2 - 13 weeks
from € 1.090
Peru

Volunteer work in animal welfare in Peru

  • Urban everyday life
  • High recreational value
  • Diverse cuisine

Animal welfare and species protection are important to you and you always wanted to experience wild animals up close? Then come to Peru and get involved here in a sanctuary for rescued animals! Not only do you help with the care of the various animals, but you also learn a lot about them and their habitat. You will also help to raise public awareness of the importance of species protection.

Location icon Cusco
Minimum age icon from 18 years
Icon Duration 2 - 13 weeks / from €1.090
Departure days icon Sunday
Animal sanctuary Cusco
SDG 15 - Life on Land
life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-PE460

As a volunteer
Peru

2 - 13 weeks / from €1.090
to the cost overview

Baby monkey in animal welfare project

What's the matter?

The site is an old zoo in the Peruvian Andean metropolis of Cusco. The zoo was founded in 1954 and has existed for almost 70 years. Today, the facility is run by an aid organization that takes care of the almost 80 species of wild animals housed here. Animals to be cared for include monkeys, condors, spectacled bears, wild cats, foxes, turtles and many other native species, many of which have been rescued from the clutches of poachers and illegal pet traders. Likewise, newborns keep arriving whose parents were killed by hunters.

The organization makes every effort to provide the animals entrusted to it with the best possible care and to enable them to lead a species-appropriate life. However, it faces significant challenges in doing so. Due to the age of the facility, many areas and enclosures are in need of renovation and the overall site is not large enough for the number of rescued animals, so space is often a problem. In addition, the organization does not have enough staff to give all the animals the attention they need.

In order to remedy these shortcomings and to give the animals the attention they deserve, the organization is always happy to receive the support of energetic volunteers.

In addition to the goal of providing the animals that are taken in - especially animals that may have been abused - with the best possible care and giving them the chance to be reintroduced into the wild, the organization also aims to sensitize zoo visitors to the importance of species protection and new research findings about the attract animals.

Your tasks as a volunteer

This project is all about caring for rescued wildlife. The support of the volunteers is mainly needed for the following tasks:

  • Preparation of animal feed
  • cleaning of the enclosures
  • Feeding harmless animals
  • Informing the visitors

As a volunteer, you will work from Monday to Friday from around 8:30 a.m. to 14:XNUMX p.m. As a rule, you start your working day by preparing the animal feed. Then it's on to feeding the animals, followed by cleaning the enclosures. After completing these daily tasks, you will spend the rest of the working time guiding visitors around the zoo and informing them about the animals.

After work and on days off, of course, you have enough time to explore the city and go on excursions.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer house in Cusco

There are two apartments in the same building with three bedrooms, a living and dining room, a kitchen, two bathrooms with hot water, a laundry room and a laundry room. The washing machine in the laundry room can be used by the volunteers by arrangement. There is no heating in the houses in Peru. You can use the internet in the accommodation.

The house can accommodate up to six volunteers. Alternatively, there are single rooms (for a surcharge) as well as double and triple rooms.

Please note the general house rules. Schedules and manners should be maintained and respected. The volunteers are responsible for the cleanliness of their rooms themselves, with cleaning staff coming every two weeks. In the kitchen, everyone washes their own dishes and, of course, leaves each area as they found it.

Your accommodation is about 30 minutes from the city center. There you will find clubs, restaurants, travel agencies, tourist offices and the historic center with tourist attractions such as ruins and museums. Around the house there are gyms, laundries, clinics, churches, pharmacies, parks, schools, shopping centers with cinemas, traditional markets and supermarkets.

Banks, money exchange offices and police stations are also in the immediate vicinity of the house. The closest provinces are Saylla, Tipon and Oropesa (20 minutes away by bus) and in an hour by bus you can get to the Sacred Valley of the Incas with many tourist attractions.

You can either walk or take the bus to your place of work (depending on the project). The maximum distance is 45 minutes by bus and the cost is 2 to 3 sols (about 60 cents). The neighborhood where the house is located is very safe. You can be outside here day or night.

In the Volunteer House you will receive breakfast from Monday to Saturday. Please note that a vegan diet is unfortunately not possible here.

Host family in Cusco

Here you will find a living and dining area, a kitchen, two bathrooms (one for the volunteers and one for the family), a laundry room and three bedrooms. In Peru the houses have no heating, but the apartment has gas heating for the common areas. There is internet and cable connection.

The host family can host up to two volunteers of the same gender. There is no cleaning staff in the house - each person takes care of their own laundry and dishes.

The house is ten minutes from the city center. Here you will find clubs, restaurants, travel agencies, tourist offices and the historic center with tourist attractions such as ruins and museums. Around the house there are banks, money exchange offices, gyms, laundromats, clinics, churches, pharmacies, parks, schools, shopping malls, traditional markets and supermarkets nearby.

The bus takes you a maximum of 40 minutes to the site. The cost of the bus is 1 Sol (about 20 cents). In addition, the neighborhood where the house is located is very safe for day and night walks.

Location

Cusco

The Andean city of Cusco is famous for its checkered history and its close proximity to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The ruined city is about 75 kilometers northwest of Cusco. 

In Peru's constitution, Cusco is even mentioned as "Capital histórica" ​​(historical capital). Around 3400 residents live here at 430.000 meters above sea level in a predominantly dry and mild climate.

Cusco was the capital of the Incas until the Spanish Inquisition. In and around the city you will find numerous relics and remains of this culture. The inner city, however, is characterized by the architectural style of the Spanish colonial masters. This interesting mix makes Cusco and its architecture very exciting to discover. It is not for nothing that the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

If you are interested in history, you can learn and discover a lot here. You can also brush up on your Spanish skills in Cusco while experiencing everyday life in the city. For those who like to go hiking, the mountainous surrounding area is of course ideal for various tours.

Free time in Cusco

Your free time in Cusco

Cusco is located in the middle of the Andes and is considered one of the most important tourist destinations in Peru. The former capital of the Incas has a lot to offer, especially culturally, but also in terms of landscape.

On your days off, you'll have enough time to explore Cusco or maybe even plan a trip outside of the city. In the historic city center you will find numerous attractions such as the Plaza de las Armas and you can admire important city buildings such as the cathedral and the Templo de la Compañía de Jesús. Other magnificent buildings, including the palace of the Inca ruler Inca Roca, are on Calle Hatun Rumiyuq. The busy street takes you to the Barrio de San Blas district. There you can go on a discovery tour in the narrow and steep alleys leading up and discover great craftsmanship. Also worth seeing is the Inca temple Coricancha, which means “golden temple”.

Cusco is the starting point for tours to Machu Picchu. You should definitely not miss a visit to the ruined city, 75 kilometers away. Either you take the Inca Rail to the ruined city or you hike there if you are experienced and you dare a two-day tour. In terms of scenery, the hike is definitely worth it!

Another absolute highlight is the Sacred Valley of the Incas with its many tourist attractions. Two different routes - one to the east and one to the west - lead into the valley and will absolutely fascinate you with the landscape.

A little further away with a three-hour drive, but absolutely worth seeing is Vinicunta, the so-called Rainbow Mountain. You should not miss this unique natural spectacle. Once there, you still have to hike about 15 kilometers before you can admire Rainbow Mountain in all its glory.

On-site procedure

Arrival in Cusco

Arrival in Cusco

Upon your arrival at Cusco Airport, a member of the team will meet you at the exit after baggage claim. With a sign with your name on it, it won't be overlooked. You can then drive directly to the accommodation. Depending on traffic, the journey takes about half an hour. After your arrival at the accommodation, you have until the next morning to get to know the new surroundings and to recover from the long journey.

Language course in Cusco

If you have booked our language course, it starts the next day and takes place directly at the accommodation. Here you can brush up on your Spanish skills and at the same time get to know everyday Peruvian life in an interactive course through joint excursions in Cusco.

Orientation in Cusco

Orientation program in Cusco

During the first two days that you will be accommodated in Cusco, our team will prepare you for your upcoming stay in Peru. During an orientation program you will be offered various activities that will help you to get to know the country and the people better and to learn more about the local culture. Our team will show you what you need to consider so that you can find your way around the area and inform you about your activities and tasks in the project.

Volunteer project in Cusco

Your first day in the project

Once you have familiarized yourself with everything, you can start working on the project. At the assignment site, you will get to know your contacts and tasks. Depending on how much previous knowledge you have and depending on your assessment and needs, you will be slowly introduced to the work or you will soon be assigned your own tasks.

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.090, -
    2 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 170, - / week
    up to 11 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in volunteer house or with a host family
  • Meals: Breakfast (from Monday to Saturday)
  • Salsa dance classes

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Daily drive to the project

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

RGV FAQ
to the project

How far in advance do I have to register?

Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.

But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.

Can I travel with a friend or in a group?

Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.

We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.

When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!

Can I combine projects?

Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.

Combination options at a glance:

  1. Combine programs in one country
  2. Combine programs across countries
  3. Combine a program with a language course
  4. Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips

There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for Peru?

You do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days per half year. If you are staying longer than 90 days, you will need proof upon entry that you are leaving the country before the 90 days are up. A bus ticket to a neighboring country is ideal for this. You have the option to request an extension of up to 183 days. The issue is then carried out on site at the migration authority.

General guidelines can be found on the website of the Foreign Office.

What language skills do I need for the project in Latin America?

English and Spanish are spoken in the project. A good knowledge of English is definitely required; Basic knowledge of Spanish is strongly recommended in this project.

Social projects generally require a good knowledge of Spanish.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

Are there also vegan/vegetarian options for catering?

Unfortunately, vegan catering is generally not possible in this project.

The host family cooks traditionally, not vegetarian or vegan.
There is also an option for vegetarian meals at the Volunteer House.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Peru? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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