Project Overview
Overview
Do you fancy uncovering a new talent?
Most of Peru’s rich history is proudly on show above the ground; towering over your head in the shape of well-preserved colonial architecture or ancient Inca sites perched high on knife-edge cliffs. However, there is even more to be found under our feet and armed with a spade and a keen pair of eyes you could be the first person to see it for hundreds of years. Dating back to the 5th Century, the ceremonial site of Huaca Pucllana is one of Peru’s cultural wonders. The project is attempting to uncover and restore the site, but lack of funding means volunteers are needed to get busy excavating, cleaning, registering and cataloguing in order for the work to continue.
Trip Highlights:
- An incredible opportunity for hands-on learning about Peru's rich past
- Exploring Lima - a fascinating city with incredible food
- Practising your Spanish and enjoying the Peruvian way of life
Itinerary & Details
This project was set up in 1981 by local government and the Institute of National Culture to preserve, uncover and then maintain the site of Huaca Pucllana, a 15 hectare archaeological site in Lima. Huaca Pucllana was constructed in the 5th century from adobe bricks and soon became an important ceremonial and administrative location.
Volunteers are needed because the project lacks the resources to carry out all the survey and environmental education work that is necessary.
As the locals do not speak that much English, you'll get more from your experience by learning some Spanish before you start your project. You should have an interest in archaeology, and it helps if you are methodical and precise due to the nature of the work.
Typical activities will include archaeological excavation, cleaning, registering and cataloguing archaeological material and teaching English to guides on an informal basis.
Please note that during the months of February to possibly mid May there will be no digs occurring due to the heat in summer (January to March) and also as all digs need to be authorised by the National Institute of Culture every year. However other activities such as sieving, classifying collections, making bricks, cleaning archaeological material run all through the year.
Huaca Pucllana is located in the attractive Lima suburb of Miraflores, which is about 5 miles from the centre of the capital.
Accommodation is in homestays with local families. All the homestays are well equipped with electricity, running water, hot showers, kitchen facilities etc.
You will need to arrive into Lima (LIM) on your specified arrival date, the team in country must be aware of your flight details at least a week prior to arrival.
Stories
alice gusti gives this project 10/10
Here is what alice had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
special places, special people
Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
some poor people can be sometimes so generous..
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
open your eyes, your ears and your hearts
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
begining of soul retrieval
Bianca San Martin gives this project 10/10
Here is what Bianca had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
It was all a highlight. Everything from the pickup, to the help from the family for doing things on the weekends, and knowing a good places to go to in Lima, not to mention all the other lovely people I met from around the world.
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
Come with a near to empty backpack, you'll want to buy stuff. Make sure you give yourself a couple of weeks inbetween finishing the project and taking the plane home, you may want to volunteer for longer or go traveling with others from the project.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
Great fun, and a beautiful experience.
claire james gives this project 9/10
Here is what claire had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
I was very lucky when I arrived at my work placement as the team of archaeoogists had dicovered four mummies the previous week so I therefore was able to see them being excavated which was an incredible and exciting opportunity!
Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
As I am currently studying archaeology at university this experience was particularly special for me. It has made me fall in love with my subject even more and encouraged me to want to travel more and learn as much as I can about past societies.
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
Always be willing to give it a go.
Most importantly have fun and enjoy the experience.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
An amazing project with so much more to be discovered.
Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
If I had learnt the language more before I went it would have helped with communicating with everyojne a lot easier!
Joanna Hoodes gives this project 9/10
Here is what Joanna had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
the people i met and the traveling i did while i was there
Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
seeing the many different parts of peru and learning from the culture
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
don't overpack
give yourself time to travel after your project finishes
make friends with the locals
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
one of the best traveling experiences i have ever had
Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
a little more freedom in terms of missing days of work to travel and see the rest of the country as well as having more freedom when i did travel to other cities. i felt like sometimes things were arranged for me when i would have rather done it myself.
jennifer thompson gives this project 8/10
Here is what jennifer had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
Diffificult to pinpoint one thing in particular but I was always delighted to find how friendly and helpful people were. It was also a bonus to be able to get to know Miraflores on foot and feel quite safe doing so, I loved the place
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
On this project be prepared for lots of dust, back ache and sore knees (some kind of protection for them is useful - especially if you are getting on a bit). While you can get by with minimal spanish it makes it so much more enjoyable if you can talk to the people you are working with - so get to work and practise before you arrive.
Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
While I really enjoyed staying with my family (Senor Torres) who were very welcoming and helpful and with whom I stayed over Christmas too ( which was past my 'project' date) if I were to do it again I would like the opportunity to live more independently, in an apartment with cooking facilities and somewhere to wash clothes out. But perhaps this is something only to be aware of after the event and if you are used to travelling alone.
Jonas Quick gives this project 8/10
Here is what Jonas had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
The trip to Parakas, Ica, Huacachina (I cant spell these names but you understand?) and Nasca. Also my hostess Armida Sala.
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
Dont really know.. take it slow and dont rush through the experience. Peru is a beatiful country and there are much things to be seen
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
Fun, Different, Huge experience, a chance to live in a totally different culture, able to help people in one way or antoher. Personally for me I cant say that it was "a life changing experience" but thats because I have done this in three other countries and two different continents. I do belive however that for a "first timer" this truly will change your world so to speak.. in a good way
Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
More money and I would have gone to Cuzco.. more time and I would have stayed
Jo Marsh gives this project 7/10
Here is what Jo had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip?
There was nothing particularly unexpected about the experience as I have done quite a lot of this type of work before. However, I enjoyed the work very much as we were given increasingly more varied types of excavation to do.
Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
Not really, as I was familiar with the site and its history.
Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?
Come with an open mind
Prepared to work hard
Enjoy the differences
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
To work with different people is always interesting.
Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
Not really as I always think we are responsible for ourselves.
