Support an Indigenous Community
Coordinator | Marion
Coordinator | Marion
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Learn more about Bolivia's indigenous communities
Make a one in a lifetime experience living with a community in the Amazon jungle
Grow as a person by broadening your intercultural skills
Improve your Spanish skills by practicing on a daily basis
Make memoried you will never forget during excursions
Live with natives of the Amazon and experience their way of life. Play with children, teach English, and learn indigenous farming and cooking techniques.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+
Your volunteer work takes place in a small village on the Beni River in the Bolivian Amazon jungle. It is located right by the Madidi National Park, known worldwide as an area of exceptional biodiversity. The village can only be reached by the river. The boat trip takes about 40 minutes upstream from the small town of Rurrenabaque. The jungle community consists of about 230 people, all of which belong to the Tacana Indian tribe. This forest tribe has always lived on the banks of the Beni and Tuichi rivers.
Several years ago, the jungle community built an eco-lodge with financial and technical support from foreign charities. The lodge has a restaurant and guest houses for tourists. The community uses the income from the operation of the eco-lodge to improve their living conditions. Above all, the revenue is used for education and health; as well as to protect parts of the impressive nature around. When the Madidi National Park was founded, the Tacana Indians made an object. However, the benefits of sustainable tourism have convinced them otherwise. Instead of protesting against the park, the Tacana are now among the strongest advocates in favor of nature conservation and are proud to live on the edge of this wonderful national park. The lifestyle and manner in which the lodge operates is fully sustainable, allowing its descendants, at best, to live even better in harmony with nature.
The jungle community lives in, by and with the nature that surrounds it. Nature is the basis of life here! They generate additional income from the trade in handicrafts, fish and agricultural products. The Tacana Indians in Bolivia are a perfect example of how to live happily ever after today without modern technology and luxury goods. They will welcome you warmly and allow you to immerse yourself in their unique culture and lifestyle. You become part of this community and make thrilling and memorable discoveries that are only available to those who leave the tourist trails to gain individual experience.
Typical day
As you volunteer in the jungle community in Bolivia, you will learn how to plant rice, how to gather fruit and vegetables, catch fish, hunt, use traditional healing methods and live their daily lives. You teach the locals English and, if you can, you play with them. In addition, you help with the construction of new huts or the repair of existing ones. For the small ecotourism operation of the lodge, which is run by the community, the help of volunteers is important to support the local tour guides as interpreters. This is how you help to look after the tourists, to make the rooms, to help out in the kitchen or to accompany excursions. There are really many exciting and varied tasks that await you in the Amazon community.
You lead a very simple life there and learn to be happy without a lot of comfort. For this, it is important that you respect the people and their traditions and try to fully integrate into the community. If you can do that and do not mind the simple living conditions, but rather view this as a unique opportunity and life experience, you will spend a wonderful time in a place that has one of the greatest biodiversity (animals and plants) in South America and even in the world.
You lead a very simple life there and learn to be happy without a lot of comfort. For this, it is important that you respect the people and their traditions and try to fully integrate into the community. If you can do that and do not mind the simple living conditions, but rather view this as a unique opportunity and life experience, you will spend a wonderful time in a place that has one of the greatest biodiversity (animals and plants) in South America and even in the world.
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of
volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as
self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these
tasks.
Free-time activities
In your spare time, there are a lot of different activities to choose from, such as playing sports in the local community or hiking around the jungle, visit the Madidi National Park or just admire the exotic wildlife.
The jungle offers to many amazing and unique things to do and to see, like taking a bath in one of the natural pools with crystal clear water and small waterfalls, navegations on the Beni River, visits to local commuities to experience their culture and traditions. You can even learn about the wonders of medical plants and natural medicine, go fishing or just relax on the banks of the river.
Swimming
Sightseeing
Climbing
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak Spanish (intermediate level)
at High School level
CV and Volunteer Questionnaire
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
What's Included
- Accommodation in volunteer house or with Host Family
- Full-board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Round-trip flight La Paz-Rurrenabaque-La Paz
- Pick-up in Rurrenabaque by boat
- Consultation from our experienced staff
- Translation of application profile
- Volunteer work placement
- Advice regarding travel insurance
- Advice on local travels
- Orientation session upon arrival
- Orientation kit
- Country handbook
- Local support
- 24/7 Emergency Number
- Certificate of Participation
You will be picked-up by boat in Rurrenabaque and brought to the project site in the middle of the jungle.
During your volunteer work in Bolivia, you will either live with a group of tourists at the Eco-Lodge or in the especially built volunteer cottage which is taken care of by an indigenous host family. Your host family will provide you with meals and you may even receive an invitation to stay in one of their typical houses. You will be surprised to see that in the typical household all family members sleep in the same room, which also serves as the kitchen and the living room. In their home, you will have the opportunity to learn and practice indigenous cooking techniques and try the delicious recipes. Take your chance, This is a completely unique experience that is not offered to mere tourists.
The meals provided by the host family typically contain the ingredients that the family grows, hunts, and fishes. Mostly, they eat fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, corn, rice, and occasionally some red meat.
Volunteers can also eat and live with other tourists at the Eco-Lodge. In the lodge, the meals are more international and may also include chicken and beef.
Full-board is provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is El Alto International Airport (LPB) in La Paz. We assist you to find cheap flights to Bolivia.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Bolivia provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Bolivia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Bolivia.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year. The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningfull volunteer project.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 24 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,840
5 weeks
$2,115
6 weeks
$2,390
7 weeks
$2,665
8 weeks
$2,940
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$7,340
Average fees
$383
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
South America Inside
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Support an Indigenous Community
Live with natives of the Amazon and experience their way of life. Play with children, teach English, and learn indigenous farming and cooking techniques.
$383/week
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