Most organisations that run international volunteer programs rely on volunteer contributions. You may ask why we charge a fee for you to work for free. The answer is simple: We have limited resources and cannot subsidise your costs.

Normally, when travelling in South America you need to budget for approximately US$60 - $80 per day to pay for tours, Spanish lessons and accommodation.

Join the Peru's Challenge volunteer travel program and you will do all of this while also directly helping local communities for approximately US$40 per day (depending on which program you join).

The Peru's Challenge Program works hard to keep costs to an absolute minimum through strong relationships with leading operators offering great discounts on services. We encourage you to 'shop around' before you commit to our placement to ensure you are completely satisfied with what you will receive.

We believe that you will not find a better option. By joining the Peru’s Challenge volunteer team you will travel and experience the best that Peru offers, while also directly living and helping the communities in which you visit.

Please also keep in mind our costs for: the process of recruiting and interviewing volunteers, developing marketing materials, answering phones, emails, sending information, developing and maintaining this website, buying materials (for buildings, schools, health clinics, water systems), legal and accounting services and bank fees.

Approximately 40% of each volunteer contribution goes directly towards project development, 5% towards general and administrative costs, and the remaining 55% towards the volunteer travel package.

How many people will I be volunteering with?

Peru's Challenge will not take any more than 20 people per placement. We believe volunteers gain more from their experience by working in small groups. This way, each volunteer becomes responsible for a project and it is up to them, with the help of the team, as to how it develops.

Who will I be volunteering with and can I contact them beforehand?

Our volunteers come from all around the world and are all different ages. A month before your placement starts we will send you contact details for the group so you can talk about your placement together.

Is there a Volunteer Manager in Peru?

Yes. We have a Volunteer Manager that speaks Spanish and English. They will contact you at least a month before your placement to talk about current projects and how you can help. They will also give you a list of things to bring over for the schools.

Can I choose which projects to work on?

Yes. During your first week, you will work on a number of different projects so you can choose what you enjoy the most and where you can be most productive.

Can I start on a different date?

It is possible to start a volunteer placement on a different date but it does make things harder to organise. If you cannot join a placement on specified date but still really want to volunteer with us, send an email with all the details to volunteer@peruschallenge.com.

Can I volunteer for less than one month or more than three months?

Peru's Challenge offers placement lengths up to one year. Each additional month after three months costs US$600 for accommodation, project costs, and Spanish lessons.

We also offer very limited spaces to volunteers interested in two or three week placements. These placements are for volunteer work only and do not include tours. (We can arrange separate tours for you through local travel agencies.)

If you are interested in longer or shorter stays, please send an email to volunteer@peruschallenge.com.

I am travelling with a friend, can I be placed with them?

Yes. We can organise your timetable to ensure that you are working together and are in the same volunteer house.

Can I volunteer with a group of friends/family?

Peru's Challenge welcomes family and group participation and provides great discounts. We often have families with young children volunteering for four weeks. It is a great experience for them and for our kids to meet children their age from around the world and become pen/email-pals.

Peru's Challenge runs specialised programs for groups up to 30 people, for example school or university groups and special interest clubs.

We are more than happy to organise a specific program that caters for the needs of your group that includes volunteer work and tours around Peru.

If you have a group or family interested in becoming Peru's Challenge volunteers together, please send an email to volunteer@peruschallenge.com.

Can I contact previous volunteers to ask them questions?

Past volunteers have started up a group called "Friends of Peru's Challenge". They work together to give updates about our successes and organise fundraising opportunities for our projects.

They are also available to answer any questions you may have about volunteering with Peru's Challenge. Send an email.

The Volunteer Package

Is it possible to have a single room in the volunteer house?

Yes. We have two single rooms available each month which are first-in, first-served.

If you would like a secure booking for a single room, you must let us know 90 days prior to your placement start date and pay an additional US$600 per month.

Can I stay with a local family rather than in the volunteer house?

Yes we can organise accommodation for you with a local family at an additional cost of US$350 per month. Meals will be included.

What are the volunteer houses like?

The volunteer houses are very comfortable and safe. They each have five-bedrooms (two people per room - single accommodation is available at an additional cost), two bathrooms with hot-water showers - sometimes the pressure is low and occasionally the supply turns off - a living area with a television, DVD and CD player (all donated by previous volunteer groups), a sunny garden with hammocks and a fully equiped kitchen with an oven, fridge, microwave and water-purifying system.

Can I volunteer without tours being included?

It is possible to join a volunteer program without including any tours although we do not advise it. The tours are a great way for the group to get to know each other out of the work environment and to appreciate the beauty and history of Peru.

I don't think I can walk the Machu Picchu trek, is there another option?

Confirmed volunteers are automatically booked on the four-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. If you feel you cannot physically do this trek, you can change the booking to the two-day train tour to the Machu Picchu ruins. You must inform Peru's Challenge 90 days prior to the placement start date of this change. If notification of change or cancellation of the four-day Inca Trail booking is given less than 90 days prior to the placement start date, you will have to pay a US$180 cancellation fee.

Can I still go on the tours that are not included in my package?

Yes. You will need to pay retail prices for each additional tour. This can be organised during your placement.

Applying & Paying

Can I read the Peru's Challenge policies?

Yes. Please click on policies.

How long will my application take to be processed?

The usual application process time is 1-2 weeks. We need time to check your references and conduct police record checks if necessary. If you have not received an answer after two weeks, please email volunteer@peruschallenge.com

When do I have to make payments?

The non-refundable deposit to secure your placement and the Inca Trail booking, must be paid within two weeks of your placement being confirmed. The remainder of the placement fee is due within seven days after arrival in Cuzco.

How do I make payments?
Once you have applied for a placement, we will send you details on how and when to make payments. If you have any questions beforehand, please email volunteer@peruschallenge.com

Why do I have to pay the remaining fee in Cuzco?

The reason we ask you to pay the remaining fee in Cuzco is to avoid expensive bank fees for international transfers. In the past, volunteers have lost up to US$400 on their transfer, which needs to be covered by the volunteer.

It is usually because their original bank charges a commission for the international transfer, followed by the intermediary bank in the USA charging their commission. Once it gets to our bank in Peru, they charge an additional US$18.00 to receive the transfer.

Is it safe to transfer money to Peru?

Yes. Our accounts are registered with the top bank in Peru. International transfers are received within five working days.

For the tenth year in a row, Interbank has been named the 'Best Working Bank in Peru' with movements for six months to June 2005 totaling US$1.8 billion.

I have transferred money but do not know if it has been received?

International transfers are usually received by our Peru account within five working days.

As soon as you have made a transfer, please send an email to volunteer@peruschallenge.com alerting them to the transfer and providing as much details as possible regarding the transfer - amount in US dollars, the date and the transfer number.

You will receive an email from Peru's Challenge indicating receipt of funds within a week of your transfer alert email.

Can I make a payment later than the specified due date?

Late payments will be approved under special circumstances. Please email volunteer@peruschallenge.com to make an agreement.

Pre-Arrival information

What happens when I arrive in Lima?

Most international flights arrive into Lima in the late afternoon or around 11.00pm. We will organise airport transfers for your arrival to our residencial in Miraflores, Lima where you will stay for two nights (breakfast included).

A city tour of Lima is organised for the next day. You will be picked up from the residencial around 2.30pm.

The following day, transfers will again be organised to take you to Lima airport for your flight to Cuzco. A Peru's Challenge representative will be waiting at Cuzco airport to transfer you to the volunteer house.

Can I organise my own transport to Cuzco?

If you have organised your own transport to Cuzco your placement fee will be discounted by US$200.

Please email us at volunteer@peruschallenge.com to advise us of your arrival details so we can organise to pick you up and transfer you to the volunteer house.

Do I have to organise my own travel/medical insurance?

You must organise your own travel/medical health insurance. Coverage must included evaculation insurance for transport to adequate health care facilities. Some insurance companies charge a premium for volunteer work. Please check carefully that you are covered for volunteer work with your policy.

Do I need a VISA for Peru?

Most people entering Peru will automatically be given a tourist VISA on arrival for free which is valid for 90 days. Please check with the Peruvian Embassy as to whether residents from your country are automatically given a tourist VISA on arrival or if you need to apply beforehand.

If you would like to stay in Peru longer than 90 days, you may extend your VISA validity for 30 days at the Immigrations Office in Cuzco. The cost is approximately US$25. The other alternative is to make a side trip to Bolivia and re-enter Peru after a minimum of one-nights stay in Bolivia.

What vaccinations should I get before travelling to Peru?

When your placement application is confirmed, we will send you a Pre-Arrival kit which will include information about what vaccinations are necessary for travel in Peru. Information provided in the Pre-Arrival is a guide only. You must always consult your physician for correct information.

What should I pack?

Information for what you should pack for yourself, the kids and the projects is included in the Pre-Arrival Guide. On confirmation of your volunteer placement, we will send you the complete Pre-Arrival Guide.

Can I bring excess baggage?

Most international flights coming into Peru will accept 2 x 32kg of baggage. You must check this figure with your airline before travel. If it is less, an idea is to send a request for permission to carry excess baggage for charitable purposes. Send an email to volunteer@peruschallenge.com if you would assistance with this request.

Sometimes our volunteers have problems with excess baggage on the domestic flight from Lima to Cuzco. Again explain that you are volunteering in Cuzco and your bags are full of donations for the charity.

About Peru

Can Peru's Challenge organise other tours and transport in South America?

Yes. We are affiliated with Ultimate Tours - a tour agency located in Cuzco. They can help organise tours for our volunteers. Please send them an email with details.

Is it safe to travel and live in Peru?

Cuzco is a safe city but we advise not to walk around alone after dark and exercise caution, just as you would in any city.

It is very rare that tourists have anything stolen these days and if so, you will probably not realise until you get back to the volunteer house. In other words, thieves are harmless but very sneaky. They may cut a hole in your bag, or take your bag from under a table. Just be very alert when walking in markets, arriving at transport stations and going out in the evening.

Also be aware of groups of kids trying to sell you something in the streets. A couple of them will distract you with their wares while another will open up your bag without you even noticing.

What is the health service like in Cuzco?

The medical system in Cuzco is very good. There is an international hospital close to the volunteer house with doctors who can speak English. The main street in Cuzco as has a number of pharmacies where you can buy everything you need.

What is the food quality like?

The food in Cuzco is very good with excellent quality of organic fruit and vegetables which you can buy cheaply from the local markets.

Meat and chicken is also of a very good quality at certain markets which you will be shown in your first week in Cuzco.

What is the weather like in Cuzco?

Generally the weather in Cuzco is fresh and sunny in the mornings, partly cloudy in the afternoons and always cold at night.

The winter months from April to August are also the dry season so the sun shines most of the time. The days are very warm but layered clothing is necessary as it can turn cold very quickly when it becomes cloudy.

The summer months are from November to February. It usually rains in the afternoons with quick but heavy showers during January, February and March.

What is the time zone for Cusco?

GMT/UTC: -5 hours

What is the power voltage?

The power voltage in Peru is 220 volts 60Hz.

The electric plug looks like either of the following:

American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades

Are there ATM's in Cuzco and is it easy to get money?

Yes there are a number of safe ATM's in Cuzco which dispense US dollars and the local currency: Nuveo Sol. ATM's will charge you approx. US$1.00 for a withdrawal. Ensure you check with your own bank as to what you will be charged for international withdrawals.

Am I able to communicate with my family/friends while I am in Peru?

The volunteer houses have a phone that accepts in-coming calls. To make out-going calls you will need to by a phone-card which can be purchased for any corner store.

Internet shops are everywhere in Cuzco and they are very cheap. Most of them also have internet phones for cheap international calls. The international country code for Peru is 51 and 84 for Cuzco.

Will my mobile phone work in Peru?

If you have a three-band phone it will work in Peru but sometimes text messages cannot be sent or received. It depends on your carrier. You can also buy a SIM CARD or CHIP in Cuzco for around S/.50.00 (US$15) that will work in your mobile phone.

Can I download my memory card from my digital camera easily?

Yes at any internet place in Cuzco. They will download all of your images onto CD and can also print them out as photos.

Donations

I would like to donate or sponsor a project, how can I do this?

Peru's Challenge have a number of projects that you can finanically assist with. For complete details, go to our donation page.

Sponsorship of children and families within the communities we assist is only available to people who have either volunteered with Peru's Challenge or are family and friends of people who have volunteered with us.

We insist that anyone who aids a family or child, must have a connection to them and understand how Peru's Challenge operates and how the funds are managed.

All funds are to be deposited into the Peru's Challenge bank account in Peru which is audited quarterly.

Can I fundraise on behalf of Peru's Challenge?

Please check within your local area as to whether you can fundraise for a not-for-profit organisation. For example, Australia volunteers will need to contact the Department of Gaming and Racing in their state and apply for an 'Authority to Fundraise'. You can also speak with your local Rotary or Lions Club to see if they would be interested in hosting the fundraising drive for you.

Where does my money go?

Peru's Challenge has no administration costs for the donation program except the transaction fee that all banks charge to receive funds from international locations, therefore the rest of your funds go directly to the specified projects.

We never give funds directly to the specific family or communities for projects. Rather we talk with them about how the funds will be spent and we manage that process for them to ensure that funds are correctly spent.

Peru's Challenge will also send you update reports so you can follow the process of your assistance.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Depends on your country. Please ask your accountant.

How do I transfer funds and how often?

Donations are to be transferred into the Peru's Challenge donation account in Peru. Details will be provided to you once we confirm your assistance.

We have a number of payment options - one-off, yearly, monthly or bi-monthly. The timeframe you choose will also be agreed to when we confirm your assistance. All you have to then do is set up an automatic direct-debit from your account into the Peru's Challenge donation account.

Can I send a package to Peru's Challenge?

Yes you can. Peru's Challenge can now accept all types and sizes of inkind donations.

If you would like to send an in-kind donation, please email jane@peruschallenge.com and she will email you a letter in Spanish that needs to accompany the package(s).

Please use the following address:

c/o Mildred Cardenas

Urb. Ingenieros D-2-12

Larapa, San Jeronimo

Cuzco, Peru.

Are in-kind donations useful?

Yes they definately are but it depends on what you are sending. Clothes are not accepted into Peru as Customs believe that they are going to be on-sold for a profit. If we insist that we want the package, they will make us pay 50% of the "perceived" value of the clothes.

Stationary and small goods are easily purchased in Cuzco. For the cost to send the package, you could donate that amount directly to Peru's Challenge and we could buy the same things in Cuzco.

Specific donations like sports equipment, technical equipment (computers, printers etc.), medical supplies etc. are always welcome.

Volunteer group of 20 from Australia

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