Cultural Immersion - Sacred Valley

Volunteers will be placed in very small villages of approximately 60 people in the Andes Mountains outside of Cusco.

THE PROJECT

Volunteers are placed in an indigenous, Quechua-speaking community high in the Andes mountains, approximately 1 hour from Cusco. They live and work alongside a traditional Andean family.  Volunteers should consider this project an intense, cultural encounter and be able to live with only basic necessities. It will be very rewarding but also very challenging.

Volunteers help families with the following activities:

Agriculture — most common crops are potatoes and quinoa. Volunteers assist with planting, harvesting, storing, and transporting crops.

Livestock — feeding and taking care of the animals and sometimes milking the cows owned by the host family.

Textiles — learning about traditional weaving skills and natural dyes by working with the women who create traditional textile products to sell at local markets.

This project provides an income source for small communities and promotes cross cultural understanding. Volunteers will be able to take part in local festivities and gatherings both within their host family and the community. Volunteers should consider this project an intense, cultural encounter and be able to live with only basic necessities. It will be very rewarding but also very challenging.

Please note that the accommodations and meals will be very basic due to the extremely remote setting of these communities. Hot showers will not be available and running water is not guaranteed. Locals bath in a mix of boiled and cold water that they put in a bucket. 

Another important point is that no English is spoken in these communities. Quechua is the local language. Most locals also speak Spanish as a second language. It is still possible to have a rewarding and full experience even though there will be a language barrier. Furthermore, the community is very warm and welcoming to all volunteers.

NOTE** project available all year

• Volunteer placement
• Volunteer project management and administration for your selected program length
• Program and Safety orientation
• Pre-departure support
• 2 nights accommodation in Cusco ( upon arrival and departure)
• Accommodations at Host family
• 3 meals per day
• Airport pick-up
• Volunteer certificate
• Recommendation letter
• Transport to volunteer project the first day
• 24/7 support from our staff in Peru

**Your fee also contributes to the purchase of needed supplies for improvements at your project.

Accommodation:

Meals and accommodations are included. Volunteers will stay in a homestay where they will live with a local family. Volunteers may expect to share a room with either other volunteers, but in some homestays volunteers get their own rooms. When staying with your family you will be able to learn the Peruvian way of life, meet local people, eat typical food, speak the language (Spanish or Quechua) and engage in local customs and traditions.

Accommodation is from Sunday to Saturday, check out on Volunteers last day at 10:00am

Volunteers arriving before Sunday or staying after Saturday, will be charged US$42.00 per extra night at accommodation.

Food and Beverege:

Volunteers can expect to experience a variety of flavors and meals during their homestay experience as Peruvian food is diverse. We will be glad to let the family know if you have special eating needs. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. You will be well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible towards the new culture and traditions.

Arrival in Cusco!

Once you arrive in Cusco, please pick up your bags and then step out of the airport. Our PEVolunteer representative will be waiting for you there with a sign that has your name written on it.

The first day of volunteer’s program (normally Sunday) is upon arrival in Cusco, Volunteer will be pickup from the airport and then transfer to our host family. Here volunteers will have the day to rest and acclimatize.

First day! Your Introduction

Work usually starts on Monday; we will meet at our office in Cusco at 9am. Our orientation will begin and will be conducted by our staff. It will cover everything you need to know for your volunteer placement in the city including an introduction to Peru, Peruvian customs, Spanish Classes, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Peru.

Once our orientation is complete, we will take you to the bus station where we will go and take the public bus to the project at the Sacred Valley, about 1.40hours from Cusco. Upon arrival we will introduce you to your host family and you will have time to get to know the surroundings.

Spanish classes will not be available during your stay in the Andean community but we will be happy to set up classes for you for before or after your project. Please note additional fees may be applied for housing and/or classes.

Spanish language courses are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. PEVolunteer strongly recommends these for all volunteers unless they are extremely fluent. Volunteers should strongly consider these courses as they will allow them to work and communicate with all parties more efficiently during their stay. These language courses are organized on arrival in Peru at the program orientation.

The language course is tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish.

While our programs are flexible and can be fit to your requirements, an example of a typical day is as follows:

7:30AM – Breakfast with the host family

8:00AM – 12:00PM – Volunteer will either work with the family directly at their house or go to the local community. Where you volunteer for the day will depend on the time of year (for agriculture) and the type of duties available. Work hours are generally four hours in the morning or afternoon.

12:00- 6:00PM – Work at the project usually ends. The volunteer at this point is free to relax or explore the local area.

7:30PM – Dinner with the host family.

On the weekend, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local town and Peru. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield such as Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca.

At PEVolunteer we organize fun and interesting tours for our volunteers, so just let us know where you would like to go!

– The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old unless traveling with family members over 18 or their school.

– No previous volunteer experience or other qualifications are necessary as all skills are useful in our projects.

– We do require volunteers to be aware that they will encounter cultural differences in Peru, which they must be prepared to respect.

– Our volunteers must be willing to engage in their project and be open-minded towards the dissimilarities they may encounter.

– Fill out our application by clicking “Apply Now“. Make sure to add info@pevolunteer.org to your email safe list to ensure receipt of our response.

– A no-refundable, no-transferable payment of US$250.00 must be paid at time of booking.

– After reserving your place please book your flight and send us your flight information so we can schedule your airport pick-up. Also, visit your doctor for any vaccinations you may require and do not hesitate to ask us any questions that you may have.

– Upon receipt of your details you will be sent our in-depth pre-departure brochure full of indispensable tips regarding preparation and packing, your destination and its customs, your accommodations, travel requirements and suggestion.

– The remaining total is due 10 days before the start of your program.

– Join us Helping and Traveling in Peru!

• National and International flights are not included
• Please let us know for any additional night
• Insurances are not included
• Please have a valid passport at time of travel
• Departure transfer is not included