Mexico is a great value for money destination with a beautiful beaches, a vibrant culture, temples and a brilliant street food scene.
Mexico is a major tourist destination because it affords visitors tropical beaches, resorts, historical sites, and natural jungle habitats to name some.
There are so many volunteer opportunities with wildlife, the environment and communities. Learn local traditions and contribute in a positive way.
Best Volunteering Programs in Mexico
There are numerous volunteering options in a wide range of fields. For individuals related to the medical field, there are volunteering options in rural health clinics. Work will involve vaccinating and participating in health related outreach programs. The benefits to volunteers include living with a local family, gaining first hand healthcare experience and in free time mountaineering, or visiting archaeology sites in the area.
Cultural exchange projects located in Queretaro, Zacatecas and Michoacan involve tutoring and English teaching at local area school. The programs run for two months and volunteers get to live with Mexican hosts. Volunteers work for 20 hours a week. This means they have plenty of time leftover to see the country side, get to taste authentic Mexican food and pick up Spanish in return for their service.
Among the most loved projects is the one involving sea turtle conservation. Designed especially for university students and coinciding with their school calendars, the project lasts for one week in the spring break. Volunteers spend time combing through sand searching for turtle eggs and then transporting them to the safety of a hatchery. For entertainment volunteers get to camp on a beach, along the Pacific Coast.
Location of Projects
Most placements can be joined in places like:
- Cuernavaca
- Felipe Carrillo Puerto
- Guadalajara
- Guanajuato
- Mexico City
- Mérida (YUC)
- Oaxaca
- Playa del Carmen
- Puerto Escondido
- Puerto Vallarta
- Queretaro
You could volunteer in Mexico City which is the perfect jump off point to explore the rest of the Mexico and beyond. For beaches the towns of Ixtapa and Acapulco are a must and for a bit of history the pyramids of Teotihuacan are just 30 miles away from Mexico City.
FAQ
Duration
The duration of the program can be anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks or be extended to 12 months or longer.
What to eat?
Pambazos (bread rolls cooked in chilli sauce and then filled with anything you fancy) are totally delicious and chicharrones (pork rinds cooked in lard) perfectly demonstrate why Mexico has one of the highest obesity rates in the world!
If I see one thing?
The Palacio Nacional de Mexico is a great place to get under the skin of the city and discover some of its incredible history, both ancient and modern.
Similar destinations
• Belize
• Costa Rica
• Guatemala