It can be fun to travel around the world and gain new experiences. However, many times, travel can harm the environment due to fossil fuels and a lot of plastic from foods and drink containers. Perhaps you want to explore the world while also helping the global environment and local communities.
7 Eco-Friendly Travel Opportunities Across South America
Thankfully, there are all sorts of volunteer travel opportunities for you that are not only eco-friendly but allow you to help the environment, animals, and local people in the area.
If you have your sights set on South America, we have 7 eco-friendly travel opportunities for you!
Eco-Friendly Travel – Giant Tortoise and Sea Turtle Conservation in the Galapagos
By working with this program, you have the opportunity to help protect tortoises and turtles in the Galapagos. As a volunteer, you would be in charge of monitoring turtle nests, spreading information about habitat conservation, and caring for tortoises in their enclosure.
You would have the opportunity to stay for 2 to 12 weeks and have the weekends off. Most volunteers will be helping for roughly 4 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs of the program.
This is a great opportunity because you have plenty of time to explore the nearby islands and features of the Galapagos while also getting to help preserve the environment and endangered animals.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Preserving the Amazon Rainforest and Its Traditions
There is an Eco Village in Peru where you can garden and help out in the Amazon Rainforest to help preserve traditional ways of life. Farming, gardening, handy work, and social work are all the types of jobs required for volunteers, which allows you to learn a great deal about the area.
They ask for about 25 hours of work from you per week and give you one full day off. Meals, hiking tours, and holistic therapies are offered for free, plus you get discounts on other tours and excursions around town.
This opportunity offers the chance to learn a lot about the culture and the Amazon, while also putting in steps to protect the way of life there.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Marine Wildlife Conservation
This one is great if you want to help with marine conservation, learn to surf, and learn some Spanish. This one allows you to stay anywhere between 3 and 50 weeks out of the year. You will be asked to help rehabilitate marine life affected by pollution, as well as educate locals about how plastics and other pollution affect the local wildlife.
In your downtime, you get to learn to surf for one week free and get a 20-hour course of Spanish, also included in the total package. Depending on the time of year, they may also provide holiday parties and whale watching for no additional cost.
In your free time, there is a lot to do, including continuing your surfing lessons. They give you plenty of time to explore and have free time to yourself outside of work – and be aware of the need t to look for eco-friendly travel opportunities.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Eco Village
If you want a simpler experience, this Eco Village might be for you. They ask for six hours of work a day, and it involves social work, farming, gardening, and even handy work. They give you two days off a week, free meals, free laundry, and free events that might be going on in town at the time. They even provide a free permaculture course if you are interested in learning.
This Eco Village was built over 30 years ago, and they are simply inviting travellers to come and see what their daily life is like. You will stay at least four weeks to get an idea of the culture and living arrangements in the area. Not only will you be working, but you will learn more about the culture and methods that the people of this Eco Village use daily.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Peruvian Endangered Animal Sanctuary
Peru is full of beautiful cultural history in the area. By volunteering at this animal sanctuary, you will have the opportunity to help local injured animals in the area as well as explore the area. You get weekends off and spend your days working at the animal sanctuary, helping animals in need.
During your stay, the program offers a cultural week that allows you to learn about South American cultures and more about the region you are staying in. They also provide you with some traditional dishes from the area.
There are also several restaurants in the area, the Peruvian forest, pyramids, tombs, and even a famous witch doctor market.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Full South American Experience
If you want to travel while still helping locals and the environment, then this full South American experience might be for you. You will backpack through Machu Picchu along the Salkantay Trek. There are also beaches and even an animal rescue center you can visit. The tour lasts a full seven weeks to allow you to see everything on the trip.
Meals, Spanish lessons, airport pickups, and even a flight to the Galapagos are included in this trip. This is a great trip for people interested in the protection and conservation of animals and nature, as well as love backpacking and exploring new places.
Eco-Friendly Travel – Eco-Farming Experience
If you want a little more free time with your volunteering, an Eco Farm might be for you. This farm only has volunteers working 3 days a week, from 8 until 5, with some breaks in between. The rest of the days are yours to do with as you wish.
During your time at the farm, you will work on organic farming and agroforestry. Currently, the company is working on sewage systems, grazing areas, compost, and fruit and vegetable gardening.
The other four days of the week are completely for you. You can stay around the farm with natural pools and waterfalls to explore. There are also biking and hiking trails and even places to fish. There is also public transportation to nearby places to explore the culture more than nature.
If you have any eco-friendly travel tips we’d love you to share them below.
*Collaborative post