Do you want to see the real South America?
Despite its popularity, Peru has an impressive record of clinging on to its identity and defending its native customs, but then it’s been getting in practice ever since the first Spanish tourists came with their own ideas in the 16th Century. You’ll be grateful for their resilience as you enjoy local customs and hospitality in the rural village of Chota and help build stoves for local families. In the second week you join a reforestation programme and help educate youngsters about the local ecology, before visiting the important Inca city of Cajamarca. Those staying for the full three weeks will end the trip helping out in a local education centre which works with young children in the area.
Fast Facts
Project Information
- Project Duration: Min 2 weeks - Max 3 weeks
- Project Costs: US$ 1720.00 for 2 weeks, US$ 330.00 for every week thereafter
- Location of project:Chota in northern Peru, if staying for three weeks you will spend the final week based in Cajamarca
- Arrival Airport:Lima (airport code LIM)
- Activities:Various activities dependent on length of stay. week 1 – stove buiding, week 2 – reforestation and education with the local community, week 3 – assistance at a local orphanage
- Working Hours:Flexible; Monday to Friday usually 6 to 8 hours a day, all other time is free
- Getting to the project:On site
- Requirements:Minimum age 18
- Other:Semana Santa (Latin America Holy week) will be from April 3rd to 12th 2009 and March 26th to April 4th 2010, you may have some disruptions to the placement during this time
What's Included
- Accommodation:Shared room in dormitory (weeks 1 and 2) and shared room in homestay (week 3 based in Cajamarca)
- Food:All meals in week 1, 2 and breakfast in week 3 (budget approximately US$50)
- Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
- Training:In-country orientation
- Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
What's not included
- Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return Airport transfer, Local Transport, Food (in week 3)
Day 1 - Arrival into Lima
You will need to arrive into Lima (LIM) on your specified arrival date. Travel to this project will be by an overnight bus from Lima, a bus ticket will be booked for you, this needs to be reimbursed to the team in Lima. You will then take a bus from Cajamarca to Chota a further 6 hours, but one of the most stunning journeys you will take.
Days 2 to 7 - Chota
The first week is a Stove Trek. This hands-on placement will find you building fuel efficient cooking stoves for families in the rural village of Chota. These cooking stoves help to improve the health and lifestyle of the communities who use them by providing families with much needed clean and economical cooking facilities. Once you arrive in Cadmalca you will spend 5 days working alongside the community to build a stove for the family.
Days 8 to 14 - Chota
You will spend the second week assisting with reforestation programs in the area, specifically educating local children about the importance of trees and the forests. You can help support and develop a reforestation and environmental awareness program, as well as demonstrating how to plant trees.
Days 9 to 21 - Chota
For those who sign-up for the three week program, your last week will be spent working with street children at a local educational centre. You can help be a positive influence in these children's lives by playing games with them, reading to them and generally helping out in all aspects of the centre.
Day 22 - Return home
You leave Chota and can make your way back to Lima on this day.
Project details
This is a unique opportunity to get really involved in a local community in a small village in northern Peru. You can choose to participate for one, two or three weeks, with each week offering a chance for you to try something completely new and different allowing you to experience a bit of everything!
Why the project needs volunteers
There are many families and communities in northern Peru who want and need these stoves, many more than we currently have volunteers to build them. So there is no shortage of work, and the families who receive a stove are thrilled! You can walk away knowing that you made an improvement in the quality of life for at least one family who desperately needed it. As well, the local education centre has limited funding, and any help is appreciated.
What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project
Above all, you should be enthusiastic, hardworking, and not afraid to get dirty! Flexibility is key and a willingness to help out where needed. For the orphanage, you need to really enjoy working with children, be patient, imaginative and compassionate! Also, the more Spanish you know, the better you will get on, as the village families and the children do not speak English. As you will be in a rural Peruvian village, be prepared for rustic basic conditions.
Your role as a volunteer
You will get involved in a variety of activities during your placement, depending on how many weeks you stay. Be ready to build stoves, plant trees, design an education program, and play with kids!
Where the project is based
This project is based near the village of Chota in northern Peru with the Cadmalca community. Accommodation is in a lodge nearby, and volunteers will have the opportunity to explore local markets and get to know life in the community. The nearest city is 6 hours away - Cajamarca, which is famous for its importance in Inca history. Here you can find historical monuments, hot thermal baths, and colourful markets selling the local fine pottery. If staying for three weeks you will spend the final week based in Cajamarca and be able to take advantage of these activities.
What exactly do i-to-i provide?
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….
Project sourcing and assessment
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
Expert help-desk
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.
Thorough project briefing materials
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.
TEFL training
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
Airport pickup
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.
Arrival orientation
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 and meals
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
Local in-country coordinators
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
24/7 emergency support
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
Ongoing training
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
Supporting our projects
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
Recruiting people like you
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.
The intangible benefits
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
What we will do after you've booked:
- Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account
- We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know
- Community Development and Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course
- Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant) or send through a reference
- We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
- We will hound you to complete your forms and pay your final balance when they are due
- We are available for any questions you may have on 800 352 1794 or operations@i-to-i.com
- We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with final project and accommodation confirmation 21 days before you go
What you need to do after booking your place with us:
- Book your flights
- Arrange suitable travel insurance
- Fill out some extra details through our online interface:
- application from
- travel details
- insurance details
- medical information
- emergency contacts
- Complete your police check or request your reference (where relevant)
- Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
- Make final payment at least 60 days before you go
- Make sure you have a visa for your trip if its needed
- Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention
- Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip
- Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!
- Get on the plane!
Insurance
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 >>
Flights
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.
Early Airport Pick-up
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
A little bit of history...
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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.
Best time to go…
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.
Getting around...
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.
Useful links
www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas
www.aerocondor.com.pe
Domestic airline Aerocondor
www.cruzdelsur.com.pe
Bus company Cruz del Sur
www.lcbusre.com.pe
Domestic airline LC Busre
www.lanperu.com
Domestic airline Lan Peru
www.perurail.com
Railway operator PeruRail
www.starperu.com
Domestic airline Star Peru
www.wayra.com.pe
Domestic airline Wayra Peru
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