Peru is one of the most amazing travel destinations in the world and is home to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, somewhere you must visit once in your life. There are historical cities like Lima and Cusco, tasty cuisine, iconic tourist attractions, beaches, sand dunes and the incredible Amazon jungle.
Paid Work, Volunteer Programs & Backpacking Trips in Peru
Amazon Shelter Volunteer
• 4-12 weeks
• Price from £1,845
TEFL Course in Cusco
• 4 weeks
• Price from $1,700
Peru Inca Adventure
• 10 days
• Price from £1,196
The Inca Trail
• 7 days
• Price from £807
Peru Panorama Tour
• 11 days
• Price from £1,694
Lima to Buenos Aires
• 35 days, 4 countries
• Price from £3340
South America Explorer
• 18 days, 3 countries
• Price from £3,917
Quito to Rio Adventure
• 65 days, 7 countries
• Price from £5,864
Travel & Backpacking in Peru
If you are keen to spend a gap year in South America then Peru really needs to be added to your itinerary. Popular things to do in Peru include volunteering, teaching English and studying Spanish.
There are so many highlights of Peru including seeing the magnificent ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, getting the perfect Instagram photo at Rainbow Mountain, seeing the Nazca Lines or travelling deep into the Amazon Rainforest.
Jobs in Peru
If you would like to live and work in Peru then teaching is a great option to consider. You could take a TEFL certification and then seek employment. Language schools and companies hire international English teachers all year round and salaries are competitive. Other options include working for travel and tour companies.
Volunteer in Peru
For something rewarding there are lots of community and conservation volunteer projects available where you can help people and wildlife. A popular option is to teach, coach sports, or help communities in places like Cusco and Lima. If you like the idea of helping animals there are programs at wildlife sanctuaries or in places like the Amazon Rainforest.
Study in Peru
If you are interested in going to study abroad in Peru you can book Spanish language classes in places like Cusco. Private and group beginners classes are available to book all year round. These courses are great value for money, and most language schools organise social and sightseeing activities.
Tours
If you would like to backpacking then one of the best ways to travel in Peru is on a small group tour. You’ll get a local Spanish speaking guide and get to visit the main highlights of the country with like-minded other travellers. This can be a really fun way to discover Peru.
Most trips visit places like Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and the Nazca Lines. If you have a more flexible schedule and would like to see more of the continent some trips travel through other countries to including Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Brazil.
Activities
Here are just a few of the must-visit attractions in Peru:
Inca Trail
Traversing the Inca Trail makes for an iconic gap year. The Inca Trail may be much more frequented than the route to Espiritu Pampa, but it is still worth including on your itinerary. Of course, your hike will culminate in a day spent at Machu Picchu – the amazing city high in the Andes Mountains.
One of the reasons why it’s worth joining a Machu Picchu trip is that this was one of the only Inca settlements that wasn’t discovered – and subsequently ruined – by the Spanish, so the buildings here are much more intact than elsewhere in Peru.
Viewing the remains of the city from above as you walk along the final section of the route is an amazing experience and you’ll be taken aback by the sheer size of the city once you arrive and have time to wander among the walls, terraces and buildings.
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a collection of giant drawings it’s nearly impossible to see unless you’re riding above them in a plane. Images include both a giant spider and a monkey, among others. The Nazca Lines are a major world mystery and one of the highlights of any trip to Peru.
