Experience Indigenous Andean Communities

Volunteers volunteer in a small village in the Andes Mountains outside of Cusco, Peru. This project provides an income source for small communities and promotes cross cultural understanding.

Participants have the option of being involved in the following activities:

Agriculture — As an agriculturally based community the most common crops are potatoes, corn, and quinoa. Volunteers assist with planting, harvesting, storing and transporting crops. Volunteers also work with the animals in the community, including herding, pasturing, feeding, cleaning pens, and collecting food. Work will vary depending on the needs of the season and weather conditions. In addition, the Andean culture often includes some division of labor by gender, so your assigned tasks may vary.

Textiles — Volunteers have the opportunity to learn about traditional weaving skills and natural dyes by working with the women who create traditional textile products to sell at local markets.

Construction — Volunteers help mix and form adobe bricks and construct adobe homes and buildings within the community. Work is dependent on the needs of the community; there may not be a construction project going on during your program. 

Important: Due to the extremely rural setting of this project volunteers should expect the accommodations and meals to be very basic. For example, running water is at times unreliable and hot water is unavailable. You can expect bathing and bathroom/hygiene facilities to be much less modern than you are accustomed to. Sometimes bathing is done using a bucket of water. We recommend bringing your own toilet paper, which can be purchased in Cusco before you go to your project. 

Volunteers are expected to take part in local festivities and community gatherings. 

It is also very important to note that no English is spoken at this project. The first language in this community is Quechua, not Spanish, though Spanish is spoken as a second language. Despite the language barrier, it is possible to have a full and complete experience, though it is critical that you approach your project with this knowledge in mind. The community is very warm and welcoming to all volunteers.

The nearest village is approximately 15 minutes from your project site and approximately 1.5 hours from Cusco. This makes Cusco very accessible for weekend excursions and nightlife.

All year round, Cusco and its surrounding towns celebrate a mix of Inca and Catholic holidays, providing visitors with a variety of different cultural activities to experience. Cusco offers travelers a plethora of historical and archaeological sites both in and out of the city. Students most commonly like to explore the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, and of course Machu Picchu. Our local staff also posts a monthly events calendar to let you know of the activities going on around Maximo. While participating in the Andean Immersion project, there are many great hiking spots. It is also a great jumping off point for exploring the Sacred Valley. Our on-site travel partner is very knowledgeable and can assist in setting up trips.