Volunteer Programme

Consistent with our primary objective to support and promote Community Based Tourism, Golden Empire Tours offers the programme for Volunteer Tourism. This programme allows the traveller to become a volunteer, who lives in a indigenous community, shares their traditions and customs, participates in daily activities and contributes to a mutual coexistence that enriches both, the community and the volunteer.

In this respect the volunteer has the opportunity to engage in a series of projects and activities to experience intercultural interaction while supporting Andean community by living and working there.

In addition, the volunteer is able to acquire new qualities and knowledge. For example s/he may learn a new language, live in a foreign culture and develop leadership skills. It is recommended that the volunteer is available for at least four weeks and that s/he possesses the minimum required language skills according to the chosen project/ activity.

During the stay there is sufficient time for the volunteer to explore and travel in Cusco and Peru. However, almost all volunteer programmes and projects are developed in the department of Cusco.

Volunteer Work Projects

• Golden Empire Tours offers a great number of projects and activities to choose from.
• Support for child care and work in orphanages
• Support in caring for children with disabilities
• Volunteer in hospitals and clinics for low income families
• Support in schools by teaching English language, renovating and building new facilities
• Living in Andean communities and helping in agriculture, textiles and ceramics production

Complementary Activities

• The following activities can be added to the Volunteer Work Projects
• Spanish classes
• Quechua classes
• Salsa courses
• Peruvian cooking class
• Movie nights
• Adventure tours, ecological tours, and cultural tours with planned schedule (e.g. the famous Inca Trail)
• Living and working in indigenous communities

Additional Services

• Staying with a local family who is carefully selected. This provides the advantage of being completely immersed in the Spanish language. The family takes care for all meals during the stay providing authentic cuisine
• Apartments – There are several options of apartments for example a private apartment or a shared apartment
• Hostels – Another option is to stay in a hostel with many other volunteers