Peru Volunteer Programs from $23/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

After no small amount of researching and deliberation, I decided on IVHQ to book my first volunteer experience abroad. I did not know anyone personally who had travelled with them, but the reviews were abundant. Price factored into the decision, as did the option to choose many cities across most continents.
All of my pre-trip interactions were conducted via email, but the option to speak to a representative was always on the table. The onboarding process was surprisingly simple and their checklists made submitting the requisite information a breeze.
Although I have traveled internationally several times, I had never been to South America. I chose Cusco, Peru for my destination, both for the Spanish immersion and a personal interest in Peru's history.
I have been a Registered Nurse for many years and enrolled in the medical volunteer program to maximize my positive impact while there.
Booking travel was easy through the Student Universe portal and I was able to include additional excursions through the local tour agency via the IVHQ links.
Frequent follow up emails kept me informed and engaged in the months and weeks leading up to my departure.
On arrival in Cusco I was picked up from the airport and brought directly to the local volunteer agency headquarters. I was greeted warmly, oriented and given a walking tour of Cusco's central district. The local agency had been given all of my pertinent information and I had no problems getting to my accomodations or starting my volunteer program.
Although my primary contacts in Peru were through the local agency, Maximo Nivel, my IVHQ program manager checked in with me every few days and was always available for questions.
The overall experience was incredible and I would not hesitate to book another volunteer experience through IVHQ. In fact, I'm looking forward to it!

I taught EFL in Cusco for 1 week with my son who is 12. The local team, Maximo Nivel were excellent people to work with. Everything was organized, professional and they made it easy to settle into the experience. Traveling alone with my child I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable and safe and I couldn't have felt more so. Our teaching experience was just that; the organization and children we worked with were fun and engaged and they enjoyed learning from my son as well. Overall the entire experience was a great learning opportunity and travel memory to make. I am planning to volunteer with IVHQ again and would recommend IVHQ to anyone who wants their travel experience to be more wholesome and immersive beyond simple tourism.

I spent 3 weeks in Peru this summer and it was the coolest experience of my life. I stayed in Lima and we traveled to a village called Pachacutec to do the volunteer work. I worked with so many amazing children. I met so many amazing people and worked with some of the sweetest, more caring kids ever. We also had a lot of free time to do things like explore the city and do weekend excursions. I went to Cusco and saw Machu Picchu, and I also went to Huacachina and went in a sand buggy and went belly sand boarding. I can’t wait to do more projects like this with IVHQ.

With IVHQ I found the perfect program for me! I went to Cusco for medical volunteer and through IVHQ planned activities around the city, it was an incredible experience! The family host was amazing and I got to make friends from all over the world. Definitely was more that I expected. I got to volunteer with children with special needs and then in a clinic helping everyone. I got to see Machu Picchu, Humantay, and Vinincunca !!! The food was amazing and the city was beautiful. After this experience I want to go volunteering again

** Please do not forget that IVHQ is not a non-profit organisation. You pay for an advertised product, you are suposed to get what was advertised.

I was the 3rd person on this project. The second person, with whom I was volounteering, also witnessed how the project was not built and not AT ALL described as one their website*****

IVHQ Proposed me to make the project a better place for what I do not have the expertise. That is not what I paid for nor applied. Had I not complained, IVHQ would not have known the conditions of this project. The project was not built when I got there. I was sold: Brooming, walking, showering dogs, adoption campaning, playing with dogs. Nothing posted on their website was effective when I got there. It was a traumatic day. Yes I stayed a day, and left. As anyone should of. Nobody should encourage such a fraud. I was offered to change project even if they asked was were my abilities relied to THIS and ONLY project before getting there.

I did recieved emails, that's it. No refund, no compensation for the false advertisment.

The CEO accused me of expecting conditions such as in Canada which is absolutely ridiculous. This is typical intimidation and out of context.

IVHQ prey on young people who will be intimidated by such a big organisation.

Here is the email I sent to IVHQ after what I witnessed/experienced. I would add that I recived NO help from IVHQ nor refund.

I am sending you this message to share my experience at the Animal Care project in Lima. First of all, I would like to specify that this message is not about the accommodation offered nor the geographical location of the project (Pachacutec). When I applied for the Animal Care program, I expected to help communities living in extreme poverty and their dogs. Unfortunately, after a day spent at the project, I and the other volunteer found that the conditions in which the dogs were living were unfortunately more endangering them more than helping. The dogs are locked up in an extremely unsanitary place: they live in their own feces and urine. Our work as volunteers consisted in cleaning the floor with a mop that was bathed in water completely soiled, full of excrement, thick and not changed for several days. We had to spread the water, full of excrement, all over the floor. The air inside the dog house is contaminated and extremely dangerous for dogs and humans. No soap or clean water is used to wash the floor and the person who takes care of the place, the daughter of the school director across the street, has no concept of sanitation and hygiene. The dogs, all sick, are locked up alone in their excrements breathing this contaminated air and sleeping on a floor washed with used water (filled with feces) and without being changed. Once the "cleaning" task was over, we went to the park to sit for the rest of the day. The person in charge did not need any help. She spent her time on the phone negotiating prices for the school services of the school run by her father and we just sat there. We asked to change the water so that we could at least clean the floor without further soiling it, which was refused. The water given to the dog is contaminated with urine and excrement and is not changed. We just Added more water and again, we were refused to change it. The dogs are not washed or brushed and seem to suffer from poor hygiene... During the hour at the park, the dogs were eating the garbage opening bags directly from the garbage. I asked if I should stop them to avoid contamination, and they answered to let them eat the garbage. In Pachacutec, hundreds of dogs roam the streets and eat the garbage. There is no difference between these dogs and the ones kept at the Project, except that the theses dogs are locked up once the vonlontaires have left until the next day, and sleep in their excrement. Most of them are extremely sick according to the appearance of their feces... The dogs would be much better off in the wild with bowls of food and water within their reach. The young woman who runs the place has absolutely no knowledge of the safety, hygiene and health of the dogs, or that of the human beings who could catch serious illnesses from being exposed to such a level of insalubrity. I understand her intention to help, but we are not talking about insufficient financial resources but about a lack of knowledge to manage such a project. Basic knowledge of health and hygiene would solve the situation. We were informed that we were among the first volunteers to work there. When I informed her of the situation, she replied that she had never had any such comments, but we were technically, after another volunteer, the first to witness this situation. It was an extremely traumatic experience for me, an animal lover and a person who cares about helping communities living in poverty. I applied for this program to help the dogs but unfortunately, I feel like I contributed to the abuse. I hav traveled quite a lot of time to communities of extreme poverty. An animal shelter requires very few resources other than a roof, water, soap and food. I left the program this morning out of respect for my values and the dogs. I was very satisfied with the service I received from IVHQ throughout the process and with the accommodation offered, but I do not think that other volunteers should be sent to the Animal Care program in Lima for reasons of health and respect for the animals. The help sent would be all the more necessary for the child care, medical and community programs. I intend to participate in future volunteer projects with IVHQ and in no way do I question the values of the company, but I believe that there was a lack of verification of the location. I would like to be refunded for the 7 weeks I paid for working on the project, and I strongly encourage you to review the organization of this project.

This program is perfect for adventurer's that want to get off of the beaten path. I met some wonderful people and learned a lot about the most biodiverse place on planet Earth! I was initially scared of the prospect of living in the jungle for many weeks, but it isn't all just snakes and spiders! My time in the forest gave me time to reflect on questions that I have been needing to answer my whole life. If you find yourself needing a real adventure and some time away from your normal life, there are few better options.

I could spend 2 weeks in Lima to support a local community. I didn't realize the privilege I was born with till my volunteer work. Because having social security, nature around us, and breathing fresh air are privileged life circumstances that we should give more credit for. Too often we underestimate things that are in our life. The volunteer program made me realize this. It made me realize that not everyone was born to beautiful places and if you were, nothing can be more selfless and beautiful than helping others who cant say the same. We took care of children who were so loving, they shared so easily, they didn't know how much they taught us about life. I will try to always remember this and returning to volunteer again, as soon as I can. for this, I am glad, IVHQ exists, because without this organization, my life wouldn't change. As a future volunteer, you should know, these people are happy for the fact, that YOU, out there in the big world, trying to reach them out, you give your heart and time to show them some love, attention. You cannot change immediately their life, you might feel, you don't do enough while you volunteer, but you should know and understand, that the act of kindness does move mountains.

I just returned from a 2 week medical volunteering program in Cusco, Peru through IVHQ. As someone who is extremely interested in international public health, I had high expectations for this experience. As dangerous as high expectations can be, all of mine (and many more) were exceeded in these 2 weeks. Not only was I able to learn from the incredibly knowledgeable healthcare professionals in Cusco, but my understanding of the culture was expanded more than I could have hoped for. I was worried that 2 weeks would be a lot, but I know that next time I go, it will have to be for more! I didn’t want to leave. The support from IVHQ was unparalleled, and I consider myself very fortunate for having this experience and learning so much!