Volunteering abroad in Peru, South America including rainforest conservation & teaching

Voluntary Work in Peru

"Peru has the high Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest, a fine coastline and some of the world's greatest archaeological sites. It is a brilliant base for touring South America and a good environment for learning Spanish."

To live in Peru

With an extensive coastline, a vast area of Amazon rainforest - and the Andes, Peru gives you the opportunity to visit South America and see much of its character in one country: wildlife, beaches, historical sites and mountains.

Peru was shaped by the Incas and the Spanish. Hispanic and Amerindians live alongside each other and Spanish and Quechua are spoken in the markets of the Sacred Valley and Lima. The mysterious and magnificent Machu Picchu draws in tourists, archaeologists and historians alike. Inca ruins are everywhere.

Teaching Abroad has its office in Urubamba in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There are placements in many of the small towns in the Valley all keen to have volunteers working in their schools. Our Inca Projects are based three hours away in Huyro which is surrounded by newly discovered Inca remains. To visit our Rainforest project you need to take a half hour flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado followed by a two hour boat trip up the Madre de Dios river - a real adventure into the jungle.

Your home in Peru may be a house with a wall built by the Incas or you may share your garden with a troop of spider monkeys. You can sample local brews like Pisco Sour or Cusquena and you may even find yourself celebrating your birthday with Cuy (guinea pig) as the main dish!

Volunteers travel far and wide whether it be exploring a large chunk of South America or just seeing Peru. You may want to visit the Nazca Lines or see Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world. There are so many options open to you whether it be for a short weekend visit or as part of an extended trip.