Back to grid

Best volunteer travel destinations in North America

Back to grid
Costa Rica
Lush rainforests, stunning beaches, pure adventure
8.3
Tortuguero is on the Caribbean coast and is reached by boat or small plane. Green turtles nest on its beach from July to October. Canals and rainforest line the way in. A research station has worked here since 1959 and takes volunteers for the night turtle patrols.
Highlights:
  • 🦜 Spot sloths and toucans in Manuel Antonio National Park
  • 🌋 Relax in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano
  • 🌿 Zip-line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest canopy
Hawaii
Tropical Vibes and Volcanic Wonders
8.8
Mauna Kea on the Big Island is taller than Everest when measured from the sea floor. Volunteers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park pull invasive plants to protect native forest. Beach cleanups on the island gather marine debris from Kamilo Beach. Many native plants grow only in the islands.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the Na Pali Coast trail on Kauai
  • 🐠 Snorkel among colorful coral reefs in Hanauma Bay
  • 🌋 Watch sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā Volcano
Puerto Rico
Caribbean rhythms, rainforests and beaches
8.1
Culebra and Vieques are small islands off the east coast of the main island. Leatherback sea turtles nest on Culebra beaches in spring. Volunteers help with nest watches and beach cleanups. On the main island, groups rebuilt homes and planted trees after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Relax on Flamenco Beach, one of the Caribbean’s best
  • 🌌 Kayak through the glowing Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques
  • 🏘️ Wander the colorful colonial streets of Old San Juan
Jamaica
Vibrant culture meets pristine beaches
7.4
Maroon communities began as groups who escaped slavery. They have lived in the Blue and John Crow Mountains for centuries. The area earned UNESCO status in 2015 for its nature and Maroon heritage. Conservation and community groups across the island welcome volunteers. Coastal projects protect turtles and fish.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Visit Bob Marley’s home and museum in Kingston
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Seven Mile Beach in Negril
  • 💦 Climb up the cascading waters of Dunn’s River Falls
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
8.9
Denali National Park has a volunteer programme that helps look after its trails and visitor areas. Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward has one too. Glaciers, moose and long summer daylight surround the work. Denali's peak is 20,310 feet and is the highest in North America.
Highlights:
  • 🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
  • 🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
  • 🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks
Belize
Tropical paradise with diverse ecosystems
7.0
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System earned UNESCO status in 1996. Invasive lionfish now eat young fish on the reef. Volunteer divers near Placencia help count and cull them. Conservation groups train volunteers in safe handling before their first dive. Afterwards the catch is often cooked and eaten.
Highlights:
  • ⛵ Sail between tropical cayes across the Belize Barrier Reef
  • 🏛️ Explore ancient Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and Caracol
  • 🤿 Dive or snorkel the breathtaking Great Blue Hole
Canada
Vast wilderness meets urban charm
8.5
Cold clear air and the smell of pine fill the trails around Banff. Parks Canada runs a volunteer programme in the national park. Volunteers join trail projects and other park work in the mountains. Banff dates to 1885 and is the oldest national park in Canada. Lake Louise is a short drive away.
Highlights:
  • 🐻‍❄️ Spot polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba
  • 🏞️ Explore the rugged mountain peaks of Banff National Park
  • 🌊 Marvel at the breathtaking cascades of Niagara Falls
Dominican Republic
Caribbean paradise with diverse landscapes
7.2
January to March brings humpback whales to Samaná Bay on the northeast coast. Whale research groups and local conservation projects welcome volunteers in the region. Other volunteers teach English at schools and community centres. The Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo is a UNESCO site from 1990.
Highlights:
  • 🕳️ Discover the natural beauty of Los Tres Ojos caves
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine beaches of Punta Cana
Guatemala
Land of diverse climates, volcanoes
5.8
Maya women around Lake Atitlán weave cloth on backstrap looms, a craft passed down for generations. Volunteers there help in schools and community projects. Spanish schools in Antigua and Quetzaltenango often set up placements. Three volcanoes rise beside the lake and Antigua has been a UNESCO site since 1979.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Relax at the stunning shores of Lake Atitlan
  • 🌋 Hike the Acatenango Volcano and see Fuego erupt
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal National Park
Honduras
Tropical diversity with ancient heritage
5.4
The Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center on Utila welcomes volunteers. Utila is one of the Bay Islands off the north coast. Whale sharks pass by the island through the year. Work includes surveys of sharks and reef health. The Mesoamerican Reef here runs past Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike through the misty mountains of La Tigra National Park
  • 🏝️ Relax on the pristine beaches of Roatán Island
  • 🏛️ Explore the UNESCO Copán Ruins, ancient Maya city
Mexico
Land of diverse wonders
7.7
The beating of millions of monarch wings fills the fir forests of Michoacán each winter. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve has been a UNESCO site since 2008. Turtle camps on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca and Baja California Sur rely on volunteers. They patrol beaches at night and move nests to safe hatcheries.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Swim in a cenote amid Yucatán’s limestone caves
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Tulum’s Caribbean beaches
  • 🗿 Explore the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacán near Mexico City
Feedback