.
The orphanage where you will be volunteering in Peru provides daily meals, a bed and schooling but the children also need attention on a one-to-one basis. Volunteer work in Peru is flexible and varied and you can be as involved as you like. One day perhaps helping with after school homework, another day organising your own activity or simply watching TV with the children. Volunteering in Peru is not all work either. The famous Inca Treks are a must and can be arranged on arrival from approx. £180. And if you want to visit Machu Pichu but are not into trekking and camping, the ruins can be visited easily on a day's excursion from Cuzco.
Whilst volunteering in Peru, volunteers live in comfortable (by Peruvian standards!) shared self-contained apartments close to the orphanages. Although there is only one English-speaking manager, orphanage staff are used to working alongside volunteers of all ages for many years. In addition, by living on site, volunteers are never far away from assistance if they require it. If we had to choose just one quintessential project in South America, which ticks all the boxes, voluntary work in Peru is a must!
A limited number of spaces (2 weeks maximum) are also available for Dentistry students to get involved with local surgeries alongside helping at the orphanages. Please book early as demand exceeds supply. A one-off contribution of £100 is required for dental placements which covers organisation, supervision and materials.
Combine volunteering with a trek on an Inca Trail
Most volunteers at some stage of their visit will make a trek on one of the many Inca trails in the region. These can be organised with local trekking agencies after arrival and a basic no frills-carry-your-own-rucksack-type with trek guides will cost in the region of £180. If you can't stretch to an organised trek or don't have time, there are plenty of cobblestone Inca trails surrounding the city which can be explored easily, in the same way as local footpaths at home. For those not trekking, the famous ruins of Macchu Picchu can be visited without the need to trek for days, just take the tourist bus from the little town of Aguas Calientes at the bottom of the hill!
Images from Peru
Country: Peru
Book your placement with £125. Then pay £95 per week
to volunteer in an orphanage.
Peru Health Work
Your memories
We have been sent some of the most lovely photos from volunteers at play and at work, they are truly inspirational.
Photo Album by volunteer Cassie Brown
Photo Album by volunteer Laura Rogers
Photo album by volunteer Calum Hill
Photo album by volunteer Fiona Robertson
Photo album by volunteer Melanie Stevenson
What next?
If you would like to book over the phone or simply ask more questions please call us on 01603 627 007
See related video ‘How to book’
If you know where and when you want to go, then you can book online.
You can also change your date of arrival or country at any time.
Trip info for Peru
Country: Peru
Book your placement with £125. Then pay £95 per week
to volunteer in an orphanage.
Change lives and volunteer in Peru 2013 - 2014
Volunteer in Peru
Land of the Incas, misty mountain tops, cobbled streets and colourful traditional costumes. Come and discover the amazing feeling of reward that you get when working with children in friendly family run orphanages. The Peru experience delves completely in the children’s lives and volunteers have the chance to do many activities with them, from general day-to-day care, helping with schoolwork, playing and creating fun activities to do. With a chance to help at two different orphanages, one for girls and one for boys, this is the perfect chance to make a change in children’s lives.
Living in a self-contained volunteer apartment above the girl’s orphanage, your placement is definitely within easy reach!
The Peru volunteer project is ideal for anyone wanting to combine a holiday and some gentle volunteering so you can be as involved as you want to be. Every volunteer visit makes a difference here even if you are not helping all day with the children. Because you will be paying for your stay directly to the orphanage, you can rest assured that even when sightseeing or when trekking on the Inca trails you are helping the orphanage in a positive and practical way. An experience that won’t be quickly forgotten, your time volunteering in Peru will be a memorable one.
Skills and experience, no experience is required when volunteering in Peru. Most volunteers that teach English to the children have never taught before, as long as you can speak English, you will be fine. When giving the children general day-to-day care, you will quickly fit in and feel at ease as you see the children’s smiles and happiness from the attention.
What's included in this programme
Accommodation: Volunteer accommodation is a comfortable self-contained shared apartment.
During your stay you will be trained on the job informally via in-country orientation.
Airport pick-up is also available to all our volunteers and costs £10.
What's not included
Flights
Insurance
Return Airport transfer
Local Transport around Cuzco
Meals
We consider this project ideal if you...
- Are looking for a small and friendly family-run project where you can live-in.
- Would like an opportunity to get some dental practice experience (dentistry students only - optional).
- Want to learn or improve your Spanish by working alongside Spanish speaking staff.
- Are travelling alone and want to make new friends amongst the other volunteers and perhaps travel together afterwards.
Highlights
Live in at a friendly family run orphanage
Visit the famous Macchu Picchu ruins
Combine placements and help at a boys orphanage
Anthony Roberts, a Roofer from Southgate, London, spent 5 weeks volunteering at Orphanages in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.
While he was there he took lessons every day in Spanish, and found that as a result he is now able to speak the language more fluently, and to be able to make a point...(read review)
Your role as a volunteer
Volunteers have the option to work in both the girls and the boy’s orphanage providing two contrasting placements. The girls go to school until the early afternoon and when they return they do chores and homework, volunteers can help the girls do their homework and it is much appreciated. The evening time is when most volunteers either teach English to the girls or set up fun activities for them to do. The boys go to school throughout different times of the day so the local co-ordinators will let you know when is best to help them with their homework or do different games and activities with them. Volunteers are also able to help out around the orphanages by doing general cleaning, cooking, laundry and other such practical tasks.
Free time
Known as the backpacking Mecca of South America, Cuzco offers the visitor plenty to see and do. From the Machu Picchu ruins, Urpicha Park to taking a dip in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes. Plenty of museums, shops, cafes and bars including a growing number of Irish Pubs. A popular break is an Inca trail trek and the local co-ordinator can help arrange one after arrival.
Local facilities
Cuzco has all the local facilities that are needed and most are within walking distance, including banks, doctors, cafes and other amenities.
What to take
Once you have applied and registered with Original Volunteers, you will receive an Information Pack via email that will have further details on the project in Peru; in this email there will be a list of items to take and items that are best not to take.
How to apply
It is quick an easy to book with Original Volunteers. You can book online or call us on now on 01603 627 007 and book over the phone.
See related video ‘How to book’.
It costs £125 to book. Once book you can go to as many placements as you want within a year without having to pay the booking fee of £125 again.
The booking fee instantly books and reserves your place for any month you choose .We are very flexible. Just let us know if your plans change and spaces permitting we will put you on another list.
Not on your own
Although some volunteers travel with friends, the bigger majority travel alone. It is possible to get in contact with other volunteers before your travel, and a lot of people tend to do this. Some volunteers even plan to travel together and set this up themselves before they depart.
When to pay
This project will need to be paid in full before departure.
On arrival
The nearest airport to the project is Cuzco. As soon as you land there will be someone waiting to take you to the girl’s orphanage where you will be staying. When you arrive at the placement, the co-ordinator will introduce you to everyone and help you get settled.
Accommodation included
When volunteering in Peru you will be staying in Cuzco, living in self contained apartments, which are situated above the girl’s orphanage. There is a kitchen and lounge area where you can sit and relax in the evening. Any volunteers travelling together will be placed together. At quite times of the year private rooms are available, or twins for couples and friends.
Local support
The managers and orphanage staff are always on hand when you need them, and living in, they are always close by.
Food
Peru is a self-catering project and there are many cafes nearby where volunteers can eat out; with the average cost of a meal being only about a pound or two. Or, if preferred, there are shops close by and a local market that is within 5 minutes walking distance where you can buy food and cook in the kitchen available in the apartments where volunteers stay.
Health
There is a doctor close by and a hospital should you need the use of one, the co-ordinators will help you with your transfer there.
Getting around
The town centre is only about a 20 minutes walk but taxis are cheap and a 10 minute trip into town will cost approximately 50p.
Project resources
The orphanage has most of the resources it needs but many volunteers often bring extra with them. Reading and activity books and winter clothes and shoes will be warmly welcomed and appreciated. A list is provided before travel or you can contact the project directly before arrival. Contact details are sent automatically 2 - 3 weeks before arrival.
Fast facts - Project information
Project Duration: Min 1 week - Max 12 weeks
Location of project: Cuzco
Arrival Airport: Cuzco (changing flights in Lima)
Activities: General day-to-day care of children, helping with homework, practical tasks and setting up activities and games
Working Hours: Full or part-time as preferred. Weekends free
Getting to the project: Airport pick-up and transfer to the volunteer house is automatically arranged for all volunteers, once flights have been received.
Requirements: Minimum age 18
Things to organise yourself
Flights to Cuzco
Travel Insurance
Any resources you wish to bring
Food
Peru at a glance
Peru is in western South America. It is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia from the north, Brazil from the east, Chile from the south and the Pacific Ocean from the west. Peru is divided into 25 regions. Peru is multiethnic and its population is an average of 29 million. The earliest sign of human presence in Peru dates back to approximately 10,560 BC. Peru is a presidential representative democratic republic. Under this constitution, the president is head of state and government.
Peru has more than its fair share of wildlife, history, landscapes and culture which means there is something for everyone in this ancient land. From ice blue lakes and glaciers in the sierras to tropical rainforest in the Amazon basin Peru has it all and every imaginable habitat in between. In Cuzco there are plenty of museums, shops, cafes and bars including a growing number of Irish pubs. Not to be missed before leaving are Machu Pichu, Inca Trail, Nazca Lines, Chan Chan, The Cordillera Blanca and Lake Titicaca.
Festivals: Inti Raymi, 24 June, Candelaria, February, Senor de los Milagros, October
Time difference from UK: GMT -5hrs
Climate
Peru's climate is very diverse from subtropical on the coast to the Equatorial climate present in the eastern lowlands.
The rainy season is from November- April and the average higest day time temperature in Cuzco is 21 Clesius between October and March.
Accommodation in Peru
Country: Peru
Book your placement with £125. Then pay £95 per week
to volunteer in an orphanage.
More information about the accommodation in Cuzco
A - Girls orphanage - location
The main volunteer house and girls orphanage: Pasaje Mariscal Gamarra A1 28 28.
As of December 2011, 14 girls. There are 3 volunteer apartments with usual facilites, hot water etc.
Chemist 1 minute
Bus from 4 in the morning to 10 at night – are minibuses used locally but volunteers tend to use taxis more.
Taxis are available 24/7 a short journey costs around 5 soles (soles is the currency of Peru), during the night from 10pm - 5am 1 or 2 Soles extra is charged
Cash Machines and ATM 5 minutes walk
Phone booths 2 minutes
Cyber cafes 2 minutes 1 sol per hour
Laundry 5 minutes 5 or 6 soles per kilo
Bars plenty around
Distance from Cuzco Airport: 7 minutes by car
B- Coordinator's house
Your English speaking coordinator who is also the orphanage founder and manager lives closeby at Las Garderias casi Parque Las Palmeras
Occasionally volunteers stay in a 4 bed appartment here with hot water. It is centrally located with all the usuall facilities on your doorstep.
C –Boys orphanage
Address: Pasaje Mariano Melgar K-12 Urbanizacion Mercados Unidos, Zarzuela, distrito de Santiago Cusco. This house is also known amongst the children as La casa de mi padre, my father's house. As of december 2011, 18 boys reside here.
There are also 13 rooms for volunteers to stay, all with private bathrooms
With less doorstep facilites than the girls orphanage, volunteers tend to do their main shopping once a week
Taxi: 3 or 4 Soles
D -Casa Rural de Poroy/New
100 metres from the Estacion de Poroy; (Poroy train station) next to the Panamericana motorway .
In contrast to the orphanages, this daycentre looks after and provides activities to some of the city's most deprived children to prevent them begging on the streets of the city and leaving their families.
The volunteer house is 30 minutes by bus from Cuzco (1.50 Soles) and 15 minutes by taxi (10 to 15 Soles). Facilities are limited at this rural village, although there are plenty of bars, there is no bank or ATM
Currency exchange on 02/12/2012 1 Peruvian Sol = 0.24 pence.
See locations on Google Map: https://g.co/maps/9w3g4
What next?
Skills for Life - TEFL Training courses
Be Prepared
Our top destinations are now offering training to further enhance your volunteering experience. Attend a training course as part of your placement and receive a qualification.
Book your placement with just £95 and pay nothing extra for training!
Thanks to all who attended the latest training sessions...
27/6/12
Duncan, Cat, Eilidh, Emma, Aaronjaye, Alex, Hannah, Cheyenne, Amanda
28/6/12
Carly, Hefin, Ryan, Jeremy
