From building houses to patrolling beaches protecting turtles to teaching on the Galapagos, our range of volunteer work in South America is exciting, varied and just fantastic!
A huge range of options for volunteer work in South America!
Whether you want to work with people or animals, teach English or sports, conserve or be active, in the mountains or on islands, you are bound to find something that you would love to give your time to across 12 spectacular countries.
See below for our huge range of volunteer work inSouth Americaor find out more about ourvolunteer work in other destinations.
33 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
A rewarding programme that will see you help build stronger homes for families having to make do with cardboard and dirt floors. Their smiles when you hand them the keys will be more than enough compensation for your efforts.
Change the lives of children and young adults who live in some of Peru's poorest areas by volunteering on one of four excellent social programmes. You will work in schools, orphanages or day-care centres and will help make a considerable difference to their lives through teaching, activities and games. Project Video Now Online
The perfect combination of sport and conservation. Help look after turtle eggs and the baby turtles - not difficult when they’re so sweet! Then learn to surf or improve your technique at a nearby beach.
Volunteer in the Amazon and help with the day-to-day care and rehabilitation of animals that have been abused or injured. These might include monkeys, jaguars, lions, parrots and other native species.
Nurse injured and confiscated wildlife back to health. You might care for monkeys, parrots, ocelots, taras or kinkajous, carry out wildlife surveys or get see the animals released. Take a trip to the Mayan ruins, too.
Embark on a life changing marine odyssey and feast your eyes on rare and beautiful species as you travel from the shores of Mozambique to coast of Costa Rica. Mozambique – Sri Lanka – Peru – Costa Rica
Be amazed and humbled at the spirit of Guatemala’s poorest communities. You’ll play a vital role in improving their lives by teaching English and other lessons, or by helping to look after the health of local children.
Give orphaned and injured sloths the TLC they need. You’ll help out at a centre dedicated to the protection of these endangered creatures, feeding them and helping them return to the wild.
You’ll be invaluable to the over-worked leaders of orphanages and homes. Finger-printing, hopscotch or baking cakes will encourage abused, neglected and orphan children to smile again, while you’ll get a rare insight into Costa Rican life.
The Community and Environmental Conservation programmes aim to improve the relationship between local communities and their natural environments. There are several projects working to improve the overall quality of life in rural communities around Buenos Aires.
Learn how to identify and photograph dolphins, penguins and other sea creatures. You’ll be working towards making dolphin watching a tourist attraction, and thus persuading fishermen not to kill them for food.
Volunteer with needy youths from poor communities and help to fight poverty in various areas around the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Working towards integrated social and economic development through organising events, community support and promoting social studies and research this programme will allow you to give a great deal back whilst experiencing an exciting new culture.
The Youth Outreach programme offers volunteers who are passionate about children’s rights, the opportunity to work with local youth in Argentina who are in need of day to day assistance, health education, and most importantly, who are looking to spend time in a safe and secure environment.
Organise fun activities that allow the vulnerable children of Bolivia to enjoy themselves and be children again. Run painting, dancing, drawing, music or sport sessions, and help out with cooking, cleaning and feeding the children.
Teach English or computer skills or organise fun activities such as plays, arts and crafts and sport in schools or centres around Costa Rica. Living with a family will give you an excellent opportunity to practise your Spanish.
Get a recognised TEFL certificate, teach English to disadvantaged children and make a valuable difference to many lives. Any extra time you spend with them – even just helping brush their hair - will be gratefully received.
Help give children in Quito a better future by working with them on the streets or in a special summer school. Your work improving parent-child relationships or planning activities will make a difference. Project Video Now Online
Teach English and other activities to underprivileged children on two of the most remote and beautiful islands in the world. The help you give them will greatly improve their chances of working in tourism or other industries.
Get up close to jaguars, parrots and other wildlife. The creatures have been held captive, but will hopefully be returned to the wild. Help nurse them back to health and educate the public about the centre’s work.
Escort baby turtles to the sea, take part in patrols to protect the eggs and observe turtle behaviour. Working next to the Pacific Ocean, you’ll be part of a highly successful conservation project.
Experience Ecuador through Spanish lessons, cooking classes, trips around Quito, community and conservation projects in the Andes and the Amazon, horseback rides, sunbathing on the beaches, surfing, scuba diving, a night forest walk and lots more!
Volunteer on the coast of Ecuador and help with the day-to-day care and rehabilitation of animals that have been abused or injured. These might include monkeys, jaguars, lions, parrots and other native species.
Use your background in medicine to assist medical clinics in underdeveloped and impoverished neighbourhoods outside Buenos Aires. The neighbourhoods often lack basic amenities and services and are home to a community of people who do not have access to proper health care of education.
Assist in our Wildlife Rescue Centre in Brazil and help animals to survive and have a better quality of life. Based on the beautiful island of Florianópolis, the aim of the project is to provide injured, neglected and orphaned animals primarily river otters, weasels and stoats.
Make a difference from heart of the Amazon Jungle by teaching English and other subjects to local children – vital if they want a job in the future. Help preserve the traditional values of Ecuadorian tribes too.
Help the local community in a rural fishing village on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. You will be warmly welcomed by the locals and spend time with other volunteers teaching children and developing key skills given them more opportunities and a brighter future.
Join other medical interns and a team of multidisciplinary professionals to provide support in complete medical treatment and exams, prosthetic and orthotic laboratory, physical, language and occupational therapy and psychotherapy and technical aids.
We’ve spiced up our complete South America gap year option with a Galapagos adventure! Combine volunteering with intrepid exploration, a linguistic challenge and a trip to these awe-inspiring islands! Ecuador - Galapagos Islands - Peru – Bolivia
With no previous medical experience necessary, you can help improve and implement new health care programmes in local communities in need. Assist in many areas of health including HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, youth empowerment, nutrition and gender issues. Through active participation, this programme aims to foster strong community leadership initiatives.
A massively rewarding project that involves helping wash, feed and look after mentally and physically handicapped children, and, if you wish, getting involved in their lessons. Great whether you have care experience or just want to make them smile.
Help with PE lessons in local schools and organise games of football and other sports. Your skills and enthusiasm will inspire underprivileged children who often have to make do with little or no equipment.
Take part in this incredibly worthwhile project, helping to improve the lives of the local community whilst broadening your own horizons and gaining an insight to another culture and way of life. Based in Rio de Janeiro, you will also have plenty of free time to explore arguably the most beautiful city in South America.