Location
  • Peru
    • Cusco
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
17
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Pricing

Starting Price
475
Price Details
The costs include:
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup
- Orientation
- Accommodation
- Meals
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Visa
Nov 16, 2023
May 06, 2023
84 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteering Solutions, in association with the local organizations and NGOs, offers some interesting and affordable volunteering projects in the city of Cusco. Despite the popularity of Peru as a tourist destination, much of the population still lives in poverty, especially in rural areas. You can be a volunteer and meaningfully contribute towards the lives of these people. You can choose to volunteer for Teaching Project, Kindergarten Program, Disabled Care Project and others, depending on your areas of interest!

Students who wish to become dentists in future can also choose the Dental Elective Program and gain first-hand work experience by shadowing the professionals. Also, being such a culturally rich country, volunteering in Peru will help you to broaden your horizon and learn more about the country's history, heritage and lifestyle!

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how Volunteering Solutions is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Choose from a range of 8 different programs available in Cusco, for a minimum duration of 1 week to a maximum of 24 weeks.
  • Get a chance to do some meaningful work and gain incredible experience.
  • Go and explore the Inca Trails - hike up to Machu Picchu, and walk down the trails of Sacred Valley.
  • Go for the Rainbow Mountains trek and be amazed by nature's beauty.
  • Learn more about Peruvian culture & heritage.

Popular Programs

Medical volunteer in peru

Volunteers working in the medical volunteering program make a genuine contribution to staff working within Peru’s health clinics and medical centers. Volunteers mainly work in medical clinics which provide care and treatment to the people residing in the poor and underprivileged areas of Cusco.

Program Reviews

4.79 Rating
based on 104 reviews
  • 5 rating 81.73%
  • 4 rating 15.38%
  • 3 rating 2.88%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.45
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.55
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 104 reviews
Default avatar
Angela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience

It was a very grateful experience. I’m so so happy to decided to travel to Peru, to know Cusco, which is a beautiful city, and to work with children. I thank VS for the opportunity and the family that welcomed me and made me part of it. I carry them all in my heart. Whoever has the chance to go, don’t hesitate because it has been a great experience. VS has many projects for all kinds of preferences and needs. Each person can choose what they are most passionate about and they really end up being moments that make one a better person.

Pros
  • Great places of interest
  • The food
  • The people
81 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hey Angela,
It was wonderful to have you in the Cusco, Peru program. Thanks for leaving a wonderful review of your experience with us. We look forward to having you in future in more programs as well.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Bruna
3/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Not volunteer attitude by the company office

The company only cares about the money you pay but not about the real human exchange that is the most amazing thing in any volunteer opportunity. Until you pay they are super nice, after it, anything you request does not count. The program says I would have tours on weekends so I would go to the project with kids in the week but they decided to buy a tour in a Thursday without consulting me and so I found out when I arrived in the country and didn’t give me any option for a change since it was booked already. So, what is the problem to miss a day with the kids? For them really didn’t seem an issue but the name of the company is volunteering solutions so I thought it would come in first place. The headquarter of the company is not friendly, the local people in Peru that supports the program, the best ones you will find but unfortunately they don’t make the rules.

Pros
  • Professionals in Peru amazing
  • Host family amazing
  • Tours amazing
Cons
  • Office in London cold people no volunteer spirit
  • No community sense
  • Capitalist company, far from volunteering attitude company
77 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hello Bruna,
First of all, we are happy to know that you found the host family, local tours and team to be amazing in Peru. Our team in UK office have been fully supportive and have cooperated with you fully and assisted you in changing the program without any issues. You had booked the program pre COVID times to participate in 2020 but due to the pandemic you could not join. We fully adjusted the payment you made and transferred your payment for the new trip without any issues. Since your trip included the Macchu Pichu and Sacred Valley tour, tickets of which sell out pretty quickly. The tickets were booked by the local team in Peru based on the availability provided by the Ministry of Culture of Peru.Our sincere apologies that the change in tour dates was not communicated to you and we regret that. Apart from this, we have not been unfriendly with you in any way as you have mentioned.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Joy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in San Jerónimo

I had an amazing time in Cusco volunteering in the Escuela Católica del Pacifico. I had a wonderful relationship with the English teacher and it was such a rewarding experience. The students were so sweet and we had such a good time using our English.

In addition to having a wonderful time teaching, I had an amazing family who treated me like one of their own. My mother was an amazing cook! I will always have a second family in Cusco.

I also had time to visit many of the historic areas, two fun zoos/animal sanctuaries, Machu Picchu and more. It was amazing!

Pros
  • my family placement
  • a wonderful teaching experience
  • beautiful, safe, inexpensive country with so much to offer
Cons
  • communication ahead of time was lacking, once in country was good
  • add-on travel was made for wrong dates which took away time from my students
106 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Joy,
Thanks for posting your review of the experience in Peru. Delighted to know that you had an amazing time in Cusco and enjoyed working at the project and staying with the host family. We hope to have you back again soon in the program.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Isadora
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Program in Cusco

Fiquei 1 mês e 3 semanas viajando. Desse tempo, 6 semanas foram no Peru, e 4 pelo programa. Então posso dizer que pude conhecer a fundo a cultura e a cidade. Também posso dizer que do tempo que estive viajando por conta e de quando iniciou o programa, mudou muito minha experiência. Com o programa tive a oportunidade de conhecer muitas pessoas, amigos e a querida host family. Conhecer culturas e pessoas diferentes de todo mundo foi mágico. Temos tempo de sobra para turistar. Com relação ao programa médico, posso dizer que depende muito da si mesmo, sua força de vontade, interesse, conhecer o idioma e o serviço/médico com quem trabalha. No início me senti um pouco perdida, mas aos poucos fui conversando e procurando pessoas do serviço que estivessem disponíveis e interessados para eu acompanhá-los.
No geral, posso dizer que foi memorável conhecer outra cultura tão próxima e ao mesmo tempo tão diferente da minha.

Pros
  • Conhecer outra cultura
  • Segurança da cidade
  • Turismo
Cons
  • Trânsito
  • Bebidas sem gelo
  • Clima seco
116 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Isadora,
Thanks for participating in the volunteer program in Peru. We are glad to know that you had a memorable time in the program in Cusco, Peru. We look forward to having you again in the program.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Giovanna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Programa Médico em Cusco

Foram 4 semanas muito proveitosas, conhecer uma nova cultura e praticar o espanhol foram os pontos fortes da viagem.
As pessoas aqui são muito amáveis e gentis. A host family foi incrível, sempre muito atenciosos e dispostos a ajudar, também sempre nos receberam com comidas deliciosas, sentirei falta.
Outro ponto positivo foi fazer amizade com outros voluntários de todo o mundo, os quais manterei o contato.
O programa médico em si foi um pouco bagunçado no início, pois não havia uma escala de trabalho a qual deveríamos seguir, então ficávamos perdidos. Depois de um tempo, quando descobrimos os médicos que gostariam de serem acompanhados, a experiência foi melhor...
Temos muito tempo livre para explorar a cidade e os arredores nos finais de semana.
Recomendo a experiência! Com certeza levarei para a vida (:

Pros
  • Experienciar uma nova cultura
  • Host family perfeita
  • Há tempo para turistar
Cons
  • Transporte público caótico
  • Água não é potável
  • Os carros não respeitam os pedestres
124 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Giovanna,
Thanks for leaving a review for the volunteer experience in Peru. We look forward to having you again in our programs soon as well. Glad to know that you made friends with other volunteers from around the world and enjoyed the experience at the project as well as stay with the host family.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Evan
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Cusco!

Overall, I had a great time in Cusco. There certainly were highs and lows during the trip (which I expected) but I made some great memories and met some fantastic people from all over the world. The staff for Volunteering Solutions are very communicative and trustworthy. My host family was amazing and made some fantastic food. The excursions we did were so fun and had some breathtaking views! The health center I worked at had some really friendly nurses and doctors who really wanted to help me learn and gain medical experience. However, there was some slight disorganization and some doctors preferred to not work with the volunteers

Pros
  • Awesome host family
  • Great excursions
  • A ton of free time to explore the city
Cons
  • Wallet stolen on bus (be careful!)
118 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Evan,
Thanks for leaving us a review. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your experience in Peru and had a great experience overall. We hope to have you back in our programs again soon.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Madi
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Really cool experience

I really liked this experience. Towards the end of my stay I started to become more comfortable with our work and I felt like I was trusted by the nurses more. For the first two weeks though, I didn’t feel very helpful and mostly watched the nurses work. There could have been a little more organization when it came to where/with who we should be working with, because occasionally I would invite myself into a certain room and they wouldn’t have work for me to do. I think this is very valuable and a great experience despite all this.

120 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Madi,
Thanks for leaving us a review. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your experience in Peru and had a great experience overall. We hope to have you back in our programs again soon.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Diana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Experience in Peru

Excellent program in an amazing city. Everything was so much fun, definitely must know Spanish to come or you will not get to do much. Everything was well organized and the managers were always available if you had questions. I will be very sad leaving. The tours were wonderful, Cusco is such a pretty place. The city also feels relatively safe compared to other places and the locals are all very kind. We made so many friends that we met. You are also given a lot of freedom to explore and encouraged to go out and about.

Pros
  • Being in cusco
  • helping others
  • The tours
Cons
  • The altitude (if you get sick)
  • It’s a bit cold
118 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Diana,
Thanks for leaving us a review. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your experience in Peru and had a great experience overall. We hope to have you back in our programs again soon.
Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Questions & Answers

The site says "Pre-med, nursing, and medical students" and biomedical science is like a pre-med degree, so we assume the answer is yes. Contacting the program for their answer is also never a bad idea :)

Yes they can do that.