How much does it cost to volunteer in Peru? With Globalteer, programme fees start at US$735 for one week at the Wildlife Sanctuary in the Amazon and US$820 for one week on the Children's Project or Dog Rescue in Cusco. On top of that you'll need to budget for flights, travel insurance and spending money.
This guide breaks down what each project costs, what your fee includes, the extra costs to plan for and how to keep the total down.
Quick answer
- Cusco projects (children or rescued dogs): from US$820 (£685) for 1 week, US$1,950 for 4 weeks.
- Wildlife Sanctuary (Amazon): from US$735 (£612) for 1 week.
- Amazon Conservation (Manu): from US$1,950 (£1,625) for 15 nights.
- Accommodation, food, airport pickup and in-country support are included. No registration fees.
- Not included: flights, travel insurance, visas, vaccinations and optional trips.
Programme fees for each project in Peru
| Project | Where | Shortest stay | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Project | Cusco | 1 week | US$820 (£685) |
| Dog Rescue | Cusco | 1 week | US$820 (£685) |
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Near Puerto Maldonado | 1 week | US$735 (£612) |
| Amazon Conservation | Manu | 15 nights | US$1,950 (£1,625) |
Prices are per person. For the Amazon projects, the price for longer stays is shown when you choose your dates on the booking page.
Cusco projects: price by length of stay
The Children's Project and Dog Rescue cost the same. These prices are for the Volunteer House; host family and hotel upgrades cost extra.
| Length of stay | Programme fee | Works out at |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | US$820 | US$820 a week |
| 2 weeks | US$1,225 | about US$613 a week |
| 4 weeks | US$1,950 | about US$488 a week |
| 8 weeks | US$3,255 | about US$407 a week |
| 12 weeks | US$4,530 | about US$378 a week |
The longer you stay, the less you pay per week.
What's included in the programme fee?
Cusco projects
- Airport pickup in Cusco and daily transport to your project.
- Accommodation at the Volunteer House (shared rooms, shared kitchen, Wi-Fi).
- Food for three meals a day – you cook together in the shared kitchen.
- Orientation and a guided walking tour of Cusco.
- One included trip or activity every week, such as a Peruvian cooking class, Rainbow Mountain and the Sacred Valley.
- Weekly salsa classes, Spanish classes from your second week and a farewell dinner.
- A local coordinator and 24/7 support from our team in Cusco.
- Pre-departure guides and a certificate of completion.
Amazon projects
- Airport pickup (Puerto Maldonado for the Wildlife Sanctuary, Cusco for Amazon Conservation) and transfer to the project.
- Accommodation on site and three meals a day.
- Orientation and training from the project staff.
- All the equipment and materials you need for your work.
- Support from the project staff, with our team in Cusco on hand throughout.
- A donation to the project.
Other costs to budget for
- Flights: usually your biggest extra cost. Most international flights arrive in Lima, with a short connection to Cusco or Puerto Maldonado; some fly direct to Cusco. Prices vary a lot by season and route, so book early, especially for June to August.
- Travel insurance: highly recommended, covering your whole stay.
- Visa: many nationalities, including the UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia, can visit Peru visa-free as tourists. Check the rules for your nationality.
- Vaccinations: costs depend on where you live and what your travel clinic recommends – the Amazon projects usually need more than Cusco.
- Background check: Children's Project only.
- Spending money: Peru is affordable. A local set lunch costs just a few dollars, and in Cusco your food, transport to the project and weekly activities are already covered. On the Amazon projects you live on site, so there's little to spend money on.
- Optional trips: Machu Picchu is the big one, and well worth it. Lake Titicaca and other weekend trips are also extra.
Family discounts
| Project | Family discount |
|---|---|
| Children's Project and Dog Rescue (Cusco) | US$200 off ages 13–17, US$400 off ages 12 and under |
| Amazon Conservation (Manu) | 10% off ages 6–16 |
| Wildlife Sanctuary (Puerto Maldonado) | Minimum age 12, no discount |
Under-18s volunteer alongside a parent or guardian.
How and when do you pay?
A deposit of US$300 (£300) per person secures your place, within 7 days of your application being accepted. The deposit is non-refundable. The balance is due at least 10 weeks before your start date, or straight away if you're starting sooner. See our terms of service for full details.
Why do you pay to volunteer?
Your fee covers the real costs of hosting you – accommodation, food, transport, training and support – and includes a donation to the project you volunteer with. Globalteer is a UK registered charity (no. 1119706), not a profit-making agency, so there's no registration fee and no agency in the middle. Read more in why do you have to pay to volunteer abroad?
How to keep the cost down
- Stay longer: on the Cusco projects, four weeks costs about US$488 a week compared with US$820 for a single week.
- Choose the Volunteer House: it's the cheapest accommodation option in Cusco.
- Combine projects in one trip: doing Cusco and the Amazon back to back means one set of international flights.
- Travel outside June to August: flights and trips are often cheaper.
- Volunteer as a family: discounts apply on the Cusco projects and Amazon Conservation.
Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to volunteer in Peru?
With Globalteer, programme fees start at US$735 for one week at the Wildlife Sanctuary in the Amazon, US$820 for one week on the Children's Project or Dog Rescue in Cusco, and US$1,950 for 15 nights on the Amazon Conservation project in Manu. Flights, insurance and spending money are extra.
What does the programme fee include?
Accommodation, food, airport pickup, orientation, training and in-country support are included on all four projects. On the Cusco projects the fee also covers daily transport, a weekly trip or activity, and salsa and Spanish classes.
Are there any registration fees?
No. Globalteer is a UK registered charity and doesn't charge registration fees. You pay a US$300 deposit to book, which comes off your programme fee, and the balance 10 weeks before you start.
Is it cheaper to volunteer for longer?
Yes. On the Cusco projects, one week costs US$820, while four weeks costs US$1,950 – about US$488 a week – and twelve weeks costs US$4,530, about US$378 a week.
How much spending money do I need in Peru?
Peru is affordable, and your accommodation and food are included. A local set lunch costs just a few dollars. The main extras are optional trips such as Machu Picchu, souvenirs and meals out.
Are there discounts for families?
Yes. On the Cusco projects it's US$200 off for ages 13–17 and US$400 off for ages 12 and under. On Amazon Conservation it's 10% off for ages 6–16. The Wildlife Sanctuary welcomes families with children aged 12 and over, with no discount.
Compare all four projects in Peru · Ask our team about dates and prices