Best Places for Volunteering in South America

South America is a land of breathtaking contrasts—where ancient civilizations meet vibrant modern cities, lush rainforests give way to towering mountains, and rich cultural traditions blend seamlessly with colonial history. From the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu to the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, every corner of this continent tells a story.

Yet, South America has also faced challenges, from the impacts of colonization to economic instability. These complexities make volunteering in South America a truly meaningful experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in local communities while making a real difference. Whether you’re passionate about education, wildlife conservation, or community development, there’s an opportunity to leave a lasting impact.

At VolSol, we offer responsible and rewarding volunteering programs across South America, connecting you with projects that create positive change. Ready to explore and give back? Here’s what’s waiting for you!

Volunteer In Costa Rica

With Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, Costa Rica is a Central American country that is blessed with Tropical rain forests, a diverse wildlife, and pristine beaches. Bordered by Nicaragua and Panama, the country is a geographically small but a culturally diverse one. Politically, Costa Rica is a stable country.

With one of the highest Human Development Index in Latin America and higher than the world average of expenditure on education and health, Costa Rica is slowly and steadily marching ahead on the development ladder.

An ideal destination to understand the issues of development, Costa Rica has a lot for travel and language enthusiasts as well. Work on your Spanish skills or go for your weekend amidst the volcanoes, VolSol provides with seven distinct and rewarding volunteering opportunities in Costa Rica that include:

• Spanish Immersion Week
• Childcare Volunteer Program
• Teaching English Program
• Wildlife and Rescue Center
• Medical Healthcare Volunteering
• Turtle Conservation Program
• Two-Week Volunteer and Travel Special

These Costa Rican experiences cannot get more rewarding than this – on ground impactful volunteer work along with.

Volunteer In Ecuador

Ecuador is a well-known South American country, famous for the Amazon jungles, the high Andean range of mountains, and the archipelago of Galapagos. The country that was once a Spanish colony still sustains several splendid architectures from the 16th and 17th century; including, cathedrals, palaces, and museums.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, sits peacefully at the foothills of the Andean and includes most of these colonial masterpieces. Several spots in Ecuador have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Galapagos Islands and the cities of Quito and Cuenca, which lie in the Andes that run from north to south through the country.

The Ecuadorian Andes are also home to some of the highest active volcanoes such as the Cotopaxi. The projects offered by VolSol in Ecuador include weekend travel options and that’s a perfect add-on when volunteering in Ecuador. The projects available in Ecuador are:

• Childcare at Children’s Hospital 
• Street Children Program
• Volunteer In Amazon Animal Rescue Center
• Soccer Coaching in Sports Club

The interesting mix of volunteer work coupled with weekend trips will make sure that a VolSoler gets an all-encompassing and engaging experience of traveling to Ecuador.

Volunteer In Peru

The birthplace of the Incan civilization and one of the most beautiful South American countries in the world, volunteering in Peru has its fair share of advantages. With whopping 8 different volunteering projects and the option of some culturally rich and offbeat weekend travel options, setting foot in South America cannot get better than starting it all in Peru.

The projects offered in Peru are varied and can be taken up by enthusiastic volunteers, medical students, and medical professionals as well. The projects offered include :

• 2-Week Volunteer And Travel Special Project in Cusco
• Volunteering in A Day Care Center
• Healthcare Volunteering Program
• Dental Elective Program
• Teaching English Program
• Teacher Assistant In Kindergarten
• Volunteer With Disabled Children

Ideal for families and young independent volunteers because of its friendly and hospitable locals, volunteering in Peru is worth it for its topographical beauty, cultural vibrancy, and social learning.

For more details on any of these projects, to get project reviews and to get a head start to plan your volunteering journey, drop our program advisers a mail at info@volunteeringsolutions.com