FAQs Peru Amazon Rainforest Project

There are two distinct seasons in Manu; wet between December and April and dry, between May to November. Some 1,200 millimeters/67 inches of rain fall during the wet season, during which there is typically heavy rain, lasting an hour or so. Daytime temperatures are high throughout the year, but are more extreme during the dry season. During the dry season temperatures can reach 40°C/104ºF. Cold fronts may occur for two days to a week during the dry season months, especially from May to July; temperatures during these fronts may feel very cold at night. For more information on when to visit Peru please see When is the best time of year to volunteer in Peru? You can also read about the festivals that happen every June in Cusco here.

Globalteer's main office for Latin America is in Cusco. You can see who you will meet there on our meet the team page.

Volunteers are expected to work six days per week. Sundays are rest days for volunteers to play games, hang out with your fellow volunteers, go for a swim, build a camp fire, or kick back with a cold drink. The other six days are work days and will involve early starts and some late nights, but the variety and excitement is mind-blowing! Before or after your time in the Jungle you may wish to visit Machu Picchu. You can go there by train, trek the amazing Inca trail high in the Andes or take any other number of routes all ending with the lost city itself.

You will be volunteering around six to eight hours a day, six days a week, so be ready for a jam packed time at the project!

The common language for staff and volunteers at this project is a mix of English and Spanish; however since you will be doing research, much of your work will be with the animals and the language will be less important. Peru is a Spanish speaking country so it is beneficial, but not required, to be able to speak some Spanish.

Volunteers will come from various countries and a variety of backgrounds. Ages range from 18+ to 70, with the majority aged between 18 and 30. There are many gap year students and some animal/conservation-related researchers. The majority of volunteers are from the UK, United States, Canada and Australia. We also work with volunteers from Holland, Germany, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand although all nationalities are welcome. The majority of volunteers travel alone to the projects, although we also accommodate couples and groups.

Yes of course, here is a sample of stories from our volunteer blogs.

Sat Internet access at the MLC is to be considered a luxury. Being based in such a remote location means that access can be sporadic and at times unreliable. If you do get the chance in your busy schedule to write home via the internet it is a chargeable service charged at about $5.00 USD per hour. In addition, MLC is connected for phone calls with Claro, Movistar, and Bitel mobile cellular companies with 4G TECH 24/365 and sat phones for isolated places.

Yes of course, in fact we have a page all about how you can fund raise for your trip here.

The project does not have urban comforts or luxuries, but accommodation is clean, open and fits in with the local natural environment so it will feel like you are living right among the trees! Accommodation is comfortable and airy, with rooms being either twin or triple share. Mosquito nets, a plastic storage box, and bedding are provided. There is limited electricity at the project site. However, there is solar powered internet, gravity fed water pumps and a range of other initiatives to minimise any impact on the local environment and reduce the project’s carbon footprint. Hot showers are available, although they might be cold during hot weather. Basic laundry facilities are also available. Internet is available for at an hourly rate, but being based in such a remote location can mean that the connection can be sporadic and unreliable. Volunteers are asked to bring environmentally friendly and bio-degradable toiletries if possible.

All our volunteers are provided with three nutritious and delicious meals per day. Meals will be typical local food, including rice with beans, eggs, vegetables, soups and occasional meat. Dietary restrictions can be catered for, so please inform us if you have any allergies or food restrictions. Volunteers assist the chefs in preparing meals, which is a great opportunity to learn some traditional Peruvian recipes and practice Spanish!

Of course, but we request that you use your common sense about these things. You can smoke in designated areas, and you can buy alcohol onsite. However, volunteers are limited to three drinks a day.

The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Peruvian Sole although US dollars are widely accepted and there are many money changing shops. Many ATMs are available in Cusco for all major credit cards. US dollars have to be in good condition to use in Peru, no ripped notes! Credit cards are accepted in higher end businesses.

Peru has a low crime rate, but as is in all countries, there is a chance of petty theft, so always be vigilant. Violent robberies are rare and the most common problem is pickpockets. Thieves look for easy targets, so don't have your wallet visible and be careful in crowded areas such as markets, bus terminals and on public transport. Thousands of tourists visit Cusco and Peru every year and have no problems whatsoever, so don't be paranoid. Just take the basic precautions and you will have an amazing and trouble free trip. For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page

We recommend that you let your health professional know that you will be volunteering in the Amazon Jungle and discuss the various vaccination options. Cusco is at an altitude of 3,400 metres so altitude sickness may be a problem for some visitors. For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page

Finding the right insurance to cover your travels can be daunting, confusing and time-consuming, however – travel insurance is a must. You never know what could happen, and if you are unlucky enough to get ill or find yourself in a sticky situation, being uninsured can be really expensive and downright dangerous. This is why we strongly recommend that all our volunteers take out suitable travel insurance. We also recommend that your purchase your insurance and soon as you book your trip to cover you for all up-front costs in the event of cancellation due to any unforeseen circumstances. Globalteer has formed a partnership with a leading travel insurance provider to help you through this process.

Please visit our page about visas for information about entry visas.

No, you will need to wear clothes suitable for the jungle environment.

Peruvians are very friendly and often interested in you as someone different. Expect to exchange kisses on the cheek with people you know (opposite sexes and between women). A hand shake is always exchanged when meeting new people. In the Western world we are very hung up on time, with our meetings and schedules. Peruvians do not stress over time and it is not uncommon for things to happen later than arranged. Just go with the flow and forget stress – it’s better for you anyway!

No, you just need a passion for learning, research and the outdoors! You will be given guidance and training and will be supervised by the research staff and work with experienced researchers and volunteers. A certain amount of independence is required.

During your first few days at the project, volunteers undergo a rigorous training and induction schedule to ensure you know how to live in the rainforest and effectively work on the project, before being taken out to the rainforest and introduced to the vital work you will be taking part in. You will receive training in tropical ecology, species identification (auditory calls, foot prints, visual markers and flight patterns), compass and GPS use, emergency first response procedures, data recording, processing findings, and a range of other conservation methods. There are also regular talks and debates held by staff members, where you will be able to learn more about different local species, plants, eco systems, indigenous groups, and everything else in between!

You should arrive at Cusco airport, where you will be met and transferred to the hostel where you will spend your first two days for your orientation, registration, meet and great, induction and city tour. You will then be transferred to the project site at Manu, via a night in a beautiful cloud forest area so you can full appreciate the varying eco systems in this part of Peru.

Globalteer is fully committed to ensuring that your volunteer placement is responsible. More information can be found on our Responsible Volunteering Page.

As a UK registered Charity, Globalteer is financially transparent, our accounts are independently audited and posted online. You can read a full report on where your money goes here.

We understand what motivates volunteers and what makes a memorable volunteer experience. We have been placing volunteers at our projects since 2006 and have built up a wealth of knowledge in those years about what makes volunteering rewarding for volunteers as well as impactful for the fantastic projects we work with. You can read here why we think you should choose Globalteer.

You can read more about this project on our blogs page.