Volunteer in Peru: Conservation Zoo

Location

Volunteers will primarily be based in Cusco, but may also participate in projects in the Sacred Valley and surrounding Jungle. Cusco is a city in south-eastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range. Cusco is at an altitude of around 3,500m (11,500 ft), and is where the majority of volunteers will be based. Volunteers on the Andean cultural exchange projects will be located in the Sacred Valley, and those on the Jungle conservation program will be based in the Jungle reserve outside of Cusco. 

Zoo Project

Volunteers work at a small local zoo in Cusco, which is run by the local university. Volunteers take part in the maintenance of the zoo, preparation of food for the animals, cage cleaning and conservation of the various animal species. Volunteers will work with professors and students from the Zoology and Biology departments from the local university. The zoo receives approximately 30-40 visitors a day, mostly children. Volunteers are sometimes involved with hosting visitors. Please take note and understand that this is a small zoo and functions with very limited funding.

Accommodation

There are two possibilities for accommodation in Cusco. The majority of volunteers will live in a volunteer house in Cusco. There are several houses in Cusco which we work with and all are run by local families so it is similar to staying in a home stay but they can accommodate up to 20 volunteers at any one time. The houses have running water, hot water, electricity, western-style toilet, a telephone (where volunteers can make and receive calls), and a mobile phone which volunteers can use to call the partner organisation for free. You will get 3 meals a day cooked by a professional chef. The house has an outdoor patio, a sitting room with TV and DVD player, and a dining room.

The second option is a more traditional home stay, living with several other volunteers in a Peruvian home. The host families have been carefully selected with volunteers in mind and have all had experience hosting volunteers in the past. All houses have electricity, running water, and a western-style toilet. You will eat meals with the family.

Laundry service is available for an additional fee.

Free Time

Volunteers are expected to work Monday to Friday, with weekends free to travel and explore the region.

We encourage you to make the most of your time in Peru, and there are some fantastic sights to see not far from the city.

Communication

If you'd like to bring a cell phone, our partner will instruct you how to get a Peruvian sim-card to use for your phone in Peru. Many volunteers use Peruvian sim-cards to receive international calls or send text messages. Calling cards are readily available and make for a cheaper way to make calls home.

Volunteers have access to free internet at the partner’s headquarters or volunteers can use internet cafes in Cusco.

Number of Volunteers

The Peru program usually fluctuates greatly between 7 and 40 volunteers per month, but the number of volunteers varies depending on the season. 

Costs

Application Fee – US $97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other GVN program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*

*Your application fee provides you with access to any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Children under 18 are not required to pay the application fee when volunteering together with a parent/guardian.  (Except for participants in our Youth Tour program who are required to pay a US$97 application fee.)

To return to the main Peru program, click here.