Los Amigos is a faith-based organization dedicated to supporting programs that improve and transform the lives of the poor of Chimbote, Peru.

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Visit Chimbote

While You're There

Cultural norms in Peru
Health and safety
Helpful phrases in Spanish
Read a story: Chimbote in the 1980s
Read a story: Sunday Mass in Chimbote

What to Do While You’re There
If you’ve never visited the mission before, you may ask: What will I do when I’m in Chimbote? Many people are unsure about visiting Chimbote without a specific project in mind. They want so much to help, and so they want to pack their visit with service projects.

While help is always appreciated, in our experience, one of the most powerful things you can do in your first visit is simply to witness life in Chimbote.

Visitors have an opportunity to see firsthand all that is occurring at the mission.
You may be surprised by what you see and hear. You may gain a deeper understanding of the needs of the people of Chimbote – a deeper understanding that’s easy to miss when you spend your entire visit immersed in a specific project or goal.  

Visitors experience the deep hospitality that is part of the Peruvian culture.
In a sense, you’ve already given a gift by leaving your comfortable life to come to Chimbote. By taking time to get to know the people—to experience their hospitality and friendship—you allow the people of Chimbote a chance to give back.  

Visitors can absorb their experiences more fully, and act on them later.
Once you return to your community or parish, you will be a resource to others on what is happening in Peru. You will be seen as an expert on how your community can best help Chimbote.

On the first or second day of your visit, a mission employee will take you on a tour of the neighborhoods served by the mission and will introduce you to other employees and volunteers who will be able to answer questions while you’re there. After that, we recommend that you talk to the Peruvian families. Observe life in the neighborhoods. Meet new people, try to speak their language, and offer them your friendship. Tag along with mission employees and volunteers as they do their work. Experience the Peruvian mass. Play with the children. Also, don’t hesitate to take some time for yourself. The poverty you see may be shocking and upsetting. Allow yourself time to adjust to the environment and process what you’re seeing.

Service Projects
If you or your group wish to work on a project while at the mission, here is the information you will need: Group Projects in Chimbote.