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
Sep 30, 2024
Nov 04, 2024
91 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 106 reviews
  • 5 rating 82.08%
  • 4 rating 15.09%
  • 3 rating 2.83%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.45
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.55
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 41 - 48 of 106 reviews
Default avatar
Laís
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amei!

Minha experiência no Peru foi maravilhosa! Em todos os aspectos... Meu projeto foi muito engrandecedor, pois cada dia tive a oportunidade de trabalhar em uma área da Medicina: pude aprender na Pediatria, na Clínica Médica/Medicina Interna, na Saúde da Família. E sempre havia alguém que estava responsável por mim; nunca me senti sozinha em meu trabalho. Além disso, a Volunteering Solutions estava sempre em contato comigo, perguntando se estava gostando, se tinha algum problema... Já em relação à minha família, não poderia ter ficado em uma casa melhor. Minha “mãe” e minha “irmã” eram muito atenciosas e carinhosas, e estavam sempre dispostas para fazer tudo. Cozinharam as melhores comidas peruanas e me proporcionaram os melhores momentos e memórias!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate in Peru was “Chiriuchu”, a typical Peruvian food made with ginnie pig’s meat, cow’s meat, chicken’s meat, toasted corn, caviar, sausage and bell pepper.
78 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Georgina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wow!

The program was amazing. The kids were great to work with and the sights we were able to explore over the two weeks were incredible. The staff was amazing and the host family was even better. I would highly recommend this program. The kids were a handful at first but you really need to get used to them. They’re used to new volunteers every so often so breaking the ice can be a little rough at first. The teach is super kind and clearly loves her job and the kids. Having some sort of lesson planned for them as far as colors and possibly numbers for them helps a great deal to keep their attention throughout the day. Aside from the kids we had plenty of free time to explore Cusco and neighboring areas as well as program planned excursions on the weekend. The things we were able to do in such a short period was incredible.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do not take altitude sickness lightly! Be patient with the kids and have fun.
78 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ross
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Healthcare Cusco

Working in the clinic in Cusco was interesting and opened my eyes to how other communities live and get their care. Leaned a lot about what it means to be a doctor and the importance of going into medicine. Host family was very nice, made me feel at home. Homestay allowed me to experience life in a way that I am not used to so that I could see how other people have to live. Cusco is a great city with much to offer from history to culture. Very safe, never felt afraid. Very affordable city. Not too hard to acclimate even at the very high altitudes the city is at. Transportation is very good and affordable both by taxi and bus. Many chances to travel to places such as Machu Picchu. Support staff was very responsive to any problems such as sickness.

83 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Isabella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great trip!

I will defenitley cherish this trip for the rest of my life. Im so thankful for the oppurtunity to experience and live in a culture so different from mine. I especially enjoyed our project and working with the adorable children I will miss them so much!This trip truly made me realize that this is something u would like to do in my future, volunteering and working with kids. Even though i got extremly sick i will definetly be back! Our host mother was so sweet and I will also miss her very much she always made very good food and made sure we were happy and taken care of! In the begining the water in our shower was very cold but in the end we figured it out and we were able to have a warm shower!
Cusco city was also a wondeful city filled wity delicous food wonderful people and traditions! I will remeber this trip forever!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Be more careful with what i eat so i dont get salmonella!
97 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Niamh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Niamh Review

I loved going to MachuPicchu and the Rainbow Mountains. I would hope to not get sick next time, but overall I had a lot of fun and learnt a lot about the culture. Working with the kids was a very rewarding experience as well - I was sad that I couldn’t spend more time with them. My host family was amazing, Edith was the extremely sweet and helpful to us, as well as her daughter. Getting sick wasn’t fun, but it didn’t inhibit the excitement of the trip. It was really incredible to get to know the culture or Peru and discover new food and dances and meet new people. I definitely want to come back to Peru one day. I also feel like I was able to practice my Spanish and feel more comfortable with my speaking, writing, and listening. I definitely recommend this program to people who want to practice their Spanish and learn about a new culture.

What would you improve about this program?
I would want more interactions with other volunteers.
82 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kathryn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience of a Lifetime

Going into my program in Peru, I was excited and extremely nervous. But once I got to the city and met the staff and my host family, and got settled in, it was amazing. The people, the culture, and the city itself were all amazing. And the trips on the weekends were all very fun, the guides were great, and meeting so many new people from so many different countries was amazing. Spectacular place to spend your time doing good for others and bettering yourself at the same time. Cusco, Peru is my new favorite place in the world. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see the world, experience new things, and help others at the same time. For solo travelers, couples, retirees, and anyone in between, this program will fit every type of person.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Riding the bus was the most unfamiliar thing to me on this trip. In my country, the buses stop for about 30 to 45 seconds. But here in Peru, the bus gives you about 10-15 seconds to get on and then they’re off! I have learned to love the bus.
95 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Margot
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

mon expérience !

(English translation): I spent 2 weeks in Peru, it was really amazing I recommend. Already the project with children (3 to 5 years) was indescribable, the feeling of giving them a little help and love is just great. Then 'my family was very endearing, I talked a lot with each of them and I have good memories! The food was also very good and they suited my tastes. Finally, the excursions to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley were impressive. Everything was very well organized and I had a great time, really. In the afternoons I went to visit the city which has lots of places to see! I recommend 100%, a significant social impact with visiting places around! Perfect
Do not hesitate, come and discover the Peruvian culture, the city of Cusco, the Inca monuments! And enjoy to help children in 'need :)

(Original text):
j’ai passé 2 semaines au Pérou, c’etait Vraiment incroyable je recommande. Déjà le projet avec les enfants (3 a 5 ans) était indescriptible, la sensation de leur donner un peu d’aide et d’amour est juste géniale. Ensuite’ ma famille était très attachante, j’ai beaucoup discuté avec chacun d’eux et j’ai de bons’ souvenirs ! La nourriture était aussi très bonne et ils s’adaptaient a mes goûts. Pour finir, les excursions au Machu Picchu et à la Vallée sacrée etait impressionnante. Tout était très bien organisé et j’ai passé un super moment, vraiment. Les après midis j’allais visité la ville qui a plein de lieux à voir ! Je recommande a 100%, un impact social important avec la visite des endroits autour! Parfait
N’hésitez plus, venez découvrir la culture péruvienne, la ville de Cusco, les monuments incas ! Et profitez en pour aider des enfants dans’ le besoin :)

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Enjoy 100% of the moment! In your project, with your 'family, and also alone to visit!

Profitez à 100% du moment ! Dans votre projet, avec votre’ famille, et aussi seul pour visiter !
99 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Shi-Yo Jill
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering at C.S. Buena Vista

Overall, I had an amazing time here. The staff were very patient with me and taught me how to perform various tasks in the clinic. I worked mostly in the department of niño sano and they showed me how to measure the weights, heights, and head perimeters of the babies. They also let me help with the vaccination of babies. It was a lot more paperwork and documentation than I had expected but I enjoyed learning and experiencing the amount of work the staff have to do every day. I was able to learn more about the health system in Peru because they let me perform various paperwork and documentation. I had taken Spanish for 4 years in high school so I was able to understand and speak enough Spanish to communicate with the staff. I recommend that people interested in this program should have a basic grasp of Spanish going in as most staff only speak Spanish (only one or two spoke a little bit of English).

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I advise people interested in the program to have a basic grasp of Spanish as most of the staff only speak and understand Spanish. The staff would be able to teach you more and allow you to perform more tasks if they could communicate well enough with you to trust that you understand them. In this way, you will be more helpful and will get more out of the experience.
83 people found this review helpful.

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.