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 04, 2024
88 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 135 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.07%
  • 4 rating 5.93%
  • 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 9 - 16 of 135 reviews
Jean
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

amazing experience

great impact working with the local communities! i thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the local staff and very kind volunteers here with me. made lots of new friends, and gained a lot of experience. i would definitely come back to maximo to complete this project again, hopefully in the near future!
amazing local families and accommodation, felt right at home. enjoyed every moment and will be so sad to say goodbye to all of the amazing people that i have met during my time here. thankful for it all!

What would you improve about this program?
more involvement in different projects in the hospital
158 people found this review helpful.
Jean
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Such a rewarding experience!

I loved everything from our home stay to our project to the awesome classes available! Our home stay was so friendly and always encouraged us to speak Spanish and try the local food. She was like our second mother, so fun with a great sense of humor. The project was hard work but SO rewarding! Our project managers and sight managers were all very helpful and knew how to keep things light and fun. I can´t wait to see photo´s of the finished job and to see all the kids using what we had the privileged to build!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
We tried as much of the local food as possible!
Chicha, Guinepig and so much more.
84 people found this review helpful.
Jean
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A diverse learning experience

From start to finish, the construction project we volunteered at in Cusco, Peru was fantastic. The support staff and formal have clear motivation and excitement for what they are doing and it is contagious. Don´t get me wrong, the construction is not easy, but it is fulfilling and the camaraderie established during each work day is unforgettable. The local Peruvian family who hosted us was also fantastic. Basically a 2nd mother with a fantastic sense of humor. I would not hesitate to recommend this project to anybody looking to work with their hands and be immersed in a unique local culture.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Cuy (guinea pig)
Fried on a stick with herbs and spices.
Basically tastes similar to chicken.
78 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Victoria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Peru

My time with Maximo was such a unique and unforgettable experience. I really loved working amongst the locals and learning how the medical system differentiates with the healthcare system back in my country. There were a lot of barriers that I was not prepared for, the biggest being the language barrier. Though stated on the Maximo website that the experience would be better with a higher Spanish level, it was extremely difficult for me to have the impact that I could have because there was no way to communicate with the workers at my clinic and no one to mediate the language barrier. Although by the end of the two weeks I volunteered I began to learn the ropes, it was definitely not long enough to feel like I had made an impact. For those who would like to go into the medical program in the future, I would suggest that they have a high level of Spanish if only staying for a short amount of time, such as myself.

84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Caitlyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Construction Project Cusco

Very fun, hands on work. I loved that I could see the impact the volunteers and I were making. I got to meet a lot of amazing new people that share the same values as me but are different in many ways. Marco, the field manager was fun and a great teacher. I had never done construction before and I'm glad I got to learn new things. I would strongly recommend the construction project in Cuzco to anyone that wants to help out while they travel.

85 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Caitlyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Construction Project Cusco

the construction project was not only fun but really rewarding to be able to help others in a welcoming and helpful community. Even though i spoke very little spanish, the project manager marco was always helpful and funny. the only thing I would say to change would be to maybe encourage volunteers to have a basic-intermediate level in spanish because it would help them in many ways.
thanks!

What would you improve about this program?
only thing that could have maybe helped was a greater overview of the homestays by the maximo staff to ensure they are suitable.
90 people found this review helpful.
Kevin
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Child Care

I loved working with this kids,there is obviously room for improvement but Maximo is doing a great job with this program. I feel very happy to be a part of this program, and this was a very humbling experience for me. I will definitely be doing this again. Maximo really helped with everything I needed, and I will be recommending this to friends and family members. And I really hope to be a part of the maximo team in the near future because I see my self helping kids.

What would you improve about this program?
we need more sources for the kids, we need to educate them a bit better.
78 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tejbir
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Peru

Overall it was a great time, with learning from great Spanish teachers and the mentors here at Maximo Cusco. Everyone was welcoming the program was organized and I was very pleased with the great I obtained in terms of language, socializing, and the rewarding impact I had working with the kids and teaching English. Overall I learned a great deal and the people here are rich with culture and it really helped me learn more as a student and travler. I will be back and look forward to doing my TEFL in the future to continue teaching english.

What would you improve about this program?
More booklets, and emails before hand explaining the structure of home stay and the other details.
52 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers