We provide day transfers from the Francisco Carle Airport (JAU) in Jauja to our base in Oxapampa during the daytime, on the day before your program start date. Alternatively, you can fly into Lima and take an overnight Movil Bus from Movil Bus Terminal – Javier Prado straight to Oxapampa, which typically takes 10 to12 hours. Due to our remote location, taxis cannot take you all the way to the base as there is a river that you need to cross to get here. For travel on weekends, you could go into town, which is about 20 minutes away by car, or a walk of just over an hour. From there you can rent a bicycle to explore the province, or contact a local tour company.

Local SIM cards and pay-as-you-go credit are affordable. They can be bought in Lima If you bring a network-unlocked mobile phone with you. Your connection might not be as fast or reliable as you might be used to in your home country. Our project sites are remote and mainly rural which means that Wi-Fi and network coverage is limited.

All meals are provided on base and are mostly vegetarian with meat occasionally included. Ingredients consist of locally-sourced seasonal produce, including eggs, oatmeal, rice, pasta and quinoa. There’s always plenty of fresh home-made bread and Peruvian coffee available. You will be able to help yourself to breakfast and dinner is prepared together with the rest of the team. Lunch is usually a delicious Peruvian meal prepared by a local cook. On weekends, there are a number of restaurants that you can visit in Oxapampa’s town. Here you can sample more of the traditional style of Peruvian cuisine. There are even some Italian and Chinese restaurants to choose from.

Peru is famous for its unique and dramatic climate and Oxapampa is no exception. The weather is humid all year round and can be quite unpredictable at times. The average temperature is 15°C (59°F), with highs of around 28°C (82°F) and lows of around 8°C (46°F). The months with the most rainfall are from October to April, with February being the wettest. The drier months fall between May and September.

Oxapampa is 2,200 metres above sea level so it is important to give your body time to adjust to the high altitude and follow our staff instructions while acclimating. There are medical clinics and a hospital in Oxapampa. If there were to be a medical issue, GVI staff will ensure that affected participants are transported to the relevant facility depending on the nature and severity of the illness or injury. We also have a 24-hour emergency desk, should your loved ones need to contact you.