Huanchaco
Huanchaco lies about 550 km north of the Peruvian capital of Lima. You can easily get there by a comfortable nine hour bus ride. The Trujillo airport is just around the corner and serves national flights.
Huanchaco is known as the "Spring Capital" of Peru - It almost never rains in Huanchaco! Furthermore, it has rather pleasant and seemingly endless beach with water temperatures varying between 13 and 21 degrees during the year.
Huanchaco is still a very low key and easy going place that retains its fishing village ambiance. Especially during weekdays, life is fairly quiet (except for Christmas & New Years’ season when all the spots on the beach are occupied by national and international tourists!) and this makes it an ideal place to settle down for some time during your travels through South America.
Huanchaco is the beach village of Peru´s third city called Trujillo. At only 12 km distance, it makes an ideal base camp to discover this beautiful colonial city and the nearby archeological sites.
Lots of work to be done in this beautiful town! – Headquarter of Otra Cosa Network is based in Huancahco, as well as its local partners such as Huanchaco Library, local primary school, Surfschool, Clinic and Otra Cosa Restaurant.
Around Huanchaco
Cerrito de la Virgen
Cerrito de la Virgen is very different from what you will see if you stay just within Huanchaco. It was initially established by the Peruvian government as a town for those who had lost their homes and livelihoods due to the El Nino weather pattern which strikes The Americas once every three to seven years.
About 12 years ago this event had severe consequences for the population and infrastructure of Northern Peru. There were heavy rains inland in the mountainous regions of La Libertad which produced obstructions in the upper part of the Rivers. On this occasion the rivers flooded. The case of “la quebrada del León Dormido”, (The Ravine of the Sleeping Lion), the ravine that leads to the town of Huanchaco was one of the most critical.
The population there had worked in small farms and quarries, but the water washed away their homes and livelihoods. The Office of Civil Defense provided tents and food for the population but then had to relocate them. One of the places chosen was Las Pampas of La Virgen Cerrito. After a few weeks however support was cut off and the population was left to their fate.
Many of these people, considering that the place a desert location lacking in vital services - it was without water, sewage facilities and electricity - abandoned the idea of setting up homes there and left. Others sold their possessions and yet others took advantage of the circumstances and walled off two or three plots. This has resulted in the area being a mixture of families. There are environmental victims from the time, alongside new residents who have been acquiring land and who come from many different places. You can find there today people from the Peruvian mountains, the valley regions and the jungle. There are foreigners who own plots of land without living there alongside Peruvian people from different social statuses.
Having faced such hardship it is hoped that the efforts of various local groups, along with the community itself, can improve the lives of those in Cerrito de la Virgen.
Otra Cosa Network volunteers started the skate ramp project in this community in early 2010.
Las Lomas
The way of life for locals in this area is very different from that of the population leaving on the seaside. Las Lomas community is just 10 minute walk from one end of Huanchaco. Unlikely is beautiful neighboring community Huanchaco, Las Lomas lacks infrastructure – there is no paved road, and most of households don’t have sewage system, and have limited access to running water. The paths are all made of sand, dust and garbage, in which one can often see children playing. But recently the municipality of Huanchaco has started roadwork in the area. You can also see some very luxurious houses attributed to recent construction boom in this area.
Las Lomas is a quite big area, even though it is really hard to exactly know how many people live there. Most of them are not registered on civil status lists and do not have any identity documents.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting a primary school in Las Lomas with English classes since 2009.
Huanchaquito
Huanchaquito, in other words “small Huanchaco”, is a very poor fishing village close to Huanchaco, and it is not as small as you might think. In Huanchaquito, there are more than 4,000 inhabitants spread in 11 local sectors, such as Huanchaquito Bajo, Huanchaquito Alto, San Carlos, San Pedro, Bella Mar, etc. Huanchaquito is well-known for its rough waves, which is one of the reasons why this place doesn’t get much attention of national/ international tourists.
At first glance, Huanchaquito reminds you of dessert: you can see and feel orange-colored sand all around you everywhere you go – under the soles of your shoes, and even in the air that grazes your ear. Still, Huanchaquito can be a mirage for those who would like to stay away from hustle and bustle, and business vibes of touristic places.
If you want to try alternative volunteer placements nearby Huanchaco, this is the place to be! There are lots of potentials here, as well as lots of needs. You may be surprised to see how the people in these two neighboring fishing villages live different realities of poverty & development in the 21st century.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting Huancahquito by supporting their Day Nursery project, health office, abandoned dogs’ home and Home for ex-street children.
Ramón Castilla
Ramon Castilla shanty town is on the main road between Huanchaco and Trujillo. This shanty town is one of the most recent urban expansion sites of the ever growing city of Trujillo. The people who live there largely migrated from the mountains looking for a better future. The illiteracy rate is very high with many parents only having finished primary school. Malnutrition of the kids is also a problem in the area as is general health care.
It is easy to reach by public transport and from the bus stop only a 2 minute walk to the school. Although the school is situated in a very poor area it is not dangerous if you don’t show your wealth too much and don’t hang around late at night. During the day, bringing only the valuables you need with you there is nothing to fear.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting Shanty Town School (since 2005), and also offering free English classes (since 2011).
Villa Los Angeles
Previously a part of Huanchaquito district, Villa Los Angeles community now belongs to El Trópico district. Most of inhabitants have moved down to the coast from the sierra (the highlands) years ago, in hopes of better life. However, poverty rates are still high and full-time jobs are hardly seen. Most of the people work at the near fields or in construction on daily bases. This makes it very hard for the families to occupy themselves with the education of their children, and there are plenty of them. Often the parents haven’t finished their own primary studies.
Furthermore, its relatively long distance from the main road stretched between Huancahco and Trujillo (around 10 minute walk from the main road) make it even more difficult to get external supports. Otra Cosa Network recently started to support a kindergarten & after school program in mid 2011 – 7 years after its initial support to a Shanty Town School in Ramón Castilla (neighboring community just next to the main road)
El Trópico
Also known as ‘San José’, El Trópico is a Rustic terrain around the half-way between Trujillo and Huanchaco that also includes small communities such as Villa Los Angeles, Ramón Castilla, Valdivia and La Virgen.
Living conditions and public services in this district are worse than those of most of neighboring communities. For example, the community health office with very basic facilities (no electricity yet!) and with highly motivated staff has been offering basic health services to around 5,000 inhabitants since 2010. Otra Cosa Network has been supporting these communities with Free English classes and medical volunteers to the health office since 2011.
Trujillo
Trujillo is the capital of the department of La Libertad and the third biggest city in Peru. It is a beautiful colonial city, established in 1535 with an impressive Plaza de Armas, stunning colonial architecture, and nice museums. The city is only 12 kilometers away from Huanchaco and can be easily reached by local transportation.
Most of our network projects are located in this area – Blind School, School for Special Needs children, Fair trade Photography project, Juvenile Delinquency Program and Volunteer Language School.
Around Trujillo
El Milagro
A shanty town called El Milagro (The Miracle) is located in the north of Huanchaco. This is one of the poorest shanty towns, which lies on and around a big garbage dump. The children of these families, often including the kids, work on the dump to collect plastic and glass and anything else they can to sell for recycling. This is dirty and unhealthy work, but all these families have to raise a little money to live on. Most of its inhabitants are not registered on the state system, and lots of local initiatives have been struggling to support these people with awareness building, literacy programs, vocational training and birth certificate campaigns.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting the Educational Day Center project in this project since 2004.
Esperanza
Esperanza (Hope) is another shanty town in Trujillo classified as ‘zona roja (red zone)’ due to violence and poverty (vicious circle!) that have been prevailing in its terrain for long time. There have been local initiatives to tackle these issues, but some of them had to be shut down (such as women’s shelter) due to lack of support and participation from local authority and people.
Mountains
Sicchezpampa
Sicchezpampa is the most remote commuintes that Otra Cosa Network supports. It is located in 1,500 meters from sea level, near the border with Ecuador. Sicchezpampa belongs to Ayabaca province. To get there, you need to take two buses from Trujillo and then hike uphill through the mountains for 90 minutes, or hop on a donkey for about an hour.
Main livelihood of inhabitants relies on the cultivation of organic sugar cane and coffee. OCN has been supporting local farmers’ unions. These farmers and their families live in very basic and humble conditions. There are electricity, and cell phone connections.
Chacahpoyas
The town of Chachapoyas, capital of the Amazonas department in Northern Peru, is a quickly growing tourist destination in northern Peru. It is a good base to explore important archeological site Kuelap (older and higher than Machu Pichhu) and surrounded by other interesting places, like Huancas, María, Laguna de los Cóndores, Luya, Leymebamba, etc. OCN’s partner Sustainable Tourism Agency & Fairtrade Café is also located in Chachapoyas.
Chacahpoyas can be also nice place to spend weekend for volunteers living and working in remote mountain villages in Leymabamba and Rodríguez de Mendoza.
Leymebamba
Leymebamba is a nice little village (about 5000 inhabitants) in one of Peru’s most beautiful areas, the cloud forest of the Utcubamba valley. This Valley lies in northern Peru between the Andes mountain range and the Amazon jungle. Before the Inca’s conquest, the area used to be home to the mysterious Chacha civilization. It is also known as ‘the cloud warriors’, because of their violent nature and their life in the cloud forest.
Between 800 and 15 A.C. they left fascinating ruins, wall paintings and mummies on high limestone mountain ridges. By far the most fascinating ruin is Kuelap fortress, also known as the Machu Picchu of Northern Peru. Nowadays these ruins and their surrounding spectacular landscape and the traditional villages form significant tourist potentials.
Leymebamba lies in the higher southern end of the lush green valley (at 3000 meters altitude so NO malaria risk!). The small village has basic services such as internet, phones, restaurants, shops, a small hospital and hotels. No bank though and transport to the capital city is a bumpy 4 hour bus ride that leaves once a day.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting Boarding house for secondary students, local tour guides, schools and kindergarten with English classes.
Rodríguez de Mendoza
Rodríguez de Mendoza is about 3 hour ride from Chachapoyas. It is in the mountains (although it is a capital city of Amazonas), but the weather is very sunny and hot during the day and it can be a bit rainy in the evenings, but much warmer than Chachapoyas. There are lots of possibilities for weekend/ day trip to surrounding lakes, hiking to the mountains, and also the ruins of Chacha civilizations, i.e. Kuelap, and also one of the highest water falls in the world, Gocta waterfall, etc.
Although Rodriguez de Mendoza is quite remote area, you can find almost all the modern facilities; cell phone connections, internet cafe with webcam, banks (only accepts visa cards), restaurant, market, etc. So, this is a great place for a volunteer who would like to be in the real local community with no other gringos, while still would like to have an access to modern conveniences.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting boarding house & eco-garden project since 2010.
Yanasara
Yanasara is a small village (about 300 inhabitants) which lies two hours from Huamachuco. The area is famous for its culture and traditions. Compared to Huamachuco, Yanasara has a very nice climate. All year round the climate is fine, although during the dry season from April to October it can be relatively hot. The raining season runs from October to mid-April.
Yanasara has basic services such as a few restaurants, shops and some rooms for rent. There aren’t any banks. The nearest hospital is in Huamachuco, a two hours of bumpy ride. However, for emergencies there is a basic hospital post five minutes from Yanasara. Buses to Huamachuco leave several times a day (if you are lucky and the road has not been blocked due to rocks and sand). But you should be aware that when you want to go back to Yanasara, there are only buses from Huamachuco between 4 and 5 in the morning and between 12 and 1 in the afternoon.
Otra Cosa Network has been supporting primary & secondary schools since 2008.
Find more options for volunteering throughout South America here: http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net/