Voluntourism Destinations – Travel Opportunities That Make a Difference

Are you planning to travel abroad for a fantastic holiday after finishing your university studies? Do you want to both relax and do something valuable for the less privileged?

Then voluntourism might be just right for you.

I first discovered voluntourism back in high school. Now, I want to share my own experience of voluntourism and provide some useful tips to help you plan your trip.

What is Voluntourism Anyway?

‘Voluntourism’ is a combination of two words—‘volunteer’, which means you’ll be doing work to benefit others, and ‘tourism’, which means you’ll be traveling to a new culture and destination for a period of time.

As a voluntourist, you get all the typical perks of regular vacations—traveling to a new place or country—while also getting a double whammy of doing good for the local community in need through your volunteer service.

Why Choose Voluntourism Over Regular Tourism?

Here’s how voluntourism has shown me a way I want to travel in the future:

As a regular tourist, I remained an outsider just looking in, no matter how sincere my interest was in a place. As a voluntourist, I could immerse myself in daily life and be invited into people’s lives. The local people that I worked alongside began to teach me as much about their culture as the assorted tour guidebooks ever could.

The opportunity to do good was also a strong draw for me. I mean, we’re all probably fairly unproductive when we’re traveling, right?

But with voluntourism, at least I’m using my time and skills to give back—to improve animal welfare, to help those kids learn. I might not be doing huge amounts, but I can imagine my efforts have impact. And that’s important, right?

How I Picked the Right Voluntourism Experience

Discovering the sheer wealth of choices immediately made clear that voluntourism was a viable option for me. But how to decide? Here are some of the points I used to narrow down my options:

First, I did some self-assessment about what skills I might be able to contribute. My life had included working with animals and on farms.

For me, wildlife and rural community projects leapt to the front. If you’re more of a teacher, teaching children might be your thing. If you’re handy with tools, the building projects might be your scene. You get the idea.

I also considered social and environmental subjects I care about, seeking ways to apply myself to these causes as well.

For me, this meant thinking about sustainable agriculture and the protection of vulnerable species. Pinpointing my core interests also helped guide my decision-making process toward choosing farm-based projects.

My Top Voluntourism Destinations to Consider

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a veritable Eden. Preserve endangered sea turtles on Pacific coast beaches and monitor the oceans for mother turtles. Maintain walking trails in national parks teeming with a diverse array of flora and fauna. Then, gain an inside look at sustainable agriculture during a farm stay while earning your keep.

Nepal

You can also trek across vast regions of the Himalayas or visit some of the country’s numerous spiritual sites. The massive earthquakes in Nepal last year left many communities still in need of reconstruction and are seeking construction-oriented volunteers willing to help rebuild damaged homes and schools.

South Africa

South Africa provides an abundance of wildlife and is a popular safari destination, but it also needs help protecting its unique ecosystems. Many endangered species, especially rhinos and cheetahs, are the focus of sanctuaries and game reserves that welcome volunteers to assist in their care.

Peru

If one can bear the sometimes freezing temperatures or pain from high-altitude headaches, the Machu Picchu region offers an abundance of exciting adventures. However, many rural Andean communities could also use volunteers to help out with agricultural work, teaching children, or preserving traditions. Homestays are a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Peruvian life and contribute by doing voluntary work.