Peru – Environmental Sustainability Projects
Wild Animal Care Quest
Volunteers work at sanctuaries that care for animals that have endured severe trauma. You may encounter pumas, parrots, condors, wild cats, llamas, alpacas, boa constrictors, turtles, monkeys and many other small animals. Volunteer tasks may include taking care of and feeding the animals, cleaning cages, improving the living environment for the animals, and participating in animal therapy. Volunteers may also give visitors a tour through the zoo and explain the history of the animals.
Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Requirements: At least 15 years old, intermediate Spanish
Dog Rescue Quest
Volunteers work at a local dog shelter that cares for and provides adoption services for abandoned dogs. The shelter also frequently organizes campaigns and activities to raise awareness for the large problem of abandoned dogs in Cusco. Possible volunteer tasks include providing attention to the dogs by playing and interacting with them, assisting in constructing or maintaining shelters and play areas, and providing fresh food and water for the dogs.
Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Requirements: At least 15 years old, basic Spanish, some experience working with dogs
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Requirements: At least 15 years old, basic Spanish, some experience working with dogs
Quest Fees and Details
United Planet Quests are designed to be immersive, authentic, comprehensive and provide you everything you’ll need to succeed. The program elements allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. Most importantly, we partner with the community to ensure your experience will be important, relevant and helpful to the community you serve.
- Lodging at a local homestay
- Two home-cooked meals per day
- 8+ hours of Spanish or Quechua lessons
- Cultural activities and excursions
- Online pre-departure training with our Boston staff
- In-country airport transportation
- Emergency medical and travel insurance
- 24/7 in-country support and supervision
- A United Planet t-shirt
United Planet provides emergency travel and medical insurance for all volunteers. All Peru staff members participate in extensive health and safety training, and are available at all times by 24-hour phone line. Upon enrollment, you will receive a full emergency contact list. In addition, we register all of our volunteers with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment or visiting a travel health clinic a few months out to update your vaccinations. Read more about health and safety.
Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from Peru. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in Peru and will ensure that you arrive safely at your host house in Cusco. Public transportation to and from your project is cheap and easy with Cusco’s public transportation system or by taxi. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.
| 1 Week |
10 Days |
2 Weeks |
3 Weeks |
4 Weeks |
5 Weeks |
6 Weeks |
7 Weeks |
8 Weeks |
9 Weeks |
10 Weeks |
11 Weeks |
12 Weeks |
| $1995 | $2165 | $2285 | $2595 | $2915 | $3215 | $3525 | $3845 | $4165 | $4465 | $4775 | $5025 | $5275 |
About Our Quest Fee
We want you to succeed. That means having in place the support our volunteers need. We don’t just drop you in country and hope for the best. We provide training before you leave … language exposure … 24/7 in-country support … support for your host family … accommodations, meals and airport transportation … activities and excursions. The whole idea is to make the experience successful and productive for you and the host community, and we have found that these things are crucial. Remember that we are a non-profit, mission-driven organization – we wouldn’t spend money on something that wasn’t important.
Have questions? We’re here for you. We’d love to help.