Practical Information

Before you head to an unknown place it is always good to know some of the things you can expect.

Location

Ahuac (where we are) is about 40 minutes away from Huancayo by taxi. Huancayo is the capital city of the Junín region. It has an elevation of 3259 m.
The elevation of most places here is between 3000 and 3600 m, that means that you will have to acclimatise when you get here. Generally speaking this takes a few days to a week and it is advisable to take it slow, chew coca leaves or take some altitude droplets which you can buy anywhere in the world. Expect to experience some discomfort, but not too crazy either. As long as you don’t go run a marathon and gradually get accustomed to the new fresh air, you will be all right!

Transportation

One of the most important things is to get here! There are generally a few ways to get here, even by airplane, but most travellers take either the train or the bus. The only challenge to overcome is the high altitude. Both by bus and train you need to overcome a huge altitude difference in a relatively short period. The highest pass lies at 4781 m above sea level and Lima is at 150 m.

The bus: Cruz del Sur is the most trusted bus line around Peru and the entire west coast of South America. They operated with high standards and will generally get you from Lima to Huancayo in about 8 hours and prices will go as low as S./39 (Peruvian Soles).
The train: Huancayo is linked to the Peruvian capital Lima via the trans-Andean Ferrocarril Central Andino, one of the world’s highest train routes. This is the longer but more beautiful way to come to our place. The entire trip to Huancayo takes about 14 hours. The views on this train ride are simply majestic.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

A basic knowledge of Spanish is not required. In the past years we have learned some English from all the volunteers that came around here, but it’s definitely helpful to make your stay more enjoyable. Spanish and Quechua are the only languages spoken in the communities.

Do I need to have professional degrees to do projects e.g. teaching?

We generally do not require professional teachers, but we need volunteers who have energy and love for the children. Even though teaching experience is a plus, we understand that not everyone is officially certified to teach and yet have professional experience that they’d like to share.

What about food?

Our family provides food Monday to Friday???? (3 times per day). In the weekend volunteers generally visit places in the region and there are markets and shops everywhere.

When you are sure you want to sign up, check out our Practical Information page for some additional information and frequently asked questions by volunteers that came before you.