Volunteer in Peru - Cusco | Most Affordable Projects

Volunteer in Peru - Cusco | Most Affordable Projects

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
Jul 28, 2025
94 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!

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Volunteers appreciate the warm host families, supportive staff, and meaningful work with children and in healthcare settings.

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

4.80 Rating
based on 108 reviews
  • 5 rating 82.41%
  • 4 rating 14.81%
  • 3 rating 2.78%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.45
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.6
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 57 - 64 of 108 reviews
Mariana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Programa Medico en Perú

Foi muito proveitoso! Poder conhecer um outro sistema de saúde e uma outra cultura é muito enriquecedor. Aprendi muito mais do que a pratica da medicina, aprendi como lidar com o lado social e com pessoas, com diferentes costumes e pensamentos. Não é um programa pra se aprender medicina, mas sim pra aprender cada vez mais qual medico ou qual pessoa você quer vir a ser.
Sem falar que cusco é uma cidade muito incrível. Mas recomendo se programar para conseguir fazer os passeios porque na cidade mesmo tem pouca coisa pra visitar.
A Host Family foi incrível também. Aprendi muito mais da cultura local por conviver com pessoas que vivem aqui. E sem falar que consegui ganhar muita vivencia no espanhol. Enriqueci meu vocabulario e minha desenvoltura para falar. Fui muito bem acolhida e com certeza vou sentir muita falta de todo o carinho e atenção que me deram (e da comida tambem hahaha)

What would you improve about this program?
Um pouco mais de participação dos voluntarios na parte social. Fazemos muito "paper work".
130 people found this review helpful.
Joshua
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer Solutions - Cusco

I spent a month in Cusco volunteering at a small health clinic and had a wonderful experience. It was amazing to see how healthcare works in a different country and to be able to help out. I got to work in three different areas of the clinic which included maternity, general medicine, and with kids. I helped out by doing a lot of paperwork but I also got to learn how to give injections and vaccines. I really enjoyed staying with my host family. It was nice to not have to worry about meals and the food in Peru is amazing! I also enjoyed spending time with the other volunteers. We explored the city of Cusco together as well as many other interesting sites near Cusco like rainbow mountain, Humantay lagoon, and lake Titicaca. Overall this was an wonderful trip and I would recommend it for anyone.

What would you improve about this program?
I think this program can be improved by having volunteers stay with the same host family when there are only 2 or 3 volunteers. The last two weeks there where only 2 volunteers and I spent a lot more time inside by myself since I wasn’t with any other volunteers.
138 people found this review helpful.
Rosa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Muy bien

Me pareció muy bien el proyecto y mi experiencia con los niños fue muy buena. Me voy muy contenta de haber podido servir un poco en la guardería y ojalá muchos más puedan venir y vivir esta experiencia, que me confirma que es mejor dar que recibir, porque todo lo que te dejan los niños es muy bonito y sobre todo agradecer el poder participar en este proyecto. También estoy muy agradecida con la familia que nos ha recibido por todas sus atenciones y también el poder aprender un poco de ellos. La atención por parte de los coordinadores fue muy buena, la orientación que nos dieron fue muy clara y siempre estuvieron muy pendientes de todas nuestras necesidades. Además fue una gran oportunidad para conocer este país del cual me llevo experiencias muy buenas.

134 people found this review helpful.
Ana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Grata experiencia

Fue una muy grata experiencia el poder participar en este proyecto, es una buena forma de llegar a conocer otras culturas. El staff es maravilloso, nuestra host family siempre fue muy amable, la convivencia fue muy buena y logramos crear unos bonitos lazos con ellos, en cuanto a los coordinadores locales no tengo más que agradecerles, su atención ha sido maravillosa y han sido muy comprensibles en cuanto los problemas que se nos han presentado. Definitivamente lo volvería a hacer, han sido dos semanas llenas de grandes experiencias, en todos los aspectos, hemos conocido mucha gente de otros países que también han estado como voluntarios y algunos otros en los tours que hemos tomado, además de poder conocer lugares hermosos aquí en Perú.

What would you improve about this program?
Sería bueno que pusieran un poco más de atención a las actividades realizadas en los proyectos, porque algunas veces no se toma muy en cuenta a los voluntarios.
129 people found this review helpful.
Nico
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great trip!

At first it was really strange to work with handicapped kids. But after a few hours everything was perfect. It got easier every day and you get to know how to handle it. To say goodbye was probably the hardest thing on that trip. I really enjoyed the host family aswell. At Edith's place you feel like your part of the family from the first day. All the other shorttrips to Rainbow Mountain, Michu Picchu etc. were good organized. It was amazing to see some of the most beautiful places on earth. The views were just incredible, outstanding and beautiful. The weather in Machu Picchu wasn't good but it was still totally worth it. The only thing I regret on this trip is, that I lost my phone in a taxi. But that is totally my fault. I might come back some day to look how the kids are doing, they are so adorable. I will definetly never forget this expirience.

141 people found this review helpful.
Sam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Kusi Wasi

We were able to work with dissabled children at the house „Kusi Wasi“.
You need some patience but it‘s wunderful to see the joy in the kids eyes when you arrive and threw the hole day. The programm was free, there are some people that work there and help you in every case. We played, painted, played again, went to parks and played there, showed them some games. They‘re happy about everything you do with them and that gives them attention.
We usally worked 3-5 hours a day. Either in the morning or in the afternoon.
Bring some „work cloths“ with you. Around 2 shirts and 1 pants that can get dirty and painted.
We stud at a host family (3 Persons) and they were so kind and he food was really good too. We had diffrent room/apartment witch gave us some privacy. The center is reached in around 20 minutes by bus. They show you exactly how the bus and taxi systems work. So you don‘t have to be scared that you get lost somewhere.

What would you improve about this program?
The description could be a bit more spezific. Everything else was totally fine.
140 people found this review helpful.
Rafaela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

El mejor viaje de mi vida

When I decided to come to Cusco, Peru, my expectations were very low in terms of the city, its environment and its people because it is not a place that according to what I found in google was very developed, that's why when I arrived and started Living the experience I realized that I was TOTALLY WRONG. From the second day, when I went with Kelly to the city tour, I realized that I was in a dream place, full of colors, kind people, affordable economy and above all history. I started spending days with Mama Edidth and I realized that this place had become my second home, the attention, the permanent assistance of her at all times made me feel at home ... the taste of their food is inexplicable, His human warmth is incredible and his way of treating people made me feel happy in Cusco. In the school where I was, I met many children of different personalities, stories and characteristics, but each of them left me a teaching, I leave a memory and a photograph full of love. Each one of the people that made part of this trip made me feel at home, made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON It made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as a woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON It made me understand a different but incredible reality, it made me feel that what I came to do was very worthwhile and above all they helped me to grow as a person and as a woman. THANKS to everyone for making this trip the best of my life. I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON

Original review:
Cuando decidí venir a Cusco, perú, mis expectativas eran muy bajas en cuanto a la ciudad, a su ambiente y sus personas debido a que no es un lugar que según lo que encontré en google fuera muy desarrollado, por eso cuando llegue y empecé a vivir la experiencia me di cuenta que estaba TOTALMENTE EQUIVOCADA. A partir del segundo día, cuando fui con Kelly a dar el tour por la ciudad me di cuenta que estaba en un lugar de sueño, lleno de colores, de personas amables, de economía accesible y sobretodo de historia. Empecé a pasar días con Mamá Edidth y me di cuenta que este lugar de había convertido en mi segundo hogar, la atención, la permanente asistencia de ella en todo momento me hizo sentir como en casa... el sabor de su comida es inexplicable , su calor humano es increíble y su manera de tratar a las personas me hizo sentir feliz en Cusco. En la escuela donde estuve conocí muchos niños de diferentes personalidades, historias y características, pero cada uno de ellos me dejó una enseñanza, me dejo un recuerdo y una fotografía llena de amor. Cada una de las personas que hizo parte de este viaje me hizo sentir como en casa, me hizo entender una realidad diferente pero increíble, me hizo sentir que lo que vine a hacer valió muchísimo la pena y sobretodo me ayudaron a crecer como persona y como mujer. GRACIAS a todos por hacer de este viaje el mejor de mi vida. ESPERO VERLOS PRONTO

131 people found this review helpful.
Sandy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Cusco volunteer as kindergarten teacher assistant

This is my first time experience with volunteering solutions and the experience was fantastic! The kids are all so cute and passionate, the kindergarten teacher really has so much to offer! I really admire her strength and courage!

The only thing I regret is not to learn more Spanish before I came, otherwise I would be able to communicate with the children more :). Highly recommend people to do so before coming

What would you improve about this program?
It’s all good
138 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.