Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish is not a requirement for our program, but Spanish experience is recommended. The more Spanish a volunteer knows, the easier it will be to communicate in-country.

The funds for program costs go back into the program for costs like transportation, materials, and donations that we make to the local worksites. Also, some funds go to the program´s costs for other seasons when there are less or no volunteers here, but the program is still running.

Sometimes there will be one or two professionals that speak English, but the standard is that the staff members at these worksites do not speak English. You will need to communicate in Spanish but in most cases, beginners will have a partner that speaks some Spanish.

This is completely dependent on personal standards of comfort when travelling. However, many weekend trips cost approximately 100-150 American dollars. Personal expenses usually cost volunteers about 10-20 American dollars per week.

Not at all; on the contrary we have had volunteers who have recently graduated from high school or already graduated several years prior. We look at all applications on an individual basis.

Any time of night, or even after flight delays, we will have a coordinator present at the airport to pick you up. We will do our best to track your flight status but please e-mail us any flight itinerary changes.

Volunteering is a fully immersive experience that allows you to practice your Spanish, gain experience in your field of choice, and learn about a new culture. However, the best way to learn about volunteer experiences is from past volunteers themselves. Check out our Volunteer Testimonials page to learn more.

Yes, there is Internet service in Peru as well as access in all of the cities where we have volunteer programs.  Access at homestays does vary from city to city, however.  In Trujillo, most homestays have access to wifi and there is also access in our office.  In Pacasmayo and Otuzco, most homestays do not have access to internet; however, there are internet cafes available where volunteers can use the internet.  The connection is a little slower in these smaller cities, however, and volunteers have found uploading pictures or talking via Skype to be a little more difficult.  Through internet cafes, though, all volunteers have easy access to email.  There are also phone booths where volunteers can pay by the minute to make calls abroad.

Yes, our volunteers will have phone access in all the areas they will be working for the duration of the program.  Many volunteers opt to purchase a Peruvian cell phone during their stay in Peru.  The cost is inexpensive, and they can receive calls for free (local or international).  If they choose not to buy a phone, you can contact them via their roommates or via our staff phone numbers, which can be found in the Volunteer Handbook.

To call Peru from the US, dial 011 51 (country code for Peru) and the number.  If you are calling a cell phone, you would simply dial 011 51 and the cell phone number.

If you are calling a land line (i.e. the volunteer’s host family or a hotel), you should dial 011 51 and then usually there is an area code (1 for Lima, 44 La Libertad, etc).  Many times in travel books, there will be a zero before the area code.  This should be omitted for international dialing.  For example, if the number is (044) 723451, you should dial 011 51 44723451.

Obviously travelling outside of the country is dangerous. However, being informed and aware can prevent most unfortunate circumstances. For accurate and up-to-date information, you or your parents can contact us directly by e-mail.

Yes!  You can pre-order the phone by contacting us directly via email at info@viveperu.org.  Volunteers should also have the link to order directly.  There is a cost of approximately $25 (double-check as sometimes the price can vary) that you will need to submit along with the final payment as well.  Phones can also be purchased upon arrival to Peru; however, it may take us a day or two for our staff to help them purchase one.

Yes, you can mail letters and packages to volunteers while they are here.  You can mail directly to the host family’s address (the volunteers have this information) or to our office in Trujillo (address available in the Volunteer Handbook) and we will make sure it gets to them.  It generally takes 10-14 days for mail to reach Peru from the United States.

Small packages do not usually have a problem getting through customs, but larger boxes can be harder to pass through.  Peru has very strict customs laws, but depending on who is working when the package is received, we may have many problems or none at all.  As an example, a volunteer whose family sent 4 boxes last summer received 3 of them without problems straight to her door but received the 4th box 3 weeks later than the others and had to go to customs to pick up the package.  For this reason, we recommend donations to be brought down in volunteers’ suitcases.  Please do not send valuables in the mail!

If you’re unable to get ahold of a volunteer by personal means, you are welcome to contact our staff at the phone numbers and emails provided in the Volunteer Handbook. You may also call our office number in the United States at (480) 788-8483, as messages are forwarded to Peru.

All home stays have at least 2 people assigned to live there.

Yes, our largest program is in Trujillo where at least 3 staff members will be available. There is a coordinator in each of our smaller programs in Pacasmayo and Otuzco.

Of course they will! However, these restrictions are not as common here in Peru, so some patience may be required with your host family. However, the families are accommodating and more than happy to respect your restrictions.

We will try our best to work with your university to make sure you get all of the credit you can. Please inform us if you will need any documents or letters with time to complete these forms before the deadline.

Please ask the volunteer you know to forward you a copy or contact us at info@viveperu.org and we will be happy to send you an updated copy.