south america Archives

If you are someone who loves to travel as much as I do, you’ll be familiar with the traditional advice on how to travel inexpensively. Hostels, couch surfing, camping… and eating nothing but buttered pasta for weeks on end. What if I told you that there is an easier way to travel the world, save money, and have a memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience? Imagine summiting Machu Picchu, getting a tan on the beaches of Lima, or dancing in Rio. Worldpackers makes finding volunteer work while backpacking South America more accessible than ever!

Volunteer in South America via a Reputable Agency

If volunteer work in South America sounds like something you want to do, it’s best to do it via a reputable agency. An agency will help screen volunteer programs and hosts in South America to make sure you have support every step of the way.

Finding a Host on Worldpackers

Worldpackers is a service that connects travellers with volunteer work in South America and around the world. Travellers and hosts use the service to find each other, and each provides an integral part of the exchange.

The hosts will offer a place to stay. Perhaps a hostel, camp, family home, farm, or NGO to a traveller in exchange for hours worked or volunteered on the property. A traveller works on the property a set number of hours per week in exchange for free accommodation, and sometimes other perks such as free food, free bike rentals, free tours… the list is endless!

How to build your Worldpackers profile

To begin on Worldpackers as a traveller, all you need to do is sign up, pay a yearly membership, USD $49.99 and begin searching for your dream volunteer program in South America. You can apply to as many experiences you like. If a host thinks that you’ll be a good fit, you’ll be pre-approved. All that’s left to do is book your flight and pack!

The Worldpackers interface is extremely intuitive and easy to use. You can search experiences by destination, purpose of the trip, availability, skills you offer, style of travel, hours of collaboration, trip length, additional benefits and more. That makes searching through their thousands of experiences easy and manageable. You can also read all reviews from other Worldpackers who have lived that experience, so you have the peace of mind that you’re making the right choice in applying.

The site also offers hundreds of articles, videos and courses about how to stand out as a volunteer. You can earn badges and certificates for your profile which will make you a more desirable candidate and can increase your chances of being selected by the hosts you want!

Long Term Volunteer Work in South America

Most Worldpackers volunteer trips in South America require the volunteers to stay between 2-4 weeks. However, you will find a huge variety of minimum time commitments on the site.

The benefits of long-term travel are plenty. Connecting to a location, immersing yourself in a different culture, contributing to a local community and making lifelong connections are just a few of the highlights past Worldpackers shared in their reviews.

There is also value in establishing a home base with a volunteer program when you are backpacking South America. When travelling and living out of a backpack for long periods of time, it can be a great reset to feel at home for a while.

Your hosts and fellow travellers can become a family away from home and they can be a great resource for planning for your next destinations.

Volunteer Trips In South America

Let’s look at some current volunteer opportunities for those backpacking South America.

There are over 1500 volunteer positions available in South America at the time of writing this article. Some require as short of a time commitment of only one week! I’m happy to highlight just a few opportunities available this spring & summer.

Volunteer at the reception of a hostel in Bogotá, Colombia

This position is looking for a warm and friendly individual to work behind the counter greeting guests at their hostel. As a volunteer, you’d work 32 hours a week. You would also be asked to give a hand in the kitchen.

Aside from a free bed, this experience also offers you free breakfast each morning, use of their kitchen, bikes at your disposal and discounts on drinks. This hostel has achieved top host status, meaning that they have consistently received great reviews from travellers who have lived this experience.

Past Worldpackers have said this experience excels in helping them immerse themselves in the culture, meet locals, develop social awareness, and meet other international travellers.

Explore more volunteer work in Colombia

Share your knowledge in Catuama, Brazil

“Share your knowledge and experience on skills that you have developed or learned.”

Do you have a special skill or talent? Why not bring yourself to Brazil to teach in a hostel! Whether it be teaching a sport, organizing events, or running a craft workshop – this experience may be for you!

This host is asking Worldpackers to stay at least 15 days. In exchange you get 3 days off per week, pickup, and transport to the hostel when you arrive, access to the kitchen and discounts on accommodation for your stay in other hostels as you continue with your travels.

Other Worldpackers recommend this experience for getting in touch with nature, learning about sustainability and developing greater environmental awareness.

Explore more volunteer work in Brazil

Volunteer at our Zoo in the Peruvian Andes Valley, Lima Peru

“Join us as a Zoo volunteer! Work alongside skilled veterinarians and staff, at our local Zoo in the Peruvian Andes. As a volunteer, you will learn about each species and support by feeding animals, spending time/sharing loving energy with animals, helping veterinarians administer medications, cleaning, gardening, and maintaining the atmosphere for the animals.”

If cost isn’t a limiting factor during your travel, there are even more opportunities available to you. This experience, and a select few others, may charge an additional fee. For instance, are you an animal lover? While backpacking South America, you could volunteer at a local zoo, helping to care for animals.

This position only requires 3 hours of work each weekday, which frees up the rest of your time to explore this beautiful country! This position also provides breakfast and lunch each day.

They accept couples as well as single volunteers, so if you are travelling with a partner or friend, they are welcome too.

Those who have volunteered here say this experience was great for meeting locals, immersing in the local culture, and getting in touch with nature.

Explore more volunteer work in Peru

Community Manager & Web Programmer in Cordoba, Argentina

If you’re looking for volunteer work in South America that would also look great on your resume, why not consider helping out as a community manager and web programmer during your backpacking trip?

“We are looking for a creative person who has knowledge in digital marketing, social networks and can also help us advertise the hostel organically and using digital ads.”

For anyone with tech skills to spare, this position could be not only fun, but also a great career opportunity to bolster your resume.

This stunning hostel in Argentina is seeking a talented person to run their social media accounts, and the minimum time requirement is only one week.

You would work 32 hours a week which leaves plenty of time for exploring and spending time with your new friends from around the world.

Explore more volunteer work in Argentina

Multiply and cultivate ornamental plants in Chile

“We reproduce and research ornamental plants, especially the native ones… We’re 5 km away from the touristic city of Valdivia, close to national parks and other attractions. Come help us with different activities in our vivero.”

If you’ve got a green thumb and would love to be surrounded by nature while backpacking South America, why not volunteer in beautiful Chile on a working farm? You’d work farming, gardening, and helping with general labour around the property.

This experience includes all meals, free laundry, and 2 days off a week. You can also use the on-site bicycles to get into town on your days off.

Explore more volunteer work in Chile

In conclusion, you don’t have to pay a ton of money to travel around the world or have unique experiences. Worldpackers is an incredible resource for backpackers, budget travellers, or those searching for enriching volunteer programs in South America.

Their site’s search functions make it so easy to find the best volunteer work when backpacking South America. Regardless of your unique travel itinerary, I cannot recommend Worldpackers enough.

We’ve all heard of the top wine destinations like Napa Valley, Bordeaux, and Tuscany, which are on the bucket list for many wine connoisseurs, but there are plenty of wine regions around the globe that are more off the beaten path. And where there is good wine, there is warm weather and great food pairings, a recipe for a perfect vacation. Here are the top romantic wine destination ideas suitable for a getaway on all budgets.

1. Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley, one of the most famous romantic wine destinations in the world, offers lush-green vineyards and stunning views. Napa Valley is home to hundreds of wineries along the hillsides and is home to famous wine varietals like California Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Some of the most famous vineyards in Napa Valley include Castello di Amorosa, Spottswoode, and Inglenook Winery, where you can sample your share of the Napa red blend wine and satiate the budding sommelier within. If you’re fond of robust red wines or crisp sparkling wines, you must book a wine tour in the Napa Valley region.

While visiting Napa, you can even hop on board the Napa Valley Wine Train, which allows you to make stops at the best Napa wineries without worrying about transportation.

2. Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico

Another one of the top wine destination ideas on North America’s West Coast is Valle De Guadalupe in Mexico. With over a hundred wineries and multiple wines to choose from, the wine region is quite popular among wine lovers.

You can book a wine tour in the area and learn about high-quality wine-making procedures. The diverse wine grape varieties to try in this region are Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Vermentino.

At famous wineries, you are likely to experience multi-course meals with farm-to-table serving methods. Be sure to pre-book your wine tours for the best experience on an affordable budget.

3. Bordeaux, France

Every amateur sommelier wishes to learn about the art of wine-making and the history behind every bottle. If you want to visit the heart of the French wine country, you may choose a wine tour in Bordeaux.

With romantic vineyards and calm surroundings, the place is a haven for wine enthusiasts. While visiting the famous wine region, you should save time to explore the popular attractions in Bordeaux city like Basilique Saint-Michel, Musée des Beaux-Arts, and Musée d’Aquitaine.

4. Tuscany, Italy

If your idea of perfection is a warm evening, a glass of wine, and a stunning sunset over rolling hills, you should plan a trip to the Tuscany wine region in Italy.

The grapevines in this region have been cultivated for over 3000 years, and the native varietals like Sangiovese and Chianti are still produced with a nod to ancient traditions. From day one, you’ll be immersed in the romantic Italian lifestyle with its vintage vibe and its focus on the small pleasures of day-to-day life.

Some popular wineries famous for authentic tasting experiences are Fattoria del Colle – Cantine, and Azienda Agricola Capanna di Cencioni. Once you’ve had your share of countryside life, you can head to nearby famous sights like Florence, Cinque Terre, and Pisa’s Leaning Tower.

5. Piedmont, Virginia

Deep in the heart of Thomas Jefferson’s former home on the east coast, Piedmont, Virginia now offers the perfect wine getaway to the tourists. The region is home to more than 30 authentic wineries amid the river valleys and rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

You can grab your share of local wines like Grignolino and Pelaverga and spend relaxing evenings with your loved ones. Some of the best wineries to explore in the region are Abellonio Cascina Piccaluga and Cinque Terre Wine. Make sure to enjoy a glass of Barolo at the majestic Isola Bella to round out your wine vacation in Virginia.

6. Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

The basic requirements for a top wine destination are authentic wine-tasting experiences and breath-taking surroundings. One such destination is Uco Valley in the famous Mendoza wine region in Argentina.

If you wish to taste the native wines like Malbec, then you must book a tour in the Uco Valley, which is known for producing the best Malbec in the world. Some famous wineries to consider are Andeluna and Salentein, where you can taste different styles of wine and take a tour of the facilities.

If you’re up for an outdoor adventure, you can embark on the hiking trail to the popular Aconcagua peak where you’ll enjoy stunning views of the entire Mendoza region.

7. Tenerife, Spain

Spain is well known for its stunning architecture, tapas, and vibrant culture. But if you’re looking for something more off the beaten path, you might consider a trip to the wine-making region on the island of Tenerife.

Tenerife is part of the Canary Islands located off the coast of Morocco, but as an official part of Spain, there are frequent flight connections from all major Spanish cities. Tenerife offers local wine varieties like Listán Blanco for the whites and Listán Negro and Tempranillo for the red wine lovers.

Also, you can enjoy your drink amidst the serene island locations like Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz. For a vacation that’s out of the ordinary, plan your next wine getaway to this Spanish island famous for its wines and turquoise waters.

Planning your Next Romantic Wine Destination

If you’re a wine lover, you may want to plan your next getaway to one of the many top wine destination ideas around the world. Lucky for wine-lovers, the best vines are found in sunny locations with great weather, making them a perfect place for a long vacation.

Whether you choose a world-famous wine destination like Tuscany, Mendoza, or Napa Valley, or want to get more off the beaten path in Valle De Guadalupe or Piedmont, there are countless places on earth where you can sample top-notch wines amidst stunning landscapes.

The romantic charm of rolling vineyards and the luxury of fine wines make a wine vacation a great option, whether you’re traveling with a partner or a group of friends. Cheers!

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Volunteer While Backpacking South America