Peru International Programs

The International Volunteer Program offers a wide range of opportunities in Peru including volunteering abroad, overseas internships, Survival Spanish Language, and the Peru Adventure Holiday program.  Additionally, we offer Gap Year Abroad in Peru and can arrange a Group Volunteer Abroad placement for groups including students and church missions at a discounted cost. 

Information on Peru

Peru is located in the central part of the western coast of South America borders. It stretches across 1,285,215 square kilometers and has a population of about 28 mill ion.

Peru?s inhabitants are mostly of Andean origin in the highlands and mixed-blooded "mestizos" on the coast, blended in with a hefty influx of European blood, largely Spanish. Peru?s per capita income is $4,680.

Though mining, fishing, metallurgy, textiles, food and, chemicals are Peru?s main industries, tourism is of one of the fastest growing sector in Peru?s economy.

Peru?s official languages are Spanish and Quechua. Spanish is spoken in practically every city and town in the country, while Quechua is mainly spoken in a few places of the Andes. Peru is also a religious diverse country with diversity of beliefs that can be seen from the wide range of annual festivals and rituals performed by the predominantly Catholic population (89%).

Lima

Located in a valley fed by the Rimac River, in the desert coast of the country near its Pacific port of Callao, Lima is the capital and the largest city in Peru. The 2002 Census showed Lima was home to approximately 8 million people, making it by far the country?s largest city, bustling with more business and industrial activity than any other city in Peru. Lima is today a vast metropolis, which blends the splendour of its colonial past with the modern era. Approximately one-third of the people in Lima live in ?shanty town? settlements.

Geographical Diversity

Peru is split into three natural regions running from north to south: the Coast, a narrow swathe of desert coastline, that is home to Lima and most of Peru?s main cities; the Highlands, featuring breath-taking mountain landscapes and picturesque villages; the exuberant Amazon jungle teeming with a dizzying variety of animals and plantlife.

Peru has a very humid climate, with a mild summer (temperature rarely goes above 30? Celsius), a humid but mild winter (temperature never below 13?, but with 100% humidity) and no rain worth mentioning. As a result, the sky is almost always overcast, and it is only in summer that the sky clears.

The geographical, cultural, and economic diversity of the country makes Peru ideal for travel and tours, voluntary work and study. Peruvian hard working and friendly people will welcome you with open arms, open hearts and with most tasty Peruvian coffee.

In this famous Andean country the International Volunteer Travel provides you with an experience in service, international relations and nature sites that will be imprinted in your memory forever