Best volunteer travel destinations in South America
Best volunteer travel destinations in South America
Rainforest reforestation zones and indigenous school programs in South America
Volunteer travel in South America leans heavily toward the Amazon, though conservation and community projects show up across the rest of the continent too.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers across Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia work to care for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, often relying on volunteers for daily care and support. Brazil has one of the longest running sea turtle conservation programs anywhere, with volunteers helping monitor nesting beaches along the coast. The Galapagos Islands offer a more tightly regulated version of conservation work, given the islands' protected status, with programs usually run directly through research stations. Community based projects in the Andes, often paired with Spanish language study, give volunteers a more grounded way to spend time in one place rather than passing through quickly.
Choosing a well established, transparent organization matters more than the specific project, since it usually means your time and money actually go toward the work being done.
Lists by region
Country
Brazil
Vibrant diversity meets natural wonder
Tiny hatchlings scramble towards the sea at sea turtle bases along the coast. Projeto Tamar was created in 1980 and now runs 22 bases over more than 1,000 kilometres. More than 8 million turtles had been released by 2008. Volunteer projects also cover Amazon research near Alter do Chão and otter conservation in Florianópolis.
Country
Argentina
Land of diverse natural wonders
Iberá National Park in Corrientes Province protects part of one of the world's largest wetlands. Rewilding began there in 2007 and has returned giant anteaters, pampas deer, tapirs and giant river otters. A captive breeding programme has introduced eight jaguars. Volunteer projects in Buenos Aires and Córdoba focus on teaching and community work.
Country
Colombia
Where diverse landscapes meet culture
Since 2021 a reef restoration programme has worked to rebuild endangered Caribbean reefs off the coast. By June 2023 the One Million Corals for Colombia project had produced 735,822 new coral fragments. Volunteers in Rincón del Mar join beach cleanups, mangrove reforestation and turtle monitoring. English teaching runs in Ibagué and La Mesa.
Country
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
Tambopata National Reserve covers about 275,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in the Madre de Dios region. Clay licks draw macaws and parrots. The reserve has 1,713 vascular plant species and jaguars and harpy eagles. Volunteers in Peru can help with wildlife rescue in Iquitos or archaeology in the Sacred Valley.
Country
Chile
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
In the Los Lagos Region, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park covers about 402,000 hectares. It protects some of the last stands of alerce, one of the oldest species on Earth. Volunteers can protect a nature park in Puelo. Others assist rangers at a reserve in Panguipulli or work with Mapuche families in Currarehue.
Country
Ecuador
Compact country, immense biodiversity
Most listings include housing and food. Wildlife rescue in Puyo, in the Amazon region, focuses on Amazonian monkeys. English teaching and childcare support run in Quito. A sustainable building internship runs in Guaranda. Placements last from one to 24 weeks. Most programmes require volunteers to be 18 or older.
Country
Bolivia
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
Inti Wara Yassi began with youth work in El Alto in 1986 and was formally organised in 1992. It now runs three parks that care for about 500 animals, including monkeys, pumas and jaguars. Volunteers clean cages, feed animals and help with enrichment and construction. The minimum stay is two weeks.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
About 97.5 percent of the islands' land area became a national park in 1959. The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island opened in 1964 and includes a tortoise breeding centre. UNESCO recognised the islands in 1978. Volunteer programmes cover sea turtle and marine iguana nesting and giant tortoise breeding.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Top volunteering destinations and ethical travel programmes
The best volunteer travel destinations are the ones where the programme actually meets a need the community has identified, rather than one built mainly around the experience for…
Read more
Discover
Best volunteer travel destinations in Africa
East and southern Africa anchor much of the continent's volunteer travel scene, built around wildlife conservation projects that fund anti-poaching efforts and habitat protection…
Read more
Discover
Best volunteer travel destinations in Asia
Wildlife rehabilitation centres and community education projects across parts of South and Southeast Asia anchor much of the region's volunteer travel scene, built around…
Read more
Discover
Best volunteer travel destinations in Europe
Conservation and rewilding projects across parts of Europe offer a different model of volunteer travel than the wildlife programmes common elsewhere, built around habitat…
Read more
Discover
Best volunteer travel destinations in North America
Coastal countries in Central America anchor much of the wider region's volunteer travel reputation, built around sea turtle conservation and rainforest protection programmes with…
Read more
Discover
Best volunteer travel destinations in Oceania
Volunteer travel in Oceania tends to center on the natural world, which makes sense given how much of the region's identity is tied to its coastline and wildlife. Australia and…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customisation options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
