Volunteer Programs in Peru
137 Volunteer Programs in Peru
MAXIMO NIVEL
Join Maximo Nivel work-study-travel programs in Costa Rica, Guate...
See All 8 Programs
International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 9...
See All 13 Programs
Kaya Responsible Travel
Contribute to an amazing conservation research programme in Peru ...
Impact Gap Year
Visit three different continents in a single program, traversing ...
Gapforce
Visit two of South America’s most iconic countries—Peru and Ecuad...
GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with awa...
See All 8 ProgramsInternational Medical Aid (IMA)
IMA offers an opportunity to enhance your medical and healthcare ...
See All 7 ProgramsRoots Interns
Travel to the Peruvian Rainforest and build a broad skillset as y...
See All 10 ProgramsProjects Abroad
Peru is a fascinating and beautiful country with many volunteer p...
See All 10 ProgramsLove Volunteers
Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love V...
GVI
As a developing country, Peru has a great need for support in com...
See All 2 ProgramsKiya Survivors
'Quilla', pronounced 'Kiya', is the Quechuan word for moon—the sy...
Globalteer
Volunteer at a dog rescue center in the magnificent city of Cusco...
See All 5 ProgramsVolunteer World
Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find ...
See All 5 ProgramsRustic Pathways
Stand in the shadows of the majestic Andes mountains, connect wit...
Travel For Teens
Peru Service is one of our most spectacular trips for teens finis...
See All 2 ProgramsWorldStrides
Lima, the capital of Peru, is located on the west coast of the Pa...
See All 2 ProgramsGoBeyond Student Travel
Volunteer to help impoverished women and their children in Peru w...
ARCC Programs
Join us for an unforgettable 14-day cultural immersion experience...
Arcos Journeys Abroad
Immerse yourself in the life and culture of Peru by living with a...
FutureSense Foundation
Length: 4-6 months | Intakes: January 2026 Join the Global Leade...
Putney Student Travel
Immerse yourself in the vibrant community life of Peru's Sacred V...
The National Registration Center for Study Abroad
The National Registration Center for Study Abroad offers a Spanis...
See All 2 ProgramsPacific Discovery
Discover the soul of South America on a 10-week journey through P...
Involvement Volunteers International
Cusco, Peru – easily one of the top 5 ancient civilization center...
United Planet
Peru is one of United Planet’s most popular volunteer destination...
See All 3 ProgramsVive Peru
Apply medical theories you have learned in school and gain hands-...
See All 5 ProgramsBright Light Volunteers
Learn, serve, and lead with Bright Light Volunteers in a country ...
Operation Wallacea
The Opwall Peru project is based in the Pacaya Samiria National R...
VISIONS Service Adventures
Our homebase in the Sacred Valley of the Inca has welcomed VISION...
Volunteering Journeys
Experience Peru in this combination of volunteering, cultural imm...
See All 5 ProgramsONG Semillas Life
We are looking for volunteers and interns with creative teaching ...
The Fuller Center for Housing
Peru is a country where 44 percent of its people live below the p...
Globe Aware
Volunteer abroad in Cusco, the enchanting ‘belly button’ of the I...
A Broader View Volunteers Corp
Embark on an unforgettable journey with abroaderview, volunteerin...
See All 2 ProgramsNatucate
Do you want to contribute to the research of the Amazon rainfores...
Global Works
Experience the road less traveled on a Peru adventure! Get to kno...
Amazon Shelter
As a volunteer at Amazon Shelter, you’ll be immersed in every par...
Otra Cosa Network
This position offers an excellent opportunity for individuals to ...
See All 8 ProgramsLa Isla De Los Monos
La Isla de los Monos is a sanctuary and rescue center located 30 ...
Colitas Con Canas
Colitas Con Canas, located in Ahunamarca above Urubamba in Peru's...
Volunteer with Animals in Peru
Looking for a volunteer adventure that combines animal care with ...
Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE UK)
Volunteering with ICYE UK is a transformational experience with r...
NPH USA
Do you love children? Are you interested in serving in Latin Amer...
Earthwatch Institute
Join Earthwatch's Amazon Riverboat Exploration and experience the...
MEDLIFE
Classic Service Learning Trips (SLTs) are week-long, immersive ed...
See All 4 ProgramsInotawa
Inotawa Expeditions invites passionate, nature-minded individuals...
Kawsay Center Peru
Kawsay is a biological station located in the Peruvian Amazon, cl...
Developing World Connections
Developing World Connections (DWC) invites you to join one of our...
Panthera Sanctuary
Tucked away in the Amazon Rainforest of Southeast Peru, the prote...
INLEXCA
The childcare program is perfect for patient and affectionate vol...
See All 2 ProgramsWorkingAbroad Projects
Volunteer in some of the most remote and magnificent parts of the...
See All 2 ProgramsLa Casa de Adobe offers a life-changing volunteer opportunity in ...
A Guide to Volunteering Abroad in Peru
Locations
Beginning in March 2017, Peru has been faced with immense flooding, rendering many families homeless and leading to numerous other issues. As this tragic flooding continues, availability of volunteer opportunities in Peru may vary, depending on the organization and location.
Cusco, the red roofed city, was once the capital of the Incan Empire and has gained its modern fame as a gateway to Machu Picchu, because there are multiple Incan Trails that lead from Cusco to the famous mountain ruins. It is a charming city which provides easy access to several ancient ruins and green valleys. But with all the magnificence beyond Cusco, many forget what is offered within the city itself. Volunteers in Cusco can walk just ten minutes from the Plaza de Armas (the city center) to visit Sacsayhuaman, an ancient Incan military fortress. Cusco also has a plethora of Cathedrals and ancient Incan architecture living side-by-side. It is also filled with Spanish Language Schools so it is a great place to study Spanish on the side.
While volunteering in Cusco you will see many foreigners, so if you are looking for an off the beaten path, secluded experience where you will meet no one but Peruvians, then Cusco is not the place. That being said there are many volunteer organizations in Peru that are based in Cusco, but many do the majority of their work in the surrounding area.
Lima, a sprawling and bustling city, will surprise many with its ample volunteer opportunities. The city has grown so quickly over the last two decades that it is hard to pinpoint the needs of its ever-growing population. Droves of people from rural locations moved to the city in the late 1980s and early ‘90s as a result of The Shining Path, a terrorist/guerilla organization that was active in rural areas during that time. The quick growth of the city resulted in disorganization as Lima expanded. The criss cross streets of Centro de Limo leave you quickly lost when you attempt to travel outwards, and “Shanty Towns” frame as well as sprinkle nearly the entire city.
Centro de Limo is identical to cities in Spain in many ways, with giant Spanish style mansions left from the conquistadores, cathedrals, and tons of shopping and restaurants. Volunteering in Lima’s shanty towns can seem a million miles away, as many lack any real structure and schools are often shacks with tin roofs. Playgrounds need repairs, buildings need new paint, children need supervision, and teachers need educational assistance in these communities.
Lima is an allusive city; many of its problems are slightly hidden behind the well-to-do districts, where most students studying in Peru live, or the historic center and ocean cliffs, where tourists flock. While it is a much less popular location for volunteering in Peru, there is plenty of need for volunteer projects in Lima.
Rural Areas. Smaller cities, like Chiclayo on the western coast and The White City of Arequipa, offer ample opportunities to volunteer in Peru as well. Volunteers can choose between extremely secluded villages in the Amazon or mid sized towns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To volunteer in Peru, you’ll need to decide what kind of project you want to focus on and when you want to go. You can then use a resource like GoAbroad.com to explore your program options and apply accordingly. Once you’re accepted to a volunteer program, you’ll pay your program fees, book a flight, and be on your way to Peru!
You do not need a special visa to volunteer in Peru—a tourist visa will suffice. For Americans, this means you can volunteer for up to 183 days before your visa expires.
Yes! A major perk of volunteering in Peru is the potential to learn and perfect your Spanish. Most volunteer placements will involve the Spanish language, but you don’t necessarily need to speak Spanish to volunteer in Peru (this is a requirement that varies from placement to placement).
Some of the best volunteer programs in Peru are GoEco, GVI, and IVHQ. You’ll find projects that range from conservation to community development to volunteer English teaching.
The best reasons to volunteer in Peru include skill building, work experience, expanding your personal and professional networks, and, of course, making a tangible impact in your host community.
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