Located high in the Andes mountains, Cusco is the cultural capital of Peru and the gateway to Machu Picchu. As a large city with a steady flow of visitors and many local communities living in poverty, the city struggles to care for its stray animals, with large numbers of dogs living on the streets.
These animals live in unsanitary conditions, risking illness and starvation, and are considered a public health issue by the local government. Volunteers can help take these dogs off the street and provide them with much-needed love, attention and care. Volunteers help the project by cleaning the animals and cages, feeding the dogs, helping with basic obedience training, interacting with visitors, playing with the animals, taking photos, helping with administration and assisting with fundraising and educational programs. These projects are heavily reliant on the help of volunteers who are needed to work both within a team and independently as leaders. In-country coordinators support all volunteers.
During their free time, volunteers can explore downtown Cusco, hike through the archaeological ruins of the Sacred Valley, or participate in a cultural tour or food tour. On the weekends, travelers can also visit the famed ruins of Machu Picchu and explore other parts of the country, such as the Nazca Desert, the Amazon rainforest, or the coast.
This is a minimum 1-week and maximum 4-week trip 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.