Why Volunteer in Peru?

Why volunteer in Peru? We’ve got way more reasons than just Machu Picchu! Check out ALL the good excuses to make Peru volunteer opportunities your priority. If you’re thinking about volunteering in Peru, you’re in for some great discoveries. The land of ancient Incan ruins, world-renowned food, and stunning wildlife are just some of the amazing things you can experience. Volunteer opportunities in Peru are endless, and you can choose from experiences in urban cities, like Lima, to remote placements in the Amazon Rainforest or Andes Mountains.

If you want to  learn more about yourself, global issues, and immerse deeply in a friendly, local community, volunteering in Peru is a great option. There are a lot of things to consider before volunteering in Peru, such as making sure the program you choose is sustainable, truly partners with the local community, and that the projects don’t exploit people for the sake of “voluntourism”; for example, orphanage work has come under scrutiny in recent years. (Ask questions and do some research into the organization before you sign up to volunteer in Peru!)

But just as there are many important questions to ask, there are as many reasons why volunteering in Peru can be an amazing opportunity. If you want to experience one of the most ecologically diverse, beautiful, and exciting countries in South America while deepening your intercultural and global understanding, volunteering in Peru might be for you.

Why volunteer in Peru?

1. Support healthcare in underserved communities

Access to quality health care is limited for many people in Peru, especially for rural, indigenous communities. In rural clinics, resources are often scarce or inadequate. If you’re interested in pursuing a healthcare career or just want to learn more about this important topic, volunteering in Peru can give you a greater understanding of global healthcare challenges. Your time and skills can help support local communities. A Broader View’s program offers the chance to shadow local healthcare workers, assisting with outreach campaigns, and more, depending on your existing skills. 

2. Help protect the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is often referred to as “the lungs of the world”, since the trees take in so much carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen for our planet. The Amazon is therefore super important in sustaining our planet, especially as we face climate change. Unfortunately, Peru’s section of the Amazon faces deforestation threats from logging and gold mining. Despite these problems, scientists and local communities are fighting back. If you’re passionate about conservation and the environment, you can volunteer abroad in Peru with IVHQ’s Jungle Conservation program or Amazon Conservation with Pod Volunteers!

3. Experience ancient Incan ruins

If you want to volunteer in Peru while experiencing one of the most awe-inspiring wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, you can! GoEco gives you the chance to volunteer in Cusco and then trek to Machu Picchu on the famous Inca trail. If you’re volunteering in Cusco, you’ll likely have time to explore Machu Picchu, as well as the beautiful Sacred Valley. However, if you think you’d be more interested in just visiting Peru to see tourist sites than spending large parts of the day volunteering, you might want to check out adventure travel in Peru instead, and save the volunteer projects to those who are super-committed to volunteer work.

4. Support women’s empowerment

Like many parts of the world, including the United States, gender pay gaps and sexist attitudes towards women also exist in Peru. A UNESCO study in Peru in 2012 reported that over 77% of Peruvians positively perceived gender equality as important to the country’s development; however, attitudes were less favorable for other questions. Sadly, only 65% of Peruvians disagreed with the question, “When jobs are scarce, men should have more right to a job than women.”  Sigh.

If you want to volunteer in Peru to support women’s empowerment, it will give you the chance to learn more about this important global issue and how you can help empower women in Peru. Check out GVI’s Women’s Empowerment program or Love Volunteers’ Women’s Empowerment project to get involved in supporting girls’ and women's lives.  

5. Practice Spanish or learn Quechua

When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, the Spanish language spread, and it’s now one of Peru’s official languages, along with the indigenous languages Quechua and Aymara. If you already know Spanish, why not try learning Quechua? IVHQ’s Andean Immersion program places participants in homestays with Quechua-speaking families, a great option if you want complete immersion into a local community.

Maximo Nivel offers both Spanish language and Quechua-language immersion programs. And even if your program doesn’t have immersion placements, you’ll definitely want to learn some basic phrases in the language before you arrive if you’re volunteering in regions where indigenous languages are widely-spoken.

6. Experience amazing food

Peru’s cuisine is world-renowned. Whether it’s the crisp, cool lime of ceviche or garlic-roasted pollo a la braza, the flavors are endless. If you eat meat, try cuy (roasted guinea pig) and don’t forget to try the country’s beloved cocktail, the pisco sour. Many volunteer programs in Peru include local homestay accommodations, which means you’ll get a chance to experience Peruvian home cooking or a popular national dish. Foodies, rejoice!

7. Learn about social issues in this very diverse society

Like most of South America, European colonialism devastated large populations of indigenous communities in Peru. The country is now home to a mix of ethnic backgrounds; indigenous groups are now about 25% of the population, but many indigenous communities lack access to education, basic healthcare, and employment due to language barriers, racism, discrimination, and more.

If you want to volunteer in Peru to help address social issues, there are many ways to learn more about these issues and get involved. Look for programs that expose volunteers to situations where they can learn about education, healthcare, LGBTQI+ rights, and more in Peru. 

8. Earn college credit or boost your resume with research projects

If you want to take a more academic approach while volunteering in Peru, you can find programs with this approach, such as IVHQ’s Spanish Service Learning Course. Accredited by the California State University, Monterey Bay, students in this program volunteer in a variety of projects while participating in workshops, guided reflections, and Spanish immersion.

How about the idea of living on a houseboat deep in the Amazonian rainforest, as you collect data or complete your senior thesis alongside academic researchers? You can do this with Operation Wallacea-Peru. Many volunteer programs in Peru also offer internship credit as well, so if you need to complete an internship during your summer break, ask the program provider about what they offer.

9. There are a variety of programs!

Whether you’re interested in helping the environment, women’s empowerment, social issues, or animal conservation, volunteer opportunities in Peru are as diverse as the country itself. If you want to stay longer and experience different regions and industries, you can do this in Peru. Whether it’s a vast desert, Amazonian jungle, the snow-capped Andes mountains, or the urban streets of Lima, there are so many volunteer opportunities to suit your skills, from rural healthcare projects to teaching English in Lima.

You’re ready to volunteer in Peru!

Before you go, try and learn as much as you can about the local society and the location where you’ll be living. This will help you become more informed about local history, language, and Peruvian society. And remember that while you’re going abroad with a good heart and great intentions to volunteer, you need to listen and ask questions more than you “tell” and instruct. After all, you are the foreigner, and only the locals know what’s best for their society and their community. If you stay humble, ask questions, listen, and try some phrases in the local language, you’re bound to have an amazing experience when you volunteer abroad in Peru!

View ALL Volunteer Programs in Peru