Location
  • Peru
    • Cusco
    • Machu Picchu
Length
1 to 52 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
17
Age Max
90
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hostel Hotel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
665
Price Details
Maximo Nivel offers top-rated volunteer abroad programs. We strive to offer all-inclusive program fees that are affordable, transparent, and accessible to everyone. Along with Maximo’s professional program management, multi-lingual team, and 24/7 in-country support, your volunteer program includes:
Airport pick-up
Host family accommodations (shared room)
Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
3-4 hours/day practical work, Monday-Friday
Program and safety orientation
Walking tour
Official certificate of volunteer service
Letter of recommendation
Spanish language tutoring table
Tandem Conversation Program
Office-wide WiFi and computer lab
Salsa dance classes
Cooking classes
Institute is open 7 days/week
Emergency contact number 24/7
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Travel Insurance
Feb 15, 2022
Mar 31, 2024
90 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Peru is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of natural resources. However, its social development has not kept pace with its commercial development, and Peruvians still wrestle with illiteracy and basic social justice. Peru works hard at self-improvement, making it an ideal place for international volunteers to get involved, contribute to sustainable programs, and provide help to vulnerable populations. There is no shortage of things to get done in Peru and international volunteers can truly learn to serve here.

Maximo Nivel provides volunteer abroad projects at our institute in Cusco, Peru, both in and outside of the city center. Projects are also available off-site in the Sacred Valley (mountains), the Amazon region (rainforest), and Quillabamba (rainforest), some of which are rural areas and offer a more “off-the-grid” experience than the city of Cusco. Volunteers always have the opportunity to serve in both urban and rural communities.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

LGBTQIA+ Support

At Maximo Nivel, we deeply value diversity in all its forms. We maintain an open-minded approach, recognizing the significance of varied perspectives, intelligent discourse, and the transformative power of a positive mindset. We warmly welcome and respect individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of politics, gender, gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Whether it’s volunteering, Spanish immersion, TEFL certification, international internships, university courses, or GAP year experiences, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are wholeheartedly invited to participate in our programs.

Impact

Ethical Impact

At Maximo Nivel, we work in close partnership with our local communities in Latin America to ensure that volunteer projects align with genuine local needs, fostering meaningful and relevant impact. We emphasize sustainable initiatives designed for enduring change, rather than short-term interventions. By promoting cultural sensitivity, we facilitate enriching exchanges rooted in mutual respect, and our commitment to local employment further integrates and supports the communities we serve.

Program Highlights

  • New volunteer programs start every Monday year-round
  • All-inclusive—shared accommodations, meals, and many extras
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • Academic credit available
  • All-inclusive program fees from $665

Popular Programs

Working with Kids

Homelessness and poverty have left many children in Latin America without access to proper education and a loving environment. Maximo Nivel’s childcare projects aspire to change children’s lives by providing caring and nurturing volunteers to work, study, and play with them.

Teaching English

Speaking English is a life-changing skill for people in developing countries, because the language opens both academic and professional opportunities, and provides a path out of poverty.

Conservation projects in Peru

Your work may be focused on reforestation, organic gardening, wildlife and animal monitoring, trail maintenance, and educational workshops for local communities.

Construction Projects in Peru

Maximo Nivel’s construction programs focus on community development. Construction projects may include building or repairing homes, adding classrooms to schools, or making structural improvements to clinics.

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 137 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.16%
  • 4 rating 5.84%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.75
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 4.85
  • Program Selection 5
  • Pre-departure Help 5
  • In-program Support 5
  • Impact on Student 5
  • Value 5
Showing 65 - 72 of 137 reviews
Default avatar
Eliana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Campaign with Maximo Nivel

The other volunteers and I were able to complete upwards of 30 hours helping over 500 people in 4 communities around Cusco. This was such a great experience! We were able to provide healthcare to people who, otherwise, might not have been able to afford it, and we were able to gain more practical skills in the medical field which, the majority of us hope to go into one day. I am very grateful to the entire staff of Maximo which made this such a memorable experience for all of us. Thank you!

53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Eric
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel Cusco Spanish Classes

I took two classes a day of Maximo Nivel's native Spanish program for three weeks. The teachers were excellent as were the support staff and I was able to notice a large improvement in my ability to comprehend and speak Spanish. I think this class is a great way to learn a new language and help navigate Cusco and Peru! Even though I wasn't a volunteer there the facilities were great and the staff were always available to answer questions I had about classes, the city, and exploring the surrounding region.

What would you improve about this program?
More examples are always great!
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Joe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering at Clinic

I don't have enough good things to say about the staff at Maximo and at the Clinic I worked at. They were there for me through everything... even when I broke my leg on the last day. They helped me get the medical attention I needed and one of them, Dominic, even wheeled me through the airport when I was leaving in my cast. Such great people here. I really hope to come back to Cusco one day to do some more volunteering, hopefully through Maximo Nivel

50 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Allie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Peruvian Adventures!

I had such an incredible time doing the medical volunteer program through Maximo. My group only spent 10 days in Peru, and did a week long volunteer project, but I feel like I got so much out of the experience. Several fellow nursing students and I spent five days working at the Centro de Salud in Chinchero. We really got to put our skills to the test - taking vitals, administering injections, doing wound care, assisting with prenatal and well child check ups, working in triage, and sharpening our Spanish skills. Kristi was our coordinator and she did an excellent job! Dina, the coordinator specifically for the medical sites, visited us every day and made sure we had what we needed. She is a Peruvian nurse and was very helpful in teaching us the ins and outs of the Peruvian medical system. In spite of our short visit, we also were able to travel and explore quite a bit. One perk of Maximo is they seamlessly partner with American Inca tourism agency; they're even in the same building. We took all our trips through them and had a blast. Even though I accidentally drove my ATV into a cactus (I really don't recommend doing that), I had an incredible time in Peru and can't wait to go back. The Maximo team provided excellent support for getting my (many, many) cactus wounds checked out, and set up an appointment for me with an English-speaking, Maximo-affiliated physician. I was extremely well taken care of. I plan to do another (hopefully longer) trip with Maximo when I am a registered nurse in a couple months and can contribute even more.

48 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Robert
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Do This!!

Since I returned home I have told so many of my friends, family, and coworkers about this amazing experience I had in Peru.

When I arrived at Cusco airport, the first week of March and step outside into this cold, wet, and grey city I asked myself what the heck have I gotten myself into? By the end of the week I was so grateful to have been able to participate in this amazing experience, so grateful for the people I met, and so grateful that I was able to give. Although I am significantly older than the average participant age was never an issue as we were united in a common cause.

From the people I worked with, to Marco the head of the construction site, and to Maximo for handling every detail everything was well done. The work on the clinic, the activities sponsored by Maximo, and the free time to explore made this a one of many I want to do with them. If you are looking to volunteer for a week or weeks you couldn’t do it with a better organization than this. Thanks for one of the most memorable weeks of my life!!

49 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Gidalti
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great time

I really enjoyed this experience. From being with the other volunteers to working for the community. It's always great to travel to a new country, it's even better when you meet awesome people who share the same goal: to help while exploring. It was great to see the progress we were making in a much needed obgyn. The Peruvian culture is awesome, and it's landscape breathtaking. It was a very fun experience. The staff at Maximo were excellent. They were very helpful, "down to earth", and I appreciated them having activities to do after your placements. So there was always something to do. Would definitely do it again.

53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Construction Program with Maximo Nivel

From the moment I arrived in Cusco, I was lucky enough to meet the nicest people. I was a little nervous to go to another country alone to volunteer, but that quickly changed once I met the friendly and super helpful people at Maximo Nivel. I was greeted with a warm welcome by the staff who were eager to answer any questions I had. The wonderful people who work at Maximo not only became who we all could depend on, but they also became our friends.

Throughout my construction program, I had the pleasure of getting to know our Field Manager, named Dom, who would make frequent visits to the work site. He made sure that I was comfortable and happy with everything that I was doing in peru. I felt so lucky to have such an amazing person from Maximo to work with who was always so helpful and friendly!

Having an atmosphere that is so comfortable and positive, like the one at Maximo Nivel, makes all the difference in any situation. I came to Peru a bit nervous about what to expect, but when my final days in Cusco came, I did not want to leave. It felt like I was leaving my family!

Words cannot express how fantastic my time in Cusco was.  From the food to my host family, to all the amazing people I've met and the friendships I developed, my three weeks in Peru were ones that I will hold close to my heart.  I cannot thank Maximo Nivel enough for everything they have done for me.  I cannot wait to start my next adventure with them soon!

51 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Cassidy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I Loved It!!

I absolutely loved Peru. I met some of the most amazing people while there. I have life-long friends because of this. The employees at Maximo Nivel are so caring and sweet. They are there to help. They took my friend to the hospital and got her stuff from our host family's house to help her out.
I did two projects while there. One was at a police station with youth that were either in trouble or ran away. We got to meet some pretty amazing kids that unfortunately went down the wrong path a little bit. We played games, learned some spanish, and even taught the kids some English!
The other project I took part in was at a women's shelter. While the mothers were learning skills, a few volunteers and I watched their children, helping them with school work and doing fun activities.

What would you improve about this program?
I think Maximo Nivel needs to establish stronger relationships with the community they are working with. A lot of places I volunteered at is more about quality and not quantity. This place seems to be a little different. They have tons of sites for everyone to go to, which is pretty amazing. The fact that they aren't as close with the sites means that volunteers working for the site get to establish a new, unique relationship, which is very unique in its own way. I do however feel that establishing stronger relationships with their networks and sites would allow them to be able to make an even bigger impact on the community.
49 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers