Animal volunteering in Peru: 3 projects in Cusco

For the Cusco projects (dog shelter and wildlife rescue centre), you will stay with a local host family on a full-board basis. You will meet at the NGO office on many occasions to take part in the social events it organises to encourage exchanges between participants from different backgrounds.

For the horse ranch project in Urubamba, accommodation is with a local Peruvian host family on a full-board basis (3 meals a day). This is a genuine cultural immersion: traditional home cooking, daily life in an Andean village, and a family to share your experience with.

This dog rescue shelter in Cusco is run by a Peruvian couple who have dedicated years to taking in abandoned, mistreated, and injured animals from the streets. Today, they care for more than 125 dogs, cats, and occasionally other animals, all rescued from situations of neglect or abuse.

Beyond day-to-day care, the shelter runs community awareness campaigns focused on responsible pet ownership, sterilisation, and basic animal health. Volunteers are an essential part of making this work possible.

Your tasks at the dog shelter:

• Daily care of the dogs: health monitoring, hygiene, and general wellbeing.
• Providing attention and affection to help the animals recover and socialise.
• Cleaning and maintaining the shelter facilities.
• Helping with meal preparation and feeding.
• Assisting with basic dog training to improve their chances of adoption.

This wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre takes in animals that have been victims of mistreatment or illegal trafficking, handed over by park rangers, the national police, or Peruvian authorities. Every animal receives vaccinations and medical care on arrival. The long-term goal, wherever possible, is reintroduction into the wild.

The centre runs educational programmes for local communities, rehabilitation protocols for sick or mistreated animals, and breeding programmes for endangered species. This is a genuine conservation project, not a visitor attraction.

Your tasks at the wildlife rescue centre:

• Supporting animal care following the protocols set by the resident team.
• Cleaning and maintaining the enclosures and facilities.
• Preparing and distributing food tailored to each species.
• Helping with the construction or improvement of enclosures.
• Leading guided tours for visitors (optional, based on your interests and skills).

If you love horses and outdoor work, this project based in Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is the one for you. Located about 1.5 hours from Cusco, the ranch welcomes volunteers to support the daily care of the horses and the general maintenance of the property.

Each morning, you take part in feeding, mucking out the stalls, and preparing equipment. Depending on your experience, the season, and the ranch’s needs, some riding may be possible, though it is not a guaranteed part of the programme.

Your tasks at the horse ranch:

• Feeding the horses and ensuring they are well hydrated.
• Cleaning the stables and stalls.
• Helping with agricultural and maintenance work on the property.
• Preparing saddles, reins, and riding equipment.
• Accompanying horse treks depending on your experience, season, and availability.

For this project, you will stay with a local host family in Urubamba. Away from the noise of Cusco, you will discover a small Andean town surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, with 3 Peruvian meals a day, daily life with a local family, and plenty of opportunities to practise your Spanish.

These projects are open to anyone motivated by animal welfare who is ready to engage meaningfully on the ground. You do not need prior experience with animals for most tasks: consistency and genuine commitment matter far more than credentials.

• Animal lovers looking to go beyond standard travel and contribute something real.
• Students in biology, zoology, veterinary science, or environmental studies seeking international fieldwork experience.
• Adults taking a career break or volunteer leave from their employer.
• Families with teenagers who want to experience a purpose-driven trip together.
• Anyone curious about what ethical animal volunteering in Peru actually looks like on the ground.

The minimum age is 18 years old to travel alone; in a family, teenagers take part accompanied by their parents. No Spanish is required, although a few basics make daily life easier.

These are not observation placements. From your first day, you work alongside local teams on real, recurring tasks that keep these organisations running. There are no performances for volunteers, just the daily reality of animal care in a resource-limited context.

You will learn how local organisations manage animal rehabilitation with limited means. You will gain a clearer, more honest understanding of what welfare challenges actually look like in Peru. And you will come back with a much more grounded sense of what volunteering abroad can, and cannot, achieve.

Freepackers supports you from start to finish: preparation before departure, coordination with local partners on the ground, and follow-up once you are back home.