Living Conditions in Peru

General considerations

To learn more about living and working in Peru, applicants are encouraged to connect with a recruiter to discuss any specific considerations that could affect their service. In addition, please visit the U.S. Department of State's Peru travel information pages for the latest on travel advisories, local laws, and special circumstances.

Applicants who undergo an interview will have additional opportunities to raise questions or concerns. If, upon learning more information, an applicant would like to be considered for a different assignment from the one they have been assigned to serve in, the Peace Corps can often find an alternate option that may be a better fit.

Communications

Mail

In general, airmail takes about two weeks to and from Peru.

Once you are sworn in as a Volunteer, you can coordinate to receive mail at a regional post office box in a city convenient to your site, individually or with other Volunteers.

Phone

Peace Corps will provide Volunteers with a local SIM card and cellular plan upon arrival. Volunteers will be expected to maintain a Peruvian number during service. You can bring an unlocked GSM phone or can purchase one locally.

Internet

Internet access is widely available in Peru but may vary especially in more remote locations. Most people rely on mobile data for connectivity.

Internet availability at a Volunteer’s permanent site or home stay can vary, with rural areas often experiencing slower speeds and occasional disruptions. Volunteers can generally find a good connection somewhere in their community.

Housing and site location

Volunteers serving in Peru will be placed in a community in one of four regions – Ancash, Cajamarca, Junín or La Libertad. Volunteer assignments may be in a city, a mid-sized town, a small town, or a rural village. During pre-service training and the 24 months of service, Volunteers will live with a host family. Couples will live with the same host family. The homestay experience is often one of the most rewarding experiences for Volunteers. It helps facilitate stronger community relationships, engagement, and integration.

Volunteers will have their own room, which may be within the larger house or a separate room within (or close to) a family compound. Volunteers will likely have electricity and occasional running water, although not all Volunteers do. The electric current in Peru is 220 volts. Volunteers will have access to either indoor plumbing or a latrine.

Living allowance and money management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance in local currency that is sufficient to live at the level of the local people. The allowance covers food, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their host country counterparts. The Peace Corps discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home. However, Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. For this, credit cards and traveler’s checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs.  

Food and diet

The Peruvian diet varies based on geographic location, but in general will include a large amount of starch (potatoes, rice, or cassava) with an option of meat, chicken, or fish. Host families will prepare meals based on what’s available in their areas, and Volunteers should be prepared to eat with host families to show respect for their hospitality and culture. Host families are not accustomed to eating as many fruits and vegetables as Volunteers may be, and they are not expected to prepare special meals for you. Maintaining a vegan or vegetarian diet is possible but may present challenges while serving in Peru. Volunteers will need to adapt to a new diet and be willing to be flexible in their dietary habits. 

Transportation

All Volunteers will have access to regular transportation options in their communities, which generally corresponds to the services their counterparts use. Some Volunteers may live in more remote areas where they might have to walk to get access to regular transportation.

Social activities

Peru is a country where community and connection are at the heart of daily life. As a Volunteer, you’ll have countless opportunities to share in these traditions and build meaningful relationships with your host family and neighbors.

• Family gatherings: Birthdays and special occasions are celebrated with food, laughter, and an open-door spirit—guests often arrive without an invitation!
• Religious festivals: Catholic traditions shape many holidays, from vibrant patron saint celebrations to christenings and weddings filled with music, dancing, and local cuisine.
• Community activities: Markets are social hubs for news and conversation, while sports like soccer and volleyball bring people together in the evenings.
• Local celebrations: Annual town festivals feature parades, music, and games—sometimes lasting several days!

Joining these activities is one of the best ways to connect with your community and experience the warmth of Peruvian culture.

Professionalism, appearance, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc., to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, is a reflection of you as an individual and of you as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, develop their language skills, and get to know the individual members of their community in order to better understand their traditions, culture, and local norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may be opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the more rigid local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.