Peru - FAQ

Tell me more about Peru?
With an area of 1,285,215 square km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina. Divided into 24 departments, Lima, situated on the coast, is the capital. Peru has a population of 27.million inhabitants and, as part of its rich cultural tradition, features many different languages. Although Spanish is commonly spoken across the country, Quechua is a major legacy of the Incan empire, and is still spoken with regional dialects in many parts of the country. Peru is a democratic republic - the president and members of Congress are elected every five years by universal suffrage. Religion plays a large role in Peruvian life, with almost 90% of inhabitants Roman Catholic.

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 13�C at night. November - March is the wet season, hot and humid, when you can expect heavy rain at anytime.

What kind of volunteer work is available?
Childcare - including orphanages, community centers, daycares and street children.
Teaching - local state schools in Cusco and the surrounding area, and Arequipa.
Construction Projects - in Cusco or the surrounding area, usually at a childcare project.
Healthcare - at a clinic which provides assistance to low income families. Conservation - help at the Cusco zoo.

Is the program available year round?
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.

When will I know specific details on the placement?
After you sign up for the program GVN will put you in touch with our partner organisation. They will email you the specific details of you placement, which may take up to one week to arrange.

Where will I be located?
The projects are located in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Arequipa, depending on which project you choose.

What languages do I need to be able to speak to become a volunteer?
There is no requirement for this program, but we do recommend that you learn some basic Spanish before you start volunteering. The staff at our partner organisation speak English, but the locals at your specific project may have very limited English. All volunteers will participate in one week of Spanish lessons and then for the duration of their stay you will practise with a Spanish speaker wanting to learn English, as part of a language exchange program.

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 them, 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. For further travel advice you may like to visit AllSafeTravels - a provider of travel safety advice for anyone who travels internationally.

Tell me more about flying into Peru.
Volunteers need to fly to Cusco airport, Alejandro Velazco Astete. All volunteers will need to fly through Lima to make a connecting flight. If you need to spend the night in Lima because of your flights, our partner can arrange an airport transfer and night in a hotel for you.

Are there any specific starting dates?
Volunteers need to arrive on the Sunday before the 1st or 3rd Monday of each month.

May I choose which project to volunteer in?
Yes.

May I volunteer in a combination of projects?
We recommend that you spend your time on one project as our experience shows that between one volunteer project and Spanish lessons, volunteers are kept very busy.

How do I get to the project?
You must catch a bus ("combi") to their project each day. This will be explained during the orientation when you first arrive in Cusco. The cost for the bus will be around US $0.20 each day.

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.

What are the living arrangements when volunteering?
The majority of volunteers will live in the volunteer house in Cusco. The house has running water, hot water, electricity, western-style toilet, a telephone (where volunteers can make and receive calls), and a mobile phone which volunteers can use to call the partner organisation for free. You will get 3 meals a day cooked by a professional chef. The house has an outdoor patio, a sitting room with TV and DVD player, and a dining room. Some volunteers will be accommodating at a homestay family in Cusco or Arequipa. These families are carefully chosen and the houses have running water, hot water, electricity, western-style toilet, and volunteers receive 3 meals a day.

Can I bring my family/children to this program with me?
Yes, you are able to bring you family, including children, on this program. Babysitting can also be provided at a cost.

Can you accommodate specific dietary requirements?
Please indicate any dietary restrictions on your application form. Vegetarians can be catered for but you need to let us know beforehand.

What age do you have to be to volunteer?
You must be 18 years or older to volunteer. There is no upper limit for volunteers; we only require that volunteers are in good health.

What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page, which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision.

What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
The schedule for each project is different but most volunteers work for 4 hours either in the morning or the afternoon (although they can choose to work more or less hours). 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.

What resources will be available?
Each project will provide you with the resources you need. However, for the teaching, childcare and street children programs you may like to bring teaching resources, toys or games to help you. Our partner organisation also has a selection of resources including games, books, pens and paper etc. You will also have the use of a photocopier for making worksheets.

Can groups participate in this program?
Yes, we are able to accommodate groups for this program - please contact us for details.

Are there holidays or festivals I should be aware of when travelling?
The major holidays to be aware of in Peru and Cusco are:
Holy Week: March 20, 21
Corpus Christy: May 22
Cusco Anniversary: June 23, 24
Independence Day: July 28, 29
Saint Rose Day: August 30
Day of the Dead: November 1, 2
Christmas: December 24, 25

Holidays in Cusco are perfect dates to go on trips and combine volunteer programs with travel and other activities. There are some projects that are always open, so if volunteers want to work these days it is still possible.

Is there opportunity to take classes such as language or cultural activities while on the program?
All volunteers will receive two hours of group Spanish classes each day for the first week of their project. All the Spanish teachers are professional teachers - either certified in teaching Spanish as a foreign language or with a Masters in Education. Volunteers will also be provided with a course book. After their first week of classes, volunteers will switch to a Tandem Exchange Program, which involves being matched with a Peruvian who is studying English with our partner organisation. They will meet for one hour conservation practice each day. Volunteers may also opt to extend their Spanish classes for an extra charge.

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.

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.

Are there more expenses once I arrive?
The program costs cover accommodation, airport pick-up and all meals. If you plan on arriving early or staying on, then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off depending on what you intend on doing. Other costs include buying bottled water, visa (only required in staying longer than 90 days), departure tax, and any shopping you will do personally. Volunteers also need to pay for the bus to their project each day - approximately US $0.20 per day. All visitors to Peru are required to pay approximately US $30 for departure tax (in cash) at Lima airport when they leave.

What happens if I get sick or have an accident while I'm in Peru?
You should contact our partner organisation who will take you to a clinic with an English speaking doctor. They will also give you an emergency number during your orientation session. If you are unable to contact our partner organisation, you may call GVN using our 24/7 emergency hotline.

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 and there is room for up to 20 volunteers at any one time in the volunteer house.

Can you tell me more about your partner in Peru?
Our partner organisation was founded in Cusco, Peru in 2003. In addition to international volunteer programs they also have TEFL/TESOL Certification programs in Peru and Costa Rica, and offer English and Spanish courses at their headquarters in Cusco.

What is the course content of the training?
Volunteer orientation takes place on the first Monday following their arrival on Sunday. This is a 2-hour meeting which includes a power-point presentation about the program, the partner organisation, and living in Peru. Volunteers are also given an info sheet relating to the meeting, which includes information on their volunteer project (schedule, contact person, location, how to get there etc.) and their Spanish class schedule. All volunteers are provided with a pocket-sized card with our partner's emergency telephone numbers and any questions they may have will be answered. Volunteers first visit their project with staff members, taught how to use public transportation, introduced to the staff at the project (who will have the volunteer's details), and discuss their project in more detail with the staff.

Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement?
If you need one, you will need to organize your Visa through your travel agent before you leave for Peru. The information pack includes links to Peruvian Embassies through out the world. 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).

Do I need travel insurance?
As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident cover as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers all fees paid to GVN, Airlines etc (up to US$10,000). The cost is US$150.00 for the first month and then US$100.00 per month after that. If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/.

How do I pay my fees?
Your application fee secures your place on the program. Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. The program fee is non refundable, in accordance with GVN's legal terms of service.