At a glance
- This is a volunteer opportunity with Projects Abroad. Devxchange will assist you in choosing the right fit, raising funds with your own campaign page, issuing tax receipts to donors if project meets CRA criteria as a charitable activity. Devxchange will also assist you in onboarding with Projects Abroad.
- Discover different archaeological sites around Cusco and the Sacred Valley
- Learn directly from experienced archaeologists as you uncover and protect ancient Incan and Pre Incan structures and artefacts
- When you’re not working, our staff will organise fun cultural activities and an exciting weekend trip to Machu Picchu.
Details
- Work with professional archaeologists and help with their activities at famous sites
- Attend presentations to learn more about the ancient Incan Empire
- Help preserve and maintain national heritage sites
- Take part in community outreach days to give back to the local community
Included
- Food (three meals a day)
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Full induction and orientation by an experienced staff member on arrival
- Transport to and from your work placement
- In-country support and 24-hour back-up from our team of full-time local staff
- Emergency assistance from our international emergency response team
- Project equipment and materials, including access to our database with thousands of resources
- Training and workshops from our experienced local staff
- Regular social events and community activities with other volunteers and interns
- Access to our local office with internet connection
- Certification of project completion
- Access to our alumni services and discounts
- Visa support and advice
- Fundraising support, including your own personalized fundraising website with DevXchange
- Tax Receipts for your donors if activity meets CRA criteria for charitable activity.
- Pre-departure preparation by your own specialist Volunteer Advisor
- Personalized MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination
- A free cultural awareness course
- Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch
- Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable
Not Included
- Flights
- Visa Costs (where applicable)
- 10% Admin fee for donations involving tax receipts.
About This Trip
Are you a history enthusiast? Do you want to know more about how the ancient Inca people lived? If so, this is the project for you!
This project is also ideal if you want to explore an interest in archaeology, history, or anthropology. The experience you get will add value to your CV, and a professional archaeologist will teach you what you need to know.
This project is available for anyone who is 18 and over. You do not need any experience or qualification to take part. Our staff and archaeological team in Peru will guide you through all your work activities, and will oversee all your weekend activities as well.
In Peru, you’ll join a group of adults and take part in various exciting archaeological activities. Your project work can include the following:
- Work with professional archaeologists and help with their activities at famous sites
- Attend presentations to learn more about the ancient Incan Empire
- Help preserve and maintain national heritage sites
- Take part in community outreach days to give back to the local community
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Work with professional archaeologists and help with their activities at famous sites
You will spend a large amount of time working at archaeological sites. You’ll join our archaeological team, and they’ll teach you everything you need to know. You’ll gain experience with activities like:
- Mapping
- Workshops (drawing, registry works, ceramics and weaving)
- Cleaning and maintaining current sites
- Exploring areas for new sites
- Classifying artefacts
Attend presentations to learn more about the ancient Incan Empire
We also teach you a lot about archaeology outside of sites. Our staff will organise presentations for your group to give you a deeper insight to local history and events. You’ll learn about the famous ancient Inca death cults, the Great Inca Rebellion and more.
Help preserve and maintain national heritage sites
As an Archaeology volunteer, you’ll become part of our efforts to protect and preserve natural heritage sites.
You’ll work at Incan and Pre Incan ruins in and around the Cusco area. Unfortunately, some of the ruins here have been damaged by tourists in the past. You’ll help preserve and maintain these sites, so we can protect the country’s history.
Take part in community outreach days to give back to the local community
Aside from archaeological work, there will also be opportunities to help the local community. We will organise community outreach days in disadvantaged areas. For example, you can paint and renovate a play area at a local school.
Cusco
You’ll live in Cusco, the second largest city in Peru, and stay with a local host family.
Today, Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Urubamba Valley in the Andes mountain range. The city is filled with beautiful architecture from many centuries of civilisation. You should definitely try local Peruvian dishes like ceviche (Peru’s national dish), rocoto relleno (stuffed spicy peppers), or lomo saltado (stir fried beef).
Most of your project work will take place outside of Cusco. We work at various archaeological sites.
Over the weekend, our staff will take your group to visit other ancient wonders. These include Ollantaytambo, where the Inca fought their last battle with the Conquistadors, and Machu Picchu.
The main aim of this project is to advance research into the ancient civilisations of South America. We work with experienced archaeologists to do this. This partnership allows us to uncover and protect ancient Incan and Pre Incan structures and artefacts.
This kind of research is critical. By having a deeper understanding of the past, we can see how it has shaped our present. This is also a way to protect history and cultural heritage.
We rely on volunteers like you to help us do this. Travelling to Peru is also a way for you to gain experience and do something different and unique. It is especially valuable if you want to study history, anthropology, or archaeology at university. You’ll learn from professional archaeologists and do hands-on work at some of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.
Join us in Peru and work with other volunteers to continue to uncover the past, and explore your passion for archaeology and history.
You’ll stay with a host family in Cusco. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Peru and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
