My best moment was when Lucas, a little monkey, climbed onto my shoulder for a cuddle after weeks. That was a really great experience because he only comes to people he likes, I was really happy.
Anne has dreamed of traveling to Peru since she was a child. After completing her studies, she finally embarked on her big trip and not only experienced the adventure of traveling for the first time, but also the incredible diversity of Peru. She supported the Wildlife Sanctuary in Cusco, where she learned a lot about caring for Peruvian animals, and then explored the Rainforest Reserve project. There she gained her first experience of life in the jungle and its inhabitants. Anne had many unique experiences on her adventure and finally made her dream of Peru come true.
I have dreamed of traveling to Peru once in my life since I was a child. Back then because I really wanted to see guinea pigs in the wild, and later because I read about the beautiful nature. During my studies, I then decided not to start work straight afterwards, but to spend a year abroad in Peru instead. I booked about a year in advance, so I had enough time to get the right travel equipment. WanderWorld helped me a lot with my travel preparations, we were in regular contact by email and I was always able to ask them questions, which were answered quickly and helpfully. As the trip to Peru was my first big trip of my life, I was correspondingly nervous and excited and had lots of questions ;). WanderWorld organized an online seminar shortly before the start of the trip, where you could get to know other volunteers in advance and receive a lot of information about the trip. It was possible to ask anything that was on my mind and afterwards I definitely felt well prepared for the trip.
When I arrived in Lima, I was pretty overwhelmed. The flight itself was already an adventure for me, but Lima was another dimension. Especially the road traffic and the drive to the hostel were definitely adventurous. At first glance, Peru made a very busy and not particularly clean impression on me, but the further we got away from the airport, the more beautiful Lima became. The drive along the ocean was really great and during the introductory days we got to know many great corners of Lima. Carlos, our local contact, did his best to show us as many of Lima's sights, such as the Plaza de Armas, as possible in the short time available. We volunteers also got to know each other a little better in the process. I liked it better in Cusco than in Lima, the city is a bit quieter and the location in the Andes was great. The first few days at the Animal Sanctuary were full of new experiences, I got to know or do something new every day, which was very cool. The team and the other volunteers on site were very nice, so I quickly settled in. It also definitely helped to go out to eat with the other volunteers after work or go on a city tour. This meant I didn't feel lost and I was able to get lots of tips for good restaurants and excursions. Overall, it took me about a week to really settle in and feel at home.
The first few days in the rainforest project were also overwhelming, the change from the mountains to the rainforest was challenging in some respects (climate, standard of living, internet). Fortunately, I coped well with the hot and humid climate and I was also able to adapt well to the living conditions on site. The other volunteers on site also made it very easy for me and we quickly became friends :)
Animal Sanctuary:
My tasks in the project included feeding the animals, cleaning the enclosures, giving guided tours of the grounds for tourists and creating activities for the animals. At the beginning of my time there, we also cleared the river that runs through the sanctuary of garbage. My favorite task was making animal activities. We regularly made hanging ladders for the parrots and macaws and got new branches for the monkeys' and toucan's enclosures so that they didn't get bored. Caring for the cats was also very important to me. I learned so many new things about different animal species and how to keep and care for them properly. Through the guided tours that I regularly supervised, I was able to improve my English language skills and free speech immensely. The cooperation with the staff on site was mostly good, even if there were sometimes communication problems. If we had questions or needed help, there was always someone there to help and support us. I therefore felt well looked after.
Rainforest:
The tasks in the rainforest included planting seeds and seedlings, gardening work such as watering and counting seedlings, cocoa harvesting, banana harvesting, carpentry work and transporting wood to build houses. We also carried out small research projects. My favorite part was harvesting cocoa and planting new seeds in the nursery. I also really liked Bee Days, where we looked after the beehives in the project and saw how they were developing, including harvesting honey. That was always very exciting, I learned a lot of new things about bees and beekeeping and I now know that honey from the rainforest can be very sour. Working together with the staff was easy, we were like one big family for the duration of the project.
Animal Sanctuary:
There are many sights around Cusco that you can visit on one-day tours, such as Rainbow Mountain or Moray and Maras. I personally visited the following sights during my two months in Cusco: Moray, Maras, Palcoyo Mountain, Laguna Humantay and of course Machu Picchu.
If I didn't want to be out and about all day, I went on a horse riding tour to the Moon Temple, a free walking tour or visited a museum, for example. I particularly liked the horse riding excursions (I did two different ones) because you were really close to nature, off the beaten tourist track. We were told a lot about the nature and culture around Cusco on the tours, so for me it was the perfect mix of knowledge, nature and sport. I spent my free time during the week with other volunteers from the project, and I mostly went on weekend excursions on my own.
Rainforest:
My leisure activities in the rainforest were somewhat limited as I was tied to the project location. Nevertheless, we volunteers had plenty of opportunities to spend our free time there, for example playing cards, reading, baking cakes, making candles or doing sports. We went for walks in the forest and painted tattoos of huito (a blue-colored fruit) on each other. This was particularly fun, as the color is transparent at first and only turns dark blue over time; the tattoos last about 1-2 weeks. So we had to put in a lot of effort ;)
Animal Sanctuary:
My best moment was when Lucas, a little monkey, climbed onto my shoulder for a cuddle after weeks. I was cleaning his enclosure and he just came to me and lay down on my shoulder. He stayed there for half an hour until I persuaded him to hop down again with a pea. It was a really great experience because he only comes to people he likes, I was really happy.
Rainforest:
My favorite moment in the rainforest was my first time "fishing for tarantulas". Another volunteer was very knowledgeable about spiders and explained a lot about tarantulas, how their burrow is constructed (they dig tunnels in the ground) and how they hunt. He then "fished" a tarantula out of its burrow by gently tapping the entrance with a thin twig to imitate an insect. Tarantulas don't see well, so this actually worked and we had a real tarantula in front of our eyes. It was very fascinating, I was impressed by its size and I have to say that tarantulas are very pretty.
Cusco:
In Cusco, I lived in an apartment at the language school, which I shared with two other flatmates. The apartment consisted of a large kitchen-living room with everything you need to live (gas stove, microwave, fridge, TV), three single rooms with a bed, wardrobe and a small table and a bathroom with a shower. The single room definitely gave you privacy, and you could also spend a lot of time with the other flatmates in the eat-in kitchen, for example at a movie night. I felt very comfortable after settling in.
Rainforest:
In the rainforest, I had a small room to myself, furnished with a double bunk bed and a small table, very minimalist. The fact that the walls in the upper third only consist of a fly screen means that it doesn't get too hot in the room, but there is less privacy here. The workers and other volunteers sleep in adjoining rooms, and it is also possible to share a room with someone else. The dry composting toilets are located in the house, but you have to go to a small separate building to shower. There was only cold water, but as it is very warm all the time, the shower was very refreshing. Internet access is definitely limited, but we always had a good network when the sun was shining ;)
All in all, I felt safe in Peru as a woman traveling alone. I did a lot of things on my own and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I always made sure that I carried my valuables concealed on my body as much as possible and only ever carried part of my money with me. I kept my cell phone separate from my money so that if the worst came to the worst, I wouldn't lose everything. I took an Uber to the meeting points for my excursions early in the morning, which always worked well and I felt very safe. In general, I didn't walk alone through dark alleyways in the evening, preferring to take a cab. Nothing happened to me during my three months in Peru. Just use common sense and don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Animal Sanctuary:
You should definitely like animals and working outdoors. It should be clear that this work doesn't just involve cuddling animals, but also things like picking up droppings. It is also an advantage if you enjoy working with people, as tourists are an integral part of everyday life here. Some of the work is physically demanding (such as collecting grass from the mountain), so you should have a certain basic level of fitness. You should approach the work with an open mind and curiosity. The ability to work in a team is also an advantage, as you will be working with new people a lot. Get involved and give the whole project a chance!
Rainforest:
You should have an interest in nature and really like being outside all the time. It's definitely an advantage if you don't have a problem with insects and spiders of all kinds, because you'll find them everywhere, even in your room. So, if you are a fan of camping, the forest and animals, this project could be the right one for you. You should be open to new things and work well in a team, as you will constantly encounter unknown things here and you will almost always be working with others.
Sophia, founder of Wanderworld Travel
Lisa, Coordinator & Participant Support
Amanda, Support and advice before departure
Here we can plan your trip together and talk about your ideas.
Sign up now for our WanderWorld consultation. We look forward seeing you!
All without obligation and free of charge.
MO - FR 09:00-18:00
Or apply here for a consultation appointment by phone or Zoom.