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2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in Peru
Join 2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in Peru, work for the underprivileged societies living in Cusco and contribute meaningfully towards improving their lives. This project includes volunteering in kindergarten & weekend trips to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Sacred Valley.
In Cusco, Peru, you assist teachers at rural nursery schools and kindergartens serving children ages 3 to 5 (and, from December to February, day care centers for children 6 months to 4 years old) in rural and marginalized urban communities. Day to day, you help with classroom activities, hygiene routines, meal and snack times, and games and creative play with groups of around 20 children, plus some fundraising activities for the project. This program suits volunteers aged 17 and up, including families, who want a fixed two-week placement with a set sightseeing itinerary rather than an open-ended one.
The program runs 2 weeks, starting twice a month (sundays), with the next start on 4 Oct 2026. You live with a host family, sharing a room with other volunteers, and eat three home-cooked meals a day Monday to Friday (weekend meals are your own). Cost is from $1,361, deposit included ($249 deposit). What sets this program apart is that four guided excursions — Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu — are built into the fixed itinerary alongside the volunteer days.
- A perfect 2-weeks Volunteer Program in Peru encompassing volunteer work and exploring UNESCO heritage sites of the “Land of Incas”
- Responsibilities at the project include teaching the kids, taking care of them and partaking in fundraising activities for the smooth functioning of the project
- The project also includes excursions to Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lagoon, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Your role on this program
- Assist teachers with classroom activities in a rural nursery school or kindergarten
- Help children aged 3 to 5 with hygiene routines
- Support meal or snack times
- Engage children through games, learning activities, and creative play
- Provide extra care and attention in kindergartens with limited resources
- Take part in fundraising activities for the project's day-to-day running
- From December to February, may assist at a rural day care center with children aged 6 months to 4 years
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You work as extra support under the supervision of the local teachers and project staff, following their routines and instructions rather than running the classroom yourself. You do not take on medical, disciplinary, or curriculum decisions, and duties may vary with the placement's needs from week to week.
Program itinerary
Day 1 – Sunday: Welcome to Cusco
Arrive in Cusco, where you will be warmly greeted at the airport or bus station and transferred to your volunteer residence or host family. Take some time to settle in, unpack, and relax.
From 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., you will participate in an orientation session followed by a walking tour of Cusco to help you get familiar with your new surroundings.
Day 2 – Monday: First Day at the Project
Begin your volunteer experience in Cusco.
Our local coordinator will pick you up around 8:00 a.m. and accompany you to your project site. You will be introduced to the local staff and shown the route you will use during your placement. Transportation to the project is usually by public bus, offering an authentic experience of daily life in Cusco.
Days 3–5 – Tuesday to Thursday: Volunteer Work
During the week, you will assist at local community projects supporting families in rural and marginalized urban areas.
Most volunteers help in rural nursery schools, assisting teachers who work with groups of around 20 children aged 3–5 years old. These kindergartens often have limited resources, so volunteers play an important role in supporting daily activities and providing extra care and attention.
Your typical responsibilities may include:
Assisting teachers with classroom activities
Helping children with hygiene routines
Supporting meal or snack times
Engaging children through games, learning activities, and creative play
Volunteer work usually lasts around four hours per day.
During late December, January, and February, some volunteers may also assist at rural day care centers where children range from 6 months to 4 years old.
Day 6 – Friday: Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Adventure (No volunteer work today)
Today you will embark on an unforgettable adventure through the stunning landscapes of the Andes.
You will be picked up at 4:30 a.m. from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco and travel through scenic countryside to Pitumarca, where breakfast will be served. The hike begins in K’ayrawiri (4326 m / 14,192 ft) and takes approximately 3–4 hours to reach the summit of Vinicunca (5020 m / 16,469 ft).
Along the way, you will see herds of alpacas and llamas, dramatic red mountains, and breathtaking Andean scenery. After enjoying the panoramic views and exploring the colorful Red Valley, you will return to Cusco at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Day 7 – Saturday: Free Day in Cusco
Enjoy a well-deserved rest day. You may explore Cusco’s markets, historic sites, cafés, and museums, or simply relax and recharge.
Day 8 – Sunday: Sacred Valley Tour & Train to Aguas Calientes
Depart early at 6:00 a.m. for a full-day tour of the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas.
You will visit fascinating archaeological and cultural sites including Moray, Maras, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo, while learning about ancient Inca traditions. After a traditional lunch in the valley, you will board the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night in preparation for visiting Machu Picchu.
Day 9 – Monday: Machu Picchu – The Lost City of the Incas (No volunteer work today)
Early in the morning, take a short 15-minute bus ride to the entrance of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the ancient Inca citadel, learning about its fascinating history and architecture. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore the site, hike to the Sun Gate, or simply admire the spectacular views.
Later in the day you will travel back to Cusco, arriving around midnight.
Days 10–12 – Tuesday to Thursday: Volunteer Work
Continue supporting your community project and building meaningful connections with the children and local staff.These final volunteer days allow you to deepen your involvement and contribute further to the daily activities at the nursery school or daycare center.
Day 13 – Friday: Humantay Lake Hike (No volunteer work today)
On your final excursion, travel to the breathtaking Humantay Lake, located near the towering Salkantay Mountain (6271 m).
After an early morning departure from Cusco, you will travel to Mollepata for breakfast before continuing to the starting point of the hike. A scenic two-hour hike leads you to the spectacular turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, a sacred site for local communities.
After spending time enjoying the views and taking photos, you will return to Soraypampa for lunch before heading back to Cusco in the late afternoon.
Day 14 – Saturday: Farewell to Cusco
On your final morning, take time to say goodbye to Cusco, enjoy some last-minute shopping, or relax with your host family before preparing for your onward travels.
Important information
The dates indicated in this itinerary may be subject to change due to the daily visitor limits set by the Peruvian government for Machu Picchu. For this reason, we kindly ask our participants to remain flexible regarding potential date adjustments. However, we assure you that the four mentioned tours, including the hike to Vinicunca Mountain, Humantay Lagoon, the Sacred Valley, and the visit to Machu Picchu, will all be fulfilled.
The specific details regarding the tours to the four mentioned destinations will be provided at the travel agency 24 hours before each departure. This will include important information such as the departure time, meeting point with the guide, guide’s name, return time, and more. The information is given 24 hours in advance to ensure it remains fresh in your memory, helping to ensure that the entire group is well-prepared for the experience. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17 (a parental consent form is required for participants under 18)
- Open-minded, flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- A genuine interest in working with young children, with a proactive, take-initiative approach
- Beginner to intermediate Spanish is an advantage but not required
- A clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of the start date, since this placement works with children
- Valid travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
You are placed at rural nursery schools and kindergartens, and occasionally rural day care centers, that support families in rural and marginalized urban areas around Cusco. These are ongoing local projects with their own teachers and staff, run independently of the two-week volunteer schedule; you join their existing routine rather than setting it.
Your work is supervised by the local teachers and project staff at all times, and their instructions and safeguarding practices take priority over anything a volunteer might otherwise decide to do. A background check is required before you can work with the children. Over two weeks, your contribution is best understood as extra hands and attention for an under-resourced classroom during your stay, not the completion of a project or a measurable outcome for the children involved.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in PeruCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,361 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Pre departure guidebook
- Assistance from support staff and in-country program coordinator
- Airport pick up from Cusco airport
- Program orientation
- Accommodation in a host family or volunteer residence
- Project placement
- Breakfast & Lunch the 1st Sunday on arrival
- 3 meals a day from Monday to Friday
- Hiking Vinicunca Rainbown mountain
- Transportation from Cusco until vinicunca town round & trip
- Breakfast and lunch at vinicunca and Humantay
- Hiking to Humantay Lagoon
- Trip to Sacred Valley and Connection to Machu Pichu
- Tour in Machu Pichu Sanctuary
- Entrance ticket to visit Machu Pichu Sanctuary
- 2 hours tour guided in Machu Pichu
- Train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas calientes (round trip)
- Round trip bus ticket to Aguas Calientes to Machu Pichu Sanctuary
- Double room (shared room) in a hotel in Machu Pichu pueblo
- Lunch in Sacred Valley
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
Not included
- International/Domestic Airfare
- Vaccinations
- Visa fees
- Meals on Saturday & Sundays
- Meals at Aguas Calientes
- Visitors entrance tickets for the Sacred Valley tour (130 PEN)
- Visitors entrance tickets for Vinicunca mountain (25 PEN)
- Visitors entrance tickets for Humantay lagoon (20 PEN)
- Maras (salt mine) entrance ticket (10 PEN)
- Rental of horse (100 PEN)
- Personal items (rain jacket, gloves, canes, candies, or snacks)
- Taxi from home stay to Plaza de armas to go the tours (to Vinicunca, to Humantay lagoon, to Sacred Valley tour)
- Drop off to Cusco airport
- Local transportation to and from program location
- Entrance to Huayna Pichu Mountain
- Taxi from Cusco downtown to home stay when returning from tours
- Dinner on the 1st Sunday
- Personal toiletries
- Private bedroom in Aguas calientes town
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
As soon as you land at Cusco Airport, our friendly local coordinator or representative will be there to greet you. If you’re traveling overland or are already in Peru, we’ll arrange a convenient pickup at a designated meeting point or bus station. You´ll see the VolSol logo and your name at the airport door.
Orientation
Get ready for an exciting journey with our orientation! Our local staff will introduce you to key aspects of life in Peru, covering topics like culture, greetings, transportation, safety, and your volunteer placements. This session will help you feel right at home!
Accommodation
Experience authentic Peruvian culture by staying with a local host family! You’ll share a cozy room with fellow volunteers, giving you the chance to bond and make new friends. Most host families have two bathrooms equipped with hot showers, and the accommodations are clean and comfortable. Many homes also offer Wi-Fi and cable TV for your convenience.
Meals
Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals with your host family, served three times a day from Monday to Friday. The menu varies daily and typically includes mouth-watering soups, fresh salads, rice, potatoes, refreshing juices, and delightful desserts.
During your Free Time
During your free time, feel free to explore, shop, or relax! Most weekends, volunteers seize the opportunity to visit the breathtaking Sacred Valley or the world-renowned Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. In Cusco, take a leisurely stroll around the Plaza de Armas, discovering local restaurants and vibrant shopping areas along the way.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Peru
Arrival in Cusco
You are met at Cusco Airport (or the bus station if arriving overland) by a coordinator holding a VolSol sign with your name, then transferred to your host family to settle in.
Orientation and city tour
From 3pm to 6pm on your first day (Sunday), local staff run an orientation covering culture, transport, safety, and your placement, followed by a walking tour of Cusco.
First day at the project
On Monday, the local coordinator picks you up around 8am and takes you to your project site, introduces you to the local staff, and shows you the public bus route you will use for the rest of the placement.
Volunteer week and support
You assist at the project Tuesday to Thursday that first week and again in your second week, with an in-country coordinator based in Cusco and 24-hour staff assistance available throughout.
From volunteers in Peru
Frequently asked questions
What do I actually do on this program?
You assist local teachers at a rural nursery school or kindergarten in and around Cusco, helping with classroom activities, hygiene routines, meal times, and games with children aged 3 to 5 (or, from December to February, possibly a day care center with children aged 6 months to 4 years).
Who is this program suited for?
It suits volunteers aged 17 and older, including families, who want a fixed two-week structure combining childcare volunteering with a set schedule of guided excursions rather than an open-ended placement.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No formal qualifications are required, but you should be flexible, proactive, and genuinely interested in working with young children; beginner to intermediate Spanish is an advantage.
What does a typical day look like?
On volunteer days, you work Monday to Friday for approximately 4 hours at the project; certain weekdays are replaced entirely by full-day excursions to Vinicunca, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, or Humantay Lake.
How long is the program and when can I start?
The program runs 2 weeks, with new starts twice a month (sundays); the next start date is 4 Oct 2026.
What does the price include, and what is the deposit?
The program is from $1,361, deposit included, with a $249 deposit that counts toward your total and is refunded if no place can be offered; it covers accommodation, meals Monday to Friday, project placement, airport pickup, orientation, and the four listed excursions including entrance tickets, transport, and guided tours.
Where do I live and what meals are included?
You stay with a host family in Cusco, sharing a room with other volunteers in a home with hot showers and usually Wi-Fi; you get three home-cooked meals a day Monday to Friday, while weekend meals are your own except where noted in the itinerary.
What happens when I land?
A local coordinator meets you at Cusco Airport (or the bus station if you arrive overland) holding a VolSol sign with your name, and takes you directly to your host family.
What support and safety measures are in place?
You have an in-country coordinator based in Cusco, a program orientation covering safety and transport, and 24-hour staff assistance for emergencies throughout your stay.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Visa fees and vaccinations are not included, and specific guidance is sent before departure; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions.
Is a background check required for this placement?
Yes, because you work with children, all volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of the start date.
Do the excursion days replace volunteer work?
Yes, on the days set aside for Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and Humantay Lake, there is no volunteer work; those days are full-day guided excursions instead.
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