Peru is home to numerous indigenous groups, with the Quechua and Aymara being the two largest Andean ethnic groups. Each group has its own language, culture, and traditions. The Indigenous Quechua language, spoken by millions of Peruvians, is one of the official languages of Peru. Andean indigenous peoples in Peru have a deep connection to their ancestral lands and maintain traditional practices such as agriculture, weaving, and pottery. However, Indigenous communities in the nation face various challenges, including poverty, land issues, environmental degradation, and a lack of necessities.
Volunteers can make a difference in Indigenous Quechua-speaking communities high in the Andes mountains, about an hour from Cusco.. These rural villages offer complete immersion into an indigenous traditional way of life. Participants can live with a family and care for animals and livestock, help with agricultural work, weave, create textiles, learn to prepare traditional meals, assist with renovation projects, and work with children at a local school. Work varies based on seasonal needs and weather conditions.
In their free time, volunteers will have time to connect with the local community and explore their natural surroundings in the mountains. On the weekends, they can travel to Cusco to explore its markets and cobblestoned streets, and to visit the archaeological ruins in the Sacred Valley. Additionally, they can visit the ruins of Machu Picchu, the capital city of Lima, or the Amazon rainforest in the north of the country.
This is a minimum 1-week and maximum 4-week trip (with the option to add additional weeks) that costs $735 for one week, led by Maximo Nivel, a Latin America-based travel company that offers volunteer travel opportunities, Spanish immersion, study abroad and gap year programs in Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.