Costs

The program fee is $3,970 which includes:

✔️ Roundtrip airfare to Peru from the U.S.
✔️ Visa (if required)
✔️ In-country airport pick-up and drop-off with your group
✔️ Housing
✔️ WiFi
✔️ Three at-home meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
✔️ Pre-departure + in-country training
✔️ Local support
✔️ 24/7 emergency assist line from ILP headquarters
✔️ International SOS membership
✔️ Hands-on education
✔️ Meaningful service opps

Additional items (like your passport and domestic travel to and from the U.S. group departure airport) and in-country costs (like vacations, shopping, and activities) are not included. See a more detailed list here. It depends on your personal spending habits, but most volunteers recommend budgeting around $1,500-3,500 for the semester to make the most of your time in Peru.

We have custom monthly payment plans to help you make it work. That can be especially helpful if you’re saving up little by little, by working or doing fundraising.

An ILP Humanitarian Trip

This type of trip means that the kids you are working with come from very limited means and would not otherwise be able to afford this extra support and education provided to them.

The time you spend volunteering in this program is a free gift to the kids and they do not pay a fee to attend our English classes. Thank you for wanting to help our sweet kiddos in Peru!

Is Peru right for me?

Each location is unique and therefore has its pros and cons. What falls into those two categories will really depend on the person you talk to, but we’ve put together common complaints we hear most. Knowing the typical pain points that just come along with the experience will help as you consider which country is best for you.

• This is a new program, with the first group here in Spring 2024. Over the first few semesters, we’re still working out the kinks so you’ll need to be a bit flexible. The first groups also don’t have recommendations passed down from previous volunteers — your group needs to be adventurous to discover the best spots (which means a bit of trial and error).
• It is possible to travel to other countries on vacation, but it can be expensive when you factor in $300+ flight costs. Staying in Peru is more affordable.

About Your Group

This program has about 6-10 volunteers in a group, which means you’ve got lots of new travel buddies! Our Peru program is the best fit for:

• Single females/males and married couples
• 18-about 25ish years old
• Volunteers from the U.S.
• No experience needed!

About Your Town

Volunteers in this program are living in a sleepy fishing town in Pisco, right on the western coast of Peru.

Your little town isn’t a tourist stop by any means, so it’s easy for you to jump in and experience an authentic side of local life for the semester. Pretty soon this quiet port in Peru will feel like home (and the ocean is just a few minutes walk from your front door!).

So many top destinations are close by too — spend your weekends jumping over to cities that are just a day trip away.

The Paracas Peninsula is a protected reserve that’s 30 minutes to the south … think kayaking, snorkeling, boat trips out to “the poor man’s Galapagos”, sandy beaches, and rocky cliff views for days. You might even spot Humpback whales, dolphins, Humboldt penguins, and Blue-footed Boobies.

This is where the desert meets the sea — welcome to your new Peruvian home!

Glimpse A Day In Peru

Come share a house with your whole ILP group, which is anywhere from 6-10ish volunteers. It’s like one, big sleepover every single night of your semester.

Rise and shine! The weather in Peru is awesome year-round, usually falling somewhere between the 50s-80s F. There is a rainy season in Peru, but you’re living in a consistent desert climate.

After a classic Peruvian breakfast at home, it’s time for school. Your ILP group hops on your rickety bicycles and heads down the road, off to class! You teach English to little kiddos in the mornings and into the early afternoon during the week, with a quick break for lunch.

Your entire semester in Peru is about experiencing life like the locals, which includes the food. Your group will share meals that are full of local favorites (prepared by your Peruvian “cook”), all on rotation.

Get ready for rice and potatoes to make their way into just about every meal! Peruvian dishes often come with chicken, avocados, bananas, and since you live by the coast … the freshest of seafood plates too.

Since teaching English is only a portion of your day, you’re set up with quite a bit of free time … maybe more than you are used to. That leaves time for playing group games with your fellow volunteers at the nearby pier overlooking the fishing boats, planning your next trip, or taxing a moto-taxi (they’re just like tuk-tuks in Asia if you’re familiar) into Pisco for some shopping.

On the weekends, you’re totally set for exploring. You live where the desert meets the sea and in just 30 minutes you’re at adventures in the Paracas peninsula, kayaking the coastline, visiting ruins, and swimming in hidden lagoons surrounded by sand dunes.

It’s easy to get around Peru and you have more than enough destinations to keep your weekends and vacations busy all semester long. Spot alpacas at Machu Picchu and make your way through the Sacred Valley, go hiking in “Peruvian Switzerland”, or go ziplining through the Amazon.

Vacations are also ideal for exploring new countries. There are quite a few options — you might check out spots in Chile and Argentina, or even head up to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

While the vacations are certainly something to look forward to, the majority of your time is spent in your quiet Puervian coastal home, with the cute kids you work with.