MMI’s work in Peru began in 1999 when Director of Field Operations Brian Piecuch moved to Arequipa. Now more than 250 volunteers travel to this impoverished country each year.
Our national director, Tania Catacora, faithfully disciples both local and international leaders — while continuing to develop new projects. MMI’s fledgling permanent center in Arequipa provides both optometry services and physical therapy; and new leaders are being developed thanks to an innovative scholarship program.
We’re glad that you have chosen to participate on a project in this culturally rich nation.
Traveling In Peru
- The weight allowance for in-country flights is 30 kgs total (as opposed to the 50 lb. per bag, 2 suitcases max. allowance allowed on International flights). However, Lan Peru usually accepts the International weight allowance, as long as your in-country flight is within 24 hours of your arrival in country. This does not apply on flights at the end of the project when you return to Lima. Sometimes, if you have heavy things and are touring before your project, it may be better to have a bag available that we could ship by bus (MMI will take care of this when you arrive in Lima).
- There are several extra expenses to budget for. The airport taxes are approximately $6.12 US for each domestic flight you take and $28 US for your international departure (some American Airline flights include this tax in the cost of the ticket).
- Bring US dollars in good condition. Bills that are torn or dirty are hard to exchange. $1.00 bills are not useful in Peru – they are exchanged for less than other bills.
- On the middle week-end you will always have an optional tour to a historical place. The usual costs are around $50 which includes meals, hotel, transfers and tour guide.
- Most MMI Peru projects are in the mountains and nights can be cold. There is “no heating” in the rooms, so it’s important to bring warm clothing.
Project Sites
Arequipa
The June MMI project is divided into 3 teams: a surgical group that works at the Goyeneche Hospital, a clinic team that goes to the poor areas around Arequipa city and the youth group that visits homes for elderly, schools, orphanages and other places to do activities of service.
The July eye team is divided into three groups as well. Surgery is also at the Goyeneche Hospital while the eye clinic has been held in different locations. The youth team has the same activities as the June team.
The August Physical Therapy team works mainly in Arequipa but has also traveled to the coastal city of Camana.
Rooms are nice and shared. Day are sunny and warm buy nights tend to be very cold.
All kind of services are available (Internet, telephone, ATM, Electricity, running water). Voltage is 220.
Located at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level (7500 feet), at the transition point between the coastal desert and the highlands. Arequipa has 762,000 inhabitants.
Arequipa is dry and sunny all year long. Day temperatures reach 20-25C/70-75F. The wet season (December to March) is characterized by the presence of clouds in the afternoon and some scarce precipitation. In winter (June, July), temperatures are somewhat lower and can go down to 5C/40F at night.
Arequipa is called “Ciudad Blanca” (White City) for the numerous and magnificent constructions of temples, convents, big houses and palaces in white sillar stone. It also possesses an excellent climate with almost 300 days of sun a year, with transparent blue sky. Arequipa has excellent food, beautiful landscapes including majestic volcanoes, and the Colca Valley.
Ayacucho
MMI works in partnership with a local Christian group with ties to the Presbyterian church. Also, we work with the local health centers and municipalities. MMI teams will be setting up their clinics in different villages around Quinua. Villages have running water and a sewage system.
Rooms are basic, hot water is available. Days can be warm but get very cold at night and in the mornings. Be sure to bring very warm clothing.
Internet and telephone services are available. There are no ATM machines. Voltage is 220.
The province is located in the South-Central Andes 500 kilometers from Lima. The altitude is 2760 meters above sea level (9055 feet) POPULATION: 92,123 inhabitants .The climate is cool to cold, dry and semiarid. Days are warm but it gets cold at night and in the mornings.
The city of Ayacucho was founded on April 25, 1540 with the name of Huamanga. However vestiges of human settlements more than 15,000 years old have been found in the cave of Pikimachay. During the Peruvian War of Independence, the area surrounding Ayacucho was the last territory held by the Spaniards. On December 9, 1824 the Battle of Ayacucho or “La Quinua” took place at Pampa de la Quinua, a few miles away from Ayacucho.
During the late 1970s, Ayacucho was the site where guerrilla communist insurgents of the Shining Path, led by Abimael Guzman, started a war against the Government of Peru by masterminding the worst terrorist activities in the history of the country. Now, after more than a decade of peace, Ayacucho and the surrounding region is once again safe to visit.
Ayacucho is famous for the tradition of having a little church on the roof of most houses.
Access To Quinua: 1 hour by bus from the main city.
Ayaviri (Puno)
Puno is located in the south eastern region of Perú. The weather is very cold and dry, with an annual average temperature of 9°C (48°F), going down to 3°C (37°F) during the winter.
Internet and telephone services are available.
Camana
Camana is a coastal town in the Arequipa Region in southern Peru. It is the capital of Camaná Province and Camaná District. With its sandy beaches, it was once a popular beach resort with local Peruvians visiting mostly from Arequipa during the summer months.
All kind of services are available (Internet, telephone, ATM, Electricity, running water) services are available in the city.
Colca Valley
MMI partners with the local health centers, local municipalities and local Evangelical and Catholic churches. The sites include Maca, Lari, Yanque, Chivay and Cabanaconde. Villages have running water and a sewage system. Colca Canyon is approximately 100 miles from Arequipa, 3 hours by bus.
Rooms are basic, hot water is available. Days can be warm but get very cold at night and in the mornings. Be sure to bring very warm clothing.
Internet and telephone services are available. There are no ATM machines. Voltage is 220.
The Colca Canyon is a major tourist attraction in the Department of Arequipa. The weather is cool to cold, dry and semiarid.
The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest in the world and is home of the majestic condor. It is a picturesque Andean valley dotted with towns founded in colonial timess. Today, its inhabitants still maintain ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces.
The present population of 21,000 inhabitants is distributed in twelve villages. It was originally inhabited by Aymaras and Quechuas, both pre-Incan people with well-developed agricultural practices. The farmers carved out terraces on the slopes of the canyon in order to cultivate crops and control the flow of irrigation canals. The terraces continue to be used this day for agriculture, which remains the main economic activity for most of the population.
The Colca Valley has become because of its natural beauty and well-preserved archeological sites. However, the economic benefits of this tourism have failed to reach the majority the population which continues to be considered extremely poor. There are several health centers in the valley, but they lack adequate staff and resources to meet the needs of the people.
Cuzco
The shanty towns around Cuzco city are poor areas where the most needy live. The non-tourist villages near Cuzco have not benefited from any economical development due to tourism and are lacking in support. 50% of the population only speaks Quechua and works in agriculture.
Rooms are basic, rooms are shared. Due to the cold weather in the high mountains warm clothing is needed.
All kind of services are available in Cuzco city (Internet, telephone, ATM, electricity, running water).
Cuzco is at an altitude of 11,500 feet. There are two climatic periods: the rainy season, from November until March and the dry period, from April until October. The height of the mountains in the region of Cuzco means that there are areas that can get very cold especially in areas higher than 3,800 m.
Cuzco was the capital city of the Inca Empire. In 1524 it was invaded by the Spanish. In this time Cuzco was a city of beautiful architecture made in stone with wide plazas, big temples and palaces decorated with abundant gold pieces. Many of these colossal constructions have survived until this day, as well as beautiful Spanish colonial buildings. The province is also privileged with abundant beautiful landscapes.
Huanca-Lluta
MMI partners with the local health workers, municipalities and churches. The trip from Arequipa to Huanca is on a gravel road and takes approximately 4 hours.
MMI teams lodge in the Municipal hostels of Huanca and Lluta. Rooms are basic and bathrooms are shared. In Huanca there is hot water and showers at the health post. In Lluta there is no hot water at the hostel. You’ll need to bring a solar shower for your use. Be prepared to share your room with another person. Rooms are basic. Sheets, pillows and blankets will be provided. You will need to bring a bath towel. Days can be warm but get very cold at night and in the mornings. Be sure to bring very warm clothing. Sunscreen and a hat are very necessary. Hiking boots are also helpful to have.
Internet and telephone services are available. There are no ATM machines. Voltage is 220.
The cities are surrounded by large, beautiful mountains. Most of the residents are farmers and they grow crops such as potatoes, corn, beans, wheat and other things in their “chacras” (fields). There is also a good production of milk and dairy products in the area (butter, cheese, yogurt, etc). Like many small villages in Peru, the general population is slowly declining as more people are abandoning their farms to look for a better life in the big cities of Peru. There is little investment in the villages and the people have remained very poor.
Huaytara /Huancavelica
Huaytara is a city in Huancavelica province. It is located at the central mountains of the Peruvian Andes. The Altitude is 2726 meters above sea level. According to oral tradition, the word “wayta” means flower.
All kind of services are available (Internet, telephone, ATM, Electricity, running water).
Lima
MMI is working in partnership with the Anglican church of Peru and the Municipality of Lima, to serve one of the poorest areas southeast of the city. Our team will conduct clinics at different sites in Pamplona Alta. The church will aid us in identifying the poorest and neediest people in the area.
Rooms are basic and shared, hot water is available. We recommend dressing in light cotton clothes because the day can get warm. Also bring a light jacket because it can get cool in the evening. Sunscreen is advisable due to the proximity to the Equator.
All kind of services are available (Internet, telephone, ATM, Electricity, running water) services are available in the main villages. Voltage is 220.
Called “Ciudad de los Reyes” (City of Kings) by the Spanish conquerors. Lima, located on the central western coast, is large, noisy, polluted and shrouded in a misty coastal fog for much of the year. Lima is the nation’s capital and most important city. The prospect of better work and better schools has in the last few decades attracted millions of poor and landless peasants from across the country to this bustling, Pacific coast city. Many others were drawn to the city, especially during the 1970′s and 1980′s, for the relative safety it afforded during Peru’s costly civil war with Marxist guerrilla movements.
Shantytowns surrounding Lima now contain half the city’s estimated population of nearly 8 million. After decades of hard work, some have turned into pleasant districts. Many others remain desperately poor, lacking electricity, running water or paved streets. In these communities, health care is not universally available and is often substandard. Many Peruvians living in “pueblos jovenes” are forced to resort to folk treatments provided by traditional healers rather than seeking proper medical treatment.
MMI Extreme: Choco
Choco is at an altitude of 14681 feet. Total population of the area is approximately 1200 people. The weather is cool to cold, dry and semiarid. Days are sunny but gets cold at night and in the mornings.
This project is very difficult physically. Please do not downplay the importance of walking and exercising prior to the mission. The following recommendations will help get you in shape for this project:
- It would be best for everyone to walk at least 3 times per week starting mid-August and continuing up to the mission.
- If you have new hiking shoes, you should have at least 15-20 hours in them before you start the trip to Peru.
- The pace of the walk is not as important as the distance, but the pace should be about 18-22 minutes per mile.
- On the weekends, everyone should make two walks that are at least 2 hours in length (approximately 6 miles).
- On the weekends closer to the mission, everyone should walk two long walks, one for 2 hours (6 miles) and one for 3 hours (9 miles).
- On the weekends in mid-September to the start of the project, everyone should make two long walks, one for 2 hours (6 miles) and one for 3 hours (9 miles). That would be a total of one 6-mile and one 9-mile walk in this time period.
- If possible, the walks in the last two months should contain as many hills as possible.
Although we have mules to carry our things, pack your personal item in a back pack as if you had to carry them yourself. That will keep you from getting carried away with “stuff”. Also, packs are easier to strap on the backs of the mules. Bring a day pack for water, food and other necessities while hiking.
Access: By gravel road in bus, truck and donkey/mules.
The team arrive to the little villages and we stay at the local school as our accommodation and set up clinic.
No Internet is available. There is one telephone in each village but connection is really bad. No ATM machines at all. Voltage is 220. There is no running water or a sewage system in the majority of the villages.
More About Peru
After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980. Bold reform programs and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity and drug trafficking resulted for a time in solid economic growth. However, corrupt leadership plunged the country into political chaos. The government of Alejandro Toledo, Peru’s first democratically elected president of Indian decent, is struggling to right many of the economic woes provoked by the political corruption.
People & Economy
Population: 27 million.
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%; mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%; white 15%; black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Literacy: 88.7%
Poverty abounds, especially in the mountains, the jungle, and at the fringes of all major cities.
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%. Protestant 5-10%. Traditional pre-Christian beliefs remain strong, especially in rural areas.
Language: Spanish (official), Quechua, Aymara
