IVHQ is a great organization to volunteer through. They provided each step in a clear and organized manner from the volunteer handbook to the many helpful hints along the way. My volunteer placement was perfect for me, and I lookedforward to going there everyday. I also had plenty of tome afterwards to explore Peru. The IVHQ team also checked up on you throughout the entire process, while you were volunteering and afterwards. I appreciated how they kept touch. Overall, it was truly an amazing experience!!

IVHQ offered excellent pre-departure guidance, highlighting travel safety throughout the online modules. The preparation checklist was easy to follow, as were the instructions regarding the airport pick-up upon arrival in Peru. They provided me with the contact information of the local coordinators well in advance, and made the transition very seamless. Communication with the program manager was very quick and efficient, and she also sent an email to follow up after I settled into my accommodation.

From start to finish, the whole process ran efficiently and smoothly. Every matter is planned and supported. The staff and friendly, helpful, supportive and encouraging. Hosts and placement were also considered carefully and were excellent. It was truly one of the most amazing two weeks of my life so far, and I will have joyful memories of my experience. Peru as a country is amazing, the food, the people. The opportunity to make new friends from all over the world. The placement was excellent, friendly, supportive and welcoming.

Two unforgettable weeks in Cusco!
Volunteering in Cusco was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. During my first week, I worked in childcare, looking after toddlers while their hardworking moms ran stalls at the local market. The second week, I had the chance to support young mothers and their babies as they built up their own community-based income projects.

Each day brought something new smiles, challenges, and lessons I’ll carry with me forever. The local team was incredibly supportive, and my host family made me feel right at home with their warmth and kindness.

If you're looking for a meaningful, eye-opening experience that combines culture, impact, and personal growth, Cusco is the place to be!

I chose to work in a childcare volunteer program in Cusco, Peru, through the amazing IVHQ organisation. I have to say that their attention to detail and level of care in preparing you for your overseas experience was second to none. The whole experience felt unique and incredibly humbling in the best way possible. In addition to spending time with the most vibrant and curious children, I also had the chance to learn soo much about Peru and it’s culture and history. I genuinely fell in love with the locals and I hope to come back again, but next time for a longer stint.

I chose IVHQ after a lot of research because they offered the type of volunteer placement I wanted (teaching) in a country I had longed to visit (Peru) - at a reasonable cost.

Communication was excellent from the outset; my coordinator (based in New Zealand) was always prompt to answer queries and to keep me informed.

Everyone in the local team in Cusco was extremely welcoming and helpful throughout my three weeks there. They offer many opportunities for staff, teachers, volunteers, interns and students to interact, for example in weekly cooking and salsa classes (hint: book onto these really quickly as they soon fill up!)

Also beyond the classroom, regular cultural activities are organised to enhance everyone’s experience of the language, history and traditions.

Furthermore, the local team has strong links with a tour operator in Cusco who can advise on and book local trips (even a taxi to the airport!) and those further afield. I used this operator to visit Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain and both excursions were very well organised with engaging and knowledgeable guides (be prepared for very early starts and bring warm clothing, particularly for Rainbow Mountain).

Staff and students at my volunteer placement were wonderfully welcoming and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.

My homestay was also arranged through the local team and was comfortable, clean and provided a good, varied breakfast and evening meal each day (out of courtesy, please remember to tell your host if you will be absent for a meal).

As is common in many homes in Peru, hot water is limited but cool, refreshing showers soon become the norm!

My experience was amazing because it allowed me to step out of my confort zone, discover new aspects o myself and immerse myself in a completely different culture. The teaching english programm was incredibly rewarding. Students' curiosity and eagerness to learn inspired me daily. This programme gave me the chance to develop communication skills that trascended language barriers, enabling me to connect with people from all over the world. It also allowed for both volunteering and free time to explore!

After completing the application, I was bombarded with automatic emails requesting payments and offering add-ons. Once accepted, I was assigned a program manager meant to support me throughout the process.

Initially, I had one contact, but due to internal workload, another took over. Unfortunately, they seemed inexperienced - not just in the role, but in basic customer service. Responses often felt AI-generated or unrelated to my questions, and I was repeatedly referred to the “volunteer guide,” which I had already read. I needed actual support, not generic replies.

As a European traveling to Peru, the time zone difference made communication with IVHQ’s New Zealand office even harder. The vague and unhelpful replies added stress, and my travel partner withdrew as a result. I ended up going alone.

I don’t regret visiting Peru, but I would not use IVHQ again. I’d either choose a different organization or ensure that my program manager had firsthand experience in the destination country. Even after CC’ing the general support email, I kept receiving the same generic replies. I later learned that my manager had never been to Peru and gave me incorrect info about the Machu Picchu trip.

IVHQ doesn’t allow volunteers to contact directly the local partner organization or tour operator in advance, even after payment. This policy caused avoidable problems and left me unprepared for key aspects of the experience. Even after I brought concerns to this manager's supervisors, I received no follow-up. After paying the so-called “flexible registration fee,” I was even questioned unprofessionally for wanting to change my travel dates - despite the journey involving two days of travel with two stopovers.

The cost of the program was excessive, even worse if compared to the level of service. I discovered that others who booked directly with the local organization paid much less, raising doubts about how much of the fee actually benefits the local community.

Little information was provided about the actual volunteer project. I was told Spanish wasn’t required, but no one spoke English on site. I wish I had been informed so I could prepare better. Worse, I wasn't even told which project I’d be working on until the day the program started - a full week after I’d already arrived in Peru. The local organization is mainly a prestigious language center that also offers volunteer placements, but those seem like not their primary focus.

Communication with IVHQ was limited to email. A scheduled online info session wasn’t in a feasible time slot due to the time difference, and although they promised a recording, the link they sent never worked - twice.

As for the mandatory travel insurance, I used IVHQ’s recommended provider. When my luggage was delayed for three days, I notified IVHQ but wasn’t advised to save receipts - essential for filing a claim. In Peru, you rarely get receipts, even for essentials.

The Machu Picchu add-on was poorly explained. There are two separate tickets, one for the Inca Trail, and another one for the historic sanctuary, which is divided into circuits. Only Circuits 1 and 2 include the Classic Machu Picchu photo, which I missed. I was told all routes included it - this was incorrect.

When I tried posting questions in the “IVHQ Peru – Cusco” Facebook group, some weren’t approved. Even though I was polite, it seems posts are filtered if they raise questions the organization prefers to hide.

In conclusion, IVHQ felt more like a travel company selling low quality tour packages than a truly volunteer-focused organization. Their website and branding are polished, but the actual service fell far short. If you choose to go with IVHQ, ensure that your program manager has already been to your destination. Otherwise, consider booking directly through a trusted local provider.