Wähle deine Reisedaten, um einen Preis zu sehen

Ausgezeichnet 4.88rating (1322)

Real South America Encounter

location
6 - 12 Wochen  ·  Alter 18 - 50+
Verifiziert
Freiwilligenprojekt mit höchster Qualität. Dieses Projekt bietet Qualität, die Maßstäbe setzt - weit über dem Durchschnitt.

Highlights

  • 80% of volunteers are 18-22 years old
  • Take in the best of South America in one trip
  • Exciting weekend travel opportunities available across each country

Highlights

  • 80% of volunteers are 18-22 years old
  • Take in the best of South America in one trip
  • Exciting weekend travel opportunities available across each country
  • Embrace new cultures, adventures and communities with new friends
  • Visit Arenal Volcano, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu in your free time

  • Du musst noch nichts bezahlen

    Besonders geeignet für

    Alter 18+
    Alleinreisend
    Gruppen

    Über das Programm

    Embark on this stunning trip across Costa Rica, Ecuador & Peru where you are guaranteed to experience all aspects of South American lifestyle and culture.

    Our Real South America Encounter takes you to Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. We seriously can’t think of a more sublime combination of mysterious, picturesque and charming countries to volunteer in. Join us on a mind-blowing 6-12 weeks and be sure to improve your Spanish language in each country as ...

    Über das Programm

    Our Real South America Encounter takes you to Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. We seriously can’t think of a more sublime combination of mysterious, picturesque and charming countries to volunteer in. Join us on a mind-blowing 6-12 weeks and be sure to improve your Spanish language in each country as you learn Spanish abroad.

    In South America, you will encounter countless views of the Sierra Madre and Andes mountains. In addition, you will take in a range of wildlife species including leatherback sea turtles, 2-toed sloths and spider monkeys. There will be lasting tastes from each country as you enjoy delicious Peruvian Ceviche or Costa Rican Dados de Queso! South America’s various climates and infinite sights will leave you wishing you never had to leave. Volunteer in South America on this once in a lifetime trip and choose the trip duration, volunteer projects and travel experiences that are right for you.

    HOW IT WORKS

    The South America Gap Year experience has start dates all year round. Moreover, participants can choose the trip duration that is right for them when completing volunteer work in South America. There is 6,9 and 12 week gap year in South America options to choose from on the online application. All programs commence on the first Sunday of each month, but alternate start dates can be considered on request.

    Should you choose the 6-week option you will spend 2 weeks volunteering in each of Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. In the same vein, should you choose a 9-week South America Gap Year experience, you will spend 3 weeks volunteering in each destination. Likewise, the 12 week program will see you join us for 4 weeks in each of the three countries.

    Volunteers will need to plan their flight schedules to match their country-specific trip dates. Therefore, you will need to arrange your inbound flight to arrive in Costa Rica for the beginning of the South America Gap Year experience. Your outbound flight will need to depart out of Peru once your time on the program is completed.

    In addition, you will need to budget and plan your intermediary flights for your South America Gap Year experience. More specifically, you will need to book flights from Costa Rica to Ecuador and then Ecuador into Costa Rica matching your specific trip dates. This may sound a little complicated, but rest assured, the team are on-hand for assistance.

    Across your South America Gap Year Experience, you will meet plenty of other travellers and volunteers along the way! The numbers and types of people you will encounter will change as you move from country to country. This will allow you to make many friendships and share experiences with a range of people on your South America encounter journey!

    You can choose any of the standard South America volunteer programs in each country during the online application process. Please note, some volunteer projects may be subject to availability and you should only select one project to each destination. Additionally, there may be an additional cost associated with some projects. Any additional costs will be made clear next to the volunteer project option during the online application. You can explore your volunteer options in each destination below. It will be an unforgettable 6-12 weeks!

    VOLUNTEER IN COSTA RICA (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

    Your first stop will be Costa Rica. This beautiful country has been an explorer’s dream for decades. Its landscape is diverse with crystal blue waters, dense rainforest and over 60 volcanoes. Be sure to get comfortable with a bit of close interaction because each person you greet will be up for a kiss on the cheek. You will no doubt remember the blissful memories of Costa Rica after your time visiting this amazing country. After all, the country has been referred to as the ‘world’s happiest country’.

    Combine adventure travel with community volunteering as well as ticking off all the ‘must-see’ things in Costa Rica. You will spend your first-week learning or enhancing the beautiful Spanish language. The remainder of your time in Costa Rica will be volunteering in either a childcare setting or teaching English.

    While Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, the use of English isn’t as often as one would think. For the reason that many of the local people are still unable to communicate properly in English. Consequently, taking the time to interact with local people will help their English levels improve! You will be able to select your volunteer in Costa Rica project during the online application.

    VOLUNTEER IN ECUADOR (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

    Your second stop is in Ecuador. Get ready for another adventure because your next 2-4 weeks will be spent in the mesmerising city of Quito. Considered the “middle of the world,” the region offers travellers a unique opportunity to walk the equatorial line. The capital’s historic district, considered the largest and best-preserved in South America, was declared a World Heritage site. Across the city, you’ll find spots such as La Compañía de Jesús and the Baroque masterpiece of America. Furthermore, the La Plaza Grande, the centre of Quito’s historic achievements, narrates the history of the city.

    From this well-cultured city, you will find yourself in the prime location to visit the Galapagos Islands. This is your platform to witness an abundance of unique wildlife. Alternatively, you can choose to head to the cloud forests within the Amazon rainforest. Other adventure travel opportunities in Ecuador include Mindo for a bit of rafting and Salinas if you like to surf. Finally, Otavalo is home to one of the most colourful markets in the Andes and may be worth a visit.

    Your volunteering choices are very varied. Contribute to the lives of children with learning difficulties. On the other hand, teach English to high school students and help them reach their full potential within an indigenous setting. Alternatively, you can gain practical medical experience and insight on elective programs in one of Quito’s biggest hospitals. You will be able to select your volunteer in Ecuador project during the online application.

    VOLUNTEER IN PERU (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

    Your final stop is Peru. This country is home to the lost city that is Machu Picchu. This is recognised as the empire of the Incans and home to the infamous Inca Trail. The ancient Inca ruins are considered to be some of the most beautiful and mysterious sites in the world. You won’t just encounter visiting such ruins in this glorious city; they are all over Peru!

    The real gem of your time in this country will be the people. Peruvians are an interesting bunch of extremely polite, hardworking, peaceful and cultured people. Be sure to ask of their Quechua roots, they may even teach you a phrase or two! Be ready for bright colours and warm smiles as you make a positive impact in the local communities. In the same vein, stone streets, snow-capped mountains and temple ruins await you in Peru. Finally, the Peruvian cuisine you will encounter will leave your taste buds wanting more!

    You will spend time in the heart of Peru meeting breath-taking views and delectable cuisine. Furthermore, Cusco will be your hub to make a positive difference in volunteering at local projects. Our development work in Cusco runs throughout the year. You can choose your volunteer project to teach indigenous children the English language. Moreover, you can offer a helping hand at childcare programs provided for the working street children. Alternatively, you can choose to enhance your medical knowledge by observing clinical nurses & physicians. You will be able to select your volunteer in Peru project during the online application.

    OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ON ENCOUNTER TRIPS

    Spanish Requirements - For the childcare, teaching and wildlife programs in Latin America, we recommend that you speak a reasonable level of Spanish prior to your trip. There are no specific language requirements in order to join the program and you can join as an absolute beginner. However, we find that the ability to speak a good level of the Spanish language and a passion to learn more will greatly enhance your overall experience. This is because English is generally not widely spoken and therefore our programs should be viewed as a broader language immersion experience. If you do not speak a reasonable level of Spanish then you will find it difficult to communicate. As a result, this could lead to a more frustrating experience.

    For the medical program we strongly recommend you speak a conversational level of Spanish as communication is essential to a productive experience at the project.

    Different Experiences Across Different Destinations - The Encounter programs are designed to provide a varied experience across some fascinating and unique destinations. Although we try and design our program set ups in the same way your volunteer experience in each destination is very varied. For example, some destinations provide a more basic accommodation set up but a high impact volunteer role, others are more touristy and therefore your role at the project is more limited, teams have different safety policies depending on the local environment etc. Therefore, please remain open-minded when joining our program across different destinations as each country offers a completely individual experience.

    Flights Not Included - None of the flights the itinerary are included within the Program Fee for this itinerary. You should therefore budget accordingly for the main international flights from/to your home location and then the relevant internal flights across the Encounter destinations.



    Tagesablauf

    The typical day of a volunteer varies and depends on the programs they choose to participate in. Here are a few examples:

    Childcare Volunteer in Costa Rica:
    Volunteers will help with daily chores like cleaning and helping to feed the children. Other aspects of being a childcare volunteer in Costa Rica ...

    Tagesablauf

    The typical day of a volunteer varies and depends on the programs they choose to participate in. Here are a few examples:

    Childcare Volunteer in Costa Rica:
    Volunteers will help with daily chores like cleaning and helping to feed the children. Other aspects of being a childcare volunteer in Costa Rica include singing songs, teaching about hygiene and other important skills. Playing games and outdoor activities are also a big part of your volunteer role.
    The work schedule is flexible and will be set between you, the centre and our volunteer coordinator in Coronado. Based on your project assignment, you will typically work either 7:30am-12:30pm or 1pm-5pm on a Monday-Friday basis. Please plan for at least 3-5 hours on the project.
    If you are up for it, take a 40 minute walk through the heart of Coronado to reach your childcare volunteer placement! Alternatively, you can take a 20 minute bus ride to reach your childcare project. The bus stop is located just outside the volunteer accommodation and Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

    Medical Program in Ecuador:
    International volunteers will spend most of their time observing on the wards assisted by nurses and doctors. In some cases, they will be asked to assist in engaging small children with activities while they receive treatment. There is a chance if volunteers speak Spanish to get involved with counselling. This can extend to helping local doctors with care plans for families with patients in the hospital.
    In general, your medical volunteer work in Ecuador will be Monday–Friday. The project will begin at 7:30am each day. This is to ensure you get a busy morning and can help the medical staff out appropriately. The average time on the volunteer programs abroad will be 3-5 hours finishing in the early afternoon.
    You will be required to take a 45 minute bus ride to reach the medical project. The bus stop is located nearby to the volunteer accommodation. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project. Alternatively, volunteers may opt to take an Uber to get to the project. Whilst more convenient, volunteers should expect to pay considerably more to get to and from the project if opting for this form of transport.

    English Teaching in Peru:

    Volunteer work in Peru involves supporting the local teachers during the class schedule. This involves helping to prepare classes, tutoring students and interacting with them during class breaks. Volunteers will generally work as teacher assistants, but there may be times where volunteers lead classroom activities.

    The teaching program can be both morning and afternoon based. The local team will email you your specific project information, volunteer tasks and working hours in advance of your arrival into Cusco. You will be volunteering at the project Monday-Friday. Please use your free time to plan for at least 3-5 hours on the project.

    If you are up for it, take a 45 minute walk through the heart of Cusco to reach your English teaching volunteer placement! Alternatively, you can take a 20-45 minute bus ride to reach your English teaching project. The bus stop is located either just outside the volunteer accommodation or the Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.


    Freizeitaktivitäten


    Freizeitaktivitäten



    Voraussetzungen

    Voraussetzungen

    Mindestalter: 18 Jahre

    Um an diesem Programm teilzunehmen, musst du zu Programmbeginn mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein. Es kann Ausnahmen geben, wenn du die Erlaubnis deines/r Erziehungsberechtigten vorlegen kannst oder wenn du von deinen Eltern begleitet wirst

    Sprachkenntnisse

    Du brauchst folgende Sprachkenntnisse: Englisch (Grundkenntnisse) oder Spanisch (Grundkenntnisse)

    Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis

    erforderlich

    Staatszugehörigkeit

    Es gibt keine Beschränkungen. Helfende Hände aus aller Welt sind willkommen.

    Andere Fähigkeiten

    You should be physically fit, as volunteering overseas can be quite strenuous. If you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas then these must be declared to us during your online application. While the programmes only require you to speak a basic level of Spanish, we find that the ability to speak a good level of Spanish will greatly enhance your overall experience.

    Arbeitszeiten

    Deine Hilfe wird an folgenden Tagen benötigt: Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag und Freitag von 09:00 - 14:00

    Leistungen

    Leistungen

    Dienstleistungen vor Ort

    • One Week of Spanish Lessons
    • Accommodation 
    • Peru Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
    • Airport Pick Ups
    • Ecuador Airport Drop Off
    • In-Country Orientation
    • 24 Hour Support

    Abholung vom Flughafen Juan Santamaria International Airport

    You should arrive into Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose (airport code SJO) on the Sunday. The airport pickup is available 24 hours. 

    You will be met at the airport by a representative of the local team. The team will meet you at the exit area of the arrivals hall after customs and then drive you to the accommodation in Coronado. This journey takes around 45 minutes, depending on traffic. 

    Unterkunft

    During your time on the Costa Rica volunteer programs you will live in our Volunteer House. This is located in Coronado, a suburb of San Jose. You will find restaurants, convenience stores, cafés, pubs and ATMs all within walking distance. You’ll be living with other volunteers from around the world, so you’ll make plenty of friends along the way.

    During your time on the Ecuador volunteer programs, you will live in our homestay family accommodation. The accommodation is basic but comfortable and located in the city of Quito. You’ll be living with local families who will guide you in Quito. Furthermore, they will help to improve your knowledge of the Spanish Language! It is important to note that the homestay families will usually speak no English at all.

    During your time on the Peru volunteer programs, you will live in our homestay family accommodation. The accommodation is basic but comfortable and located in the city of Cusco. You’ll be living with local families who will guide you in Cusco. Furthermore, they will help to improve your knowledge of the Spanish Language! It is important to note that the homestay families will usually speak no English at all.

    Verpflegung

    Meals are only provided in Peru.
    Volunteers will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day during their time in Peru. Breakfast and dinner are served at the homestay, whereas for lunch we provide you with a packed lunch (upon request). With notice, the local team can even precook a meal for you and you can venture to the local team school headquarters and warm the meal up if you wish for your lunch.

    Boiled and filtered water is also available at the homestay(s) for volunteers.

    Most meals are traditional Peruvian dishes that can be carb heavy traditionally. Peruvian cuisine consists of a lot of rice or quinoa and the meat is mainly chicken. Most meals will incorporate lots of carbs and vegetables compared to the UK so please be open-minded around this! Due to the altitude, you will notice that your breakfast and dinner meals are quite small and lunch is very big. Going to sleep with a full stomach is hard on the body and at such an altitude it is difficult to digest large quantities of food. It may take you a few days for your body to accustom to this as well.

    The main meats are chicken, fish and alpaca. There are a number of western restaurants around a 10-minute drive from the accommodation should you fancy picking up some home comforts. There are also some Vegan and Indian restaurants in Cusco. Our local team will tell you all about the options available to you during your in-country orientation.

    In Costa Rica, there is a full kitchen in the house you are free to use and plenty of supermarkets around the area, cuisine nights in the Spanish school on some evenings (around $4 for ingredients), and local restaurants ($7.50 per meal).

    During your volunteer trip to Ecuador, meals are not included within your Program Fee. There is a very popular option to pay 70 USD per week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your host family will provide you with three freshly prepared meals per day (Mon-Sun). Most meals are traditional Ecuadorian dishes and vegetarian options are always available. The payments are made locally, upon arrival for the duration of your stay.

    Please note this is a one off cost and it is not possible for volunteers to arrange on a “per meal basis”. It is also important to stress that this fee does not included additional snacks or drinks outside of meals times.

    If you would prefer to arrange your own meals then the homestay will be equipped with a kitchen including all the appliances and items needed. You will need to purchase all your own ingredients in order to prepare your meals. This is a less popular option as it ends up costing you more and its often a hassle to arrange a meal just for you.

    The homestay is located in a great area. This hip spot has small food markets and large convenience stores. If you have any questions about the kitchen or where to buy items the local team is always on hand to help.

    Internetzugriff

    Gute Verbindung vor Ort
    Du musst noch nichts bezahlen

    Was ist NICHT inklusive?

    Was ist NICHT inklusive?

    Flugtickets

    Der nächstgelegene Flughafen ist Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. Wir helfen dir günstige Flüge nach Costa Rica zu finden. FINDE GÜNSTIGE FLÜGE

    Reiseversicherung

    Ins Ausland zu gehen ist ein Abenteuer, auf das man sich stets gut vorbereiten sollte. Plötzliche Krankheit oder Verletzung, Stornierung oder Diebstahl - eine Reiseversicherung für Costa Rica bietet die nötige Sicherheit. ANGEBOT EINHOLEN

    Impfungen

    Bevor du deine Freiwilligenarbeit in Costa Rica antrittst, solltest du dich noch einmal von deinem Arzt beraten lassen und deine erforderlichen Impfungen für Costa Rica überprüfen. IMPFSCHUTZ ÜBERPRÜFEN

    Informationen zur Anreise

    This program starts on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month

    Verfügbarkeit
    Jan Feb Mär Apr Mai Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez

    Programmgebühren

    6 Wochen (Mindestaufenthalt) 2.061€
    9 Wochen 2.526€
    12 Wochen (Maximaler Aufenthalt) 2.992€
    Durchschnittliche Gebühren 296€/Woche

    Programmgebühren

    296€ / Woche 6 - 12 Wochen Alter 18 - 50+

    Zahlungsarten

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    KEINE KREDITKARTENGEBÜHREN


    Dauer

    6 - 12 Wochen

    Anzahlung

    Mit der Anzahlung reservierst du deinen Platz beim Freiwilligenprogramm. Zahlungen werden von PayPal abgewickelt, unserem vertrauenswürdigen globalen Zahlungsanbieter. Falls du keinen PayPal Account hast, kannst du die Anzahlung auch mit einer Kreditkarte bezahlen.


    Ausstehende Zahlung

    Deine Restzahlung vereinbarst du mit Plan My Gap Year während des Bewerbungsprozesses. Normalerweise handelt es sich um eine Banküberweisung oder eine Barzahlung am Projektstandort.

    Du musst noch nichts bezahlen
    4,9
    Reise-Favorit
    Eines der beliebtesten Reiseerlebnissen, laut Freiwilligen

    Lage

    Amerika > Mittelamerika > Costa Rica > San José

    Lerne deinen Koordinator kennen

    Josh
    1322
    Bewertungen
    4,88
    Ausgezeichnet
    2011
    Gegründet

    von Volunteer World verifiziert

      Ausgezeichnete Antwortrate
    Gesprochene Sprachen: Englisch
    Reise sicher, indem du Volunteer World für deine Kommunikation und Buchung nutzt. So profitierst du von der Flex Option, Refund Guarantee und Resolution Support.

    Das könnte dich auch interessieren

    Kontaktiere Josh
      Ausgezeichnete Antwortrate
    Englisch

    Die meisten Freiwilligen erkundigen sich nach


    Hast du noch weitere Fragen? Schreibe Josh eine Nachricht
    Bitte teile zur Sicherheit keine pers. Kontaktdaten

    Reisedaten

    1. - 1. Jan 1

    Buche mit der Flex-Option!

    Wähle ein neues Abreisedatum oder wechsel zu einem anderen Freiwilligenprogramm ohne zusätzliche Kosten innerhalb von 12 Monaten.

    Umfassende Unterstützung für Freiwillige!

    Damit können wir unsere Plattform betreiben und wichtige Dienstleistungen wie umfassenden Support, Rückerstattungsgarantie, Flex-Option und Preisgarantie anbieten. Darin enthalten ist die Mehrwertsteuer.

    Einzelheiten zum Preis