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This tour through Peru is a heady mix of the ‘must see’ and the ‘rarely seen’. You’ll visit the legendary Macchu Piccu, the stunning Sacred Valley and the lively cities of Lima and Cusco before venturing off the beaten track to the Lucre-Huacarpay Wetlands to assist in conservation and reforestation activities alongside a group of experts. Combining these activities with visits to some of the most stunning cultural and unique wonders of the ancient world this is a trip not to be missed.
Fly into Lima International Airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation in Lima for a relaxing evening.
Includes accommodation and dinner.
You will begin with a brief introduction to Peru that will show you how to make the most of your stay and how to stay safe while you’re away. Then you’ll have a “get-together” lunch and an afternoon free to explore the city.
Includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Arrive into Cusco Airport, you will meet your Cusco representative at the airport and they will transfer you to your accommodation. Then you will have a short briefing about the tour and general safety in the area. In the afternoon, you will take a short walking tour of the city centre and will have the rest of the day to acclimatize.
Includes accommodation and lunch.
Transfer to Lucre at 8:00 am accompanied by your project supervisor. You will be staying in a rustic lodge, with basic facilities. Each day you will be helping at the Lucre-Huacarpay Wetlands, doing conservation and reforestation activities with a group of experts. You will work approx 6 hours daily, morning and afternoon with a break time at around noon.
Includes accommodation, breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Transfer from Lucre to your accommodation in Cusco. Day free to relax and explore the city.
Includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
Visit the beautiful site of Tipón and Pikillacta, south of Cusco. You will have the chance to try the local delicacy, “chicharrón”, before returning to Cusco. YOu will have the rest of the day free.
Includes: accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
You will have the morning free to explore your surrounding. After lunch, tour of the major sites in the city, the Cathedral, and the Qoricancha. Then transfer to the 4 nearby ruins above Cusco: Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman.
Includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
Early departure to “Sacred Valley of the Incas”. Private transport to Pisaq to visit the local market and the ruins. Stop at Urubamba town for lunch. Continuing to the town of Ollantaytambo, a unique town built on Incan ruins. Last stop at Chinchero, to visit the local market and splendid 16th century Church built on an ancient Inca Palace. Return to Ollantaytambo for overnight.
Includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
Early departure transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station where you’ll catch a train to the town of Aguas Calientes. A 30-minute bus ride to the amazing ruins of Machu Picchu follows. You will have a guided tour of the ruins and some free time which will allow you to explore on your own. Finally you will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch, and then you will head back to Cusco. You will be met at the train station of San Pedro - Cusco and transferred to your accommodation.
Includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
A free day to rest, go shopping or enjoy the other sites in the city.
Includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
Transfer to the Cusco airport for your short flight back to Lima.
Includes breakfast.
This tour offers a unique experience and the chance to do something really worthwhile. During your first week, you will really feel part of the Lucre - Huacarpay Wetlands community. You will help with conservation work such as planting trees and you will have the chance to interact with the community and learn their way of life.
You do not need any specific skills to go on this trip, only a wish to help, get involved with your volunteering work and be motivated to your new cultural experience. You will have a supervisor with you who will arrange the logistic and deal with any problems.
This tour is based in the department of Cusco. You will be “submerged” into the ancient history of the Incas, the highlight being the visit to Machu Picchu, now officially listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Cusco or Cuzco, (UNESCO World Heritage Site) means “navel” in Quechua, a Native American Language, and referred to the city’s placement at the centre of the Inca Empire. It was the capital of the Inca civilization from the beginning of the 14th century until the arrival of the Spaniards. It is located in a rich agricultural region devoted to cattle raising and the culture of cereals and tobacco, although tourism has become a pushing industry and is very important to the city’s economy. Cusco contains many remains of the Incan times, including the famous Inca Temple of the Sun, parts of the Inca wall that once surrounded the city, numerous doorways, arches, and structural walls.
The Lucre-Huacarpay Wetlands is almost 400 hectares in size and is located at 3,200m and is surrounded by mountains. Located inside Pikillaqta's Archaeological Park, 29 km away from the city of Cusco and in the department of Cusco, province of Quispicanchi, district of Lucre. It is considered to be one of the most important wetlands of Peru and is recognized by the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
VVolunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
We aim to provide you with a safe and soft landing into your destination by picking you up from the airport, giving you an orientation that helps to settle you into the country as quickly as possible. It's also the best time to ask any questions you have about your time in Peru.
You will arrive on the Arrival Date : Friday and will be met at the airport on that day (whether it is 12 in the morning or 11:59 at night. You will be taken to your accommodation for orientation, a local homestay in Lima, where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight.
Note: If you're arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service. If you wish to make your own way please contact Fiorella directly for your allocated accommodation in Lima.
Your orientation will take place the next morning and will introduce you to life in Peru as well as important information about staying healthy and safe and information on getting to your project. Over lunch you will have the chance to ask any questions of the team before starting work.
You should book your flights to Cusco for Sunday morning and will be met In Cusco by your host.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night accommodation is included in this payment; if you require more than one night please inform the team.
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 17.00
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Home to a myriad of advanced Andean civilisations, Peru is renowned as the centre of the vast Inca Empire which extended its influence through to parts of Ecuador and Chile from the 13th century onwards. The Inca’s lost control to the Spanish who colonised the country in the 16th century and exploited the country for gold and silver. It wasn’t until 300 years later that Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín achieved independence for Peru. Post-independence, the country was racked by a border dispute with Chile which resulted in Peru losing part of its land. Conflict erupted between Ecuador in 1941 over land ownership and Peru emerged the victor, but not without repercussions in 1981 and 1995; an agreement was made between the countries in 1998.
From 1968 the country was under military rule until it returned to a democracy-led government in 1980. However, its stability was weakened throughout much of the 1980s due to economic woes and the rise of left-wing terrorist organisations. In recent years Peru’s political landscape has been tainted with tales of scandal and corruption, and threats from rebels. The country is making strides towards a more stabilised future with the government intending to improve social conditions, develop its export business and grow its economy.
Peru’s southern hemisphere location dictates that its dry summers are from December to March and its wet winter months run between April and November. Its dynamic landscape means there are regional variations to consider. The coastal region is hot and sunny during summer, while the winter period is characterised by cooler temperatures, though still humid, and a hazy mist is a frequent occurrence. Year-round the waters are cool to cold and only get comfortably warm in the most northern coastal areas. In the Andes, the best time to go trekking is from June to September when the area is at its driest though the nights can get distinctively cool. The Amazon jungle is at its best from May to September after the heavy rains have subsided and the water levels have dropped making it easier to access remote areas by boat and catch sight of rare wildlife.
Time-saving but budget busting, flying is a convenient way of crossing Peru’s huge distances. Major cities are no more than a two hour flight from Lima and domestic carriers Lan Peru, Aerocondor and Star Peru offer flights to prime destinations. Smaller carriers such as LC Busre provide charter services to more remote destinations. In addition, at Lima’s Jorge Chavez airport, the main flight hub, there are also several independent companies that have light aircraft destined for areas off the beaten track. It’s essential to confirm flight bookings 72 hours before departure and to get to the airport 2 hours before take off. Airlines have been known to bump people off flights for not arriving ahead of time and giving the seats to those on the waiting list. There is also a departure tax for all domestic flights, currently $7.
The most popular way of getting around is by bus. The distances can be arduous – the road trip from Lima to Cuzco is 20 hours compared to an hour’s flying time – but there are some redeeming features to be had from staring at the open road for hours on end. It’s inexpensive and there are regular services between major places of interest. In remote areas, buses can amount to rough and ready trucks but in towns and cities comfort is at hand in the shape of luxurious buses, such as bus company Cruz del Sur, whose fleet are equipped with reclining seats, air-conditioning and other mod cons. It’s best to travel by day as armed robberies have been known to occur at night. The existence of police checkpoints en route means it’s imperative to have your passport close at hand.
Although expensive and limited compared to the country’s bus network, trains in Peru work better as visitor attractions than a means of getting around. PeruRail operates the main scenic routes, including Cusco to Machu Picchu which takes less than four hours. On a comfort level, trains in Peru vary from hard-seated, overcrowded carriages in economy class to expensive, comfortable seating complete with a dining area and waitress service, as well as better security, in its top class carriages.
The main car rental companies such as Avis and Hertz have a presence in Peru but it takes an experienced driver to tackle the country’s roads. Driving in Lima or excessively long distances is not advisable. A more practical route would be to fly to your given destination and rent a car for shorter distances.
Getting around the local environs is an easy feat, with an abundance of buses and taxis to choose from. Local buses consist of micros (small buses) and combis (essentially vans that run as private buses), as well as colectivos which are like combis that cover regular routes between towns. Fares are cheap, space is limited and the buses can easily be flagged down from the side of the road. Taxis are readily available but be aware of the flux of unregistered taxis that ply for trade. Also, it’s necessary to negotiate a fare before the getting into a taxi.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
* We can be held responsible for any starry-eyed and amazing journeys of enlightenment, discovery and thorough enjoyment...
