7 Ways to Do Environmental Volunteering in South America

If you’re considering conservation volunteering abroad, setting your sites on South America is a great place to start because there are so many ways to do environmental volunteering! No matter what your environmental calling is, South America has a program for you.

Do you want to help save the Amazon rainforest?

When you think of the environment, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s wildlife protection, cleaning up trash off beaches, or planting trees in the Amazon rainforest. If you want to work with marine life, there are oceanic opportunities in places like Ecuador and Peru.

If you want to get lost in the jungle, check out programs in Brazil. There are mountains, beaches, and even deserts—South America has it all! The extraordinary array of environmental volunteer opportunities comes down to location, location, location. And South America is the place to be.

Why do volunteer work in South America?

If you wanna volunteer abroad in South America, choosing an environmental route is a no-brainer. We’re talking about extreme biodiversity, azure oceans, vibrant flora, and so many animals!

Some of the best volunteer programs in South America are environmentally focused, so you could probably just close your eyes and start scrolling through the long list of programs and choose at random. But we wanted to do a little research for you (as we do) and make that process a little more organized.

If you know you want to get involved but aren’t sure what route to take, this list is for you! With so many options, it can be a little overwhelming to nail down one specific type of environmental volunteering. South America doesn’t make it easy by offering so many types!

Luckily, you can always choose a program that does a little of this and a little of that.

Mountains? Rainforest? Big city? Rural village? It’s up to you!

Want to connect the Earth to the people? Channel your inner Lorax, educate the masses on sustainability, and plant some trees while you’re at it.

Or maybe you like animals more than people and would rather spend time in a remote village whispering sweet nothings to spider monkeys. Or maybe you’re into dirty stuff and want to try your hands at organic farming.

Main point: There are tons of ways to pitch in for the environment in South America. So what are you waiting for?

READ: 7 Things to Know Before Environmental Volunteering Abroad

7 programs for environmental volunteering in South America

1. Kaya Responsible Travel: Environmental Conservation in the Mindo Cloud Forest

This program checks a lot of do-good, feel-good boxes. You get to interact with animals, learn about environmental policy, and advocate for animal rights.

Kaya Responsible Travel partners with local families in the Amazon rainforest in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals that were abused and trafficked. This is great for people interested in biology, animal rights, conservation, and environmental policy. You’ll also get to brush up on your Spanish skills (or cultivate them) in the country!

The program site is in a remote area of the Amazon rainforest, so you’ll have the chance to totally immerse yourself in environmental volunteering. South America boasts a dazzling display of animals in need of advocates like you.

You’ll get to work with brightly-colored parrots, chatty monkeys, wild cats, capybaras, caymans, and turtles.

• Where? Remote site outside of Quito in the Amazon, Ecuador
• When? Year-round
• Read Kaya Responsible Travel reviews

2. ELI Abroad: Brazilian Wildlife Program

This ELI Abroad program is in a top secret location. You’ll be totally off-the-grid, making your time volunteering at a sanctuary even more legit. It’s just like going into the jungle and seeing what the animals are up to with a little bit of structure. Ok, they won’t let the animals eat you, so there’s that.

The wildlife sanctuary is located between Curitiba and Florianopolis in Brazil’s vast jungles. You’ll be immersed in gorgeous Brazilian flora and fauna, and see things straight out of a David Attenburough documentary! The area is brimming with parrots, jaguars, pumas, tortoises, spider monkeys, and much more.

Many of these animals were rescued from the illegal pet trade, so the variety is absurd and the cause is just. The park is closed to the general public, so you’ll have a special treat ethically interacting with these animals.

The things you’ll be doing while volunteering with wildlife here include feeding, cleaning enclosures, and monitoring behavior. You’ll get to live on-site in a guest house with western amenities. Looking for a true nature escape? You’ll find it in Brazil!

No previous knowledge is is required; you’ll learn what you need to know from conservation biologists and local folks.

• Where? Curitiba, Brazil
• When? Year-round
• Read ELI Abroad reviews

3. World Endeavors: Volunteer in Argentina with World Endeavors

Most of the volunteer work in South America sets you up in a remote village or tiny beach town, which is absolutely idyllic. But if you want a chance to experience the hype of a city like Buenos Aires, is there hope for you? Indeed there is!

Live it up in the big city while supporting a local grassroots organization focused on environmental and wildlife conservation policies and community outreach initiatives. World Endeavors is an NGO based in the buzzing metropolis where Euro vibes meet Latin American pizazz.

You’ll get to work on a variety of sustainability initiatives that provide a balance between humans and nature, educate people about climate change, and explore the sights of Argentina while you’re there!

• Where? Buenos Aires, Argentina
• When? Year-round
• Read World Endeavors reviews

4. Intercultural Outreach Initiative: Sustainable Farming & Urban Agriculture in Galapagos

If you’re really jiving for that remote island life, get your hands dirty in the Galapagos Islands. This program wants you to totally integrate yourself to understand the local island life, so they set you up in homestays.

You’ll be getting into the weeds of environmental volunteering by working in greenhouses and small farms to sustainably and environmentally make FOOD! The volcanic soil makes for extremely fertile lands; prime for tasty, organic fruits and veggies.

Learn local techniques for sustainable tropical agriculture to help create food sovereignty, lower the community’s carbon footprint, and increase local income.

You’ll need intermediate Spanish to work with locals, a love for the outdoors and conservation, and the ability to do hard labor like gardening and construction. Bonus—you get to see and taste the benefits of your work.

• Where? Tomás de Berlanga, Galápagos Islands
• When? Year-round
• Read Intercultural Outreach Initiative reviews

5. ELI Abroad: Conservation Project in Patagonia, Argentina

Ah, Patagonia. No, not the jacket. This epic, mysterious, and sublime region in South America covers 260,000 square miles. The striking mountains are calling—and you must go! This conservation project is truly hands-on, so you’ll feel good about your work.

You’ll be kicking it old school (read: rugged mountain-mode) in the rural town of El Bolson. Learn about (and participate in) organic farming, composting, recycling, trail clearing, and promoting sustainable tourism in the region.

This program is open to people with beginner Spanish skills, so it’s perfect to start your journey to becoming bilingual. Because the site is tucked away in the Rio Negro Province, you won’t have to dish out hella cash to survive, so it’s an extremely affordable program. From farming to outreach, it’s the perfect blend of South American conservation efforts.

• Where? El Bolson, Argentina
• When? November - April
• Read ELI Abroad reviews

6. Máximo Nivel: Jungle Conservation—Volunteer in Peru!

We’re going to circle back to that Lorax reference for a hot minute *cough* climate change *cough* to talk about planting trees in the Amazon rainforest. Reforestation efforts are critical because the rainforest does a lot for all of us all over the world. The Amazon is a massive carbon sink, mitigating some effects of climate change.

Conservation efforts like this Jungle Conservation project may be located in South America, but the efforts transcend geographic boundaries. And “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better...it's not.”

So now that we’ve tapped into your inner Gretta Thunberg let’s talk about Peru. This program gets you in touch with local projects that focus on reforestation, ecotourism, and animal care all around Cusco.

You’ll be working with professional environmentalists, researchers, and biologists, so it’s a chance to make connections and build your network of nerdy-nature-loving badasses.

• Where? Cusco, Peru
• When? Year-round
• Read Maximo Nivel reviews

7. GoEco: Peru - Amazon Conservation and Machu Picchu Expedition

This six-day adventure will take you from an ecological reserve deep in the rainforest to the magical, mountainous realm of Machu Picchu. The alpacas are plentiful, the views are out of this world, and the chance to experience culture and South American conservation efforts go hand-in-hand.

GoEco hacked the volunteer travel experience by embedding full-blown exploration into it. You’ll get to assist with turtle repopulation efforts, help out at a wildlife rescue center, conduct biodiversity research, and maintain trails. Then, hop on a four-by-four and tour the ruins of Machu Picchu.

• Where? Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru
• When? Year-round
• Read GoEco reviews

Compare these programs side-by-side for FREE with MyGoAbroad

Find the best volunteer programs in South America for you!

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re choosing to pursue volunteer work in South America, you obviously care about making a deep impact on the environment abroad. Meaningful travel means figuring out how you’ll make that impact.

It starts with the little things from within when you make the decision to go. Then, you get to put that positive energy into programs like these and start to feel the difference. Volunteering abroad is all about aligning your goals with experience.

If your heart is yearning for the chance to make a difference in the world you can feel, you need to get involved in environmental volunteering. South America is a great place to start because of its diversity in opportunities, environments, and cultures. We hope that you find the program that fills your cup in South America!

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