A couple of weeks ago, my French voluntourism friends ~ Amandine and Cyrille, whom I met while in the Galapagos, dropped us a note from Cusco, Peru where they have been doing volunteer work at an animal refuge, about 25 minutes away from the city, in the direction of Pisac. The refuge is called El Sanctuario animal de Cchochahuasi, although you won't find it anywhere else on the web. It is that remote.

They are quietly doing wonderful things, tucked along a tourist-driven path towards the train to Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley. The animals have all been rescued from either the black market, predatory injuries and illness, or recovered after being illegally poached and kept in homes.

Along with photos from the animal refuge, Amandine sends us all a message:

This is Poupala. He is 4 months old and cannot fly because someone has cut his feathers. He was rescued from the black market, where they had his wings cut. It will take about 2 years before he will be able to fly again, but he cannot go back to the Amazon.

If you are planning a trip to Machu Picchu, please consider making time to volunteer, or at least have your guide include a stop to visit this refuge before taking you up to Machu Picchu. Your entrance is free; El Sanctuario exists on donations made by animal lovers around the world, and from the sale of their souvenirs.

Do good; travel well.

Many thanks to Amandine and Cyrille for these wonderful photos of all the animals at the refuge.