Volunteer Work in Ecotourism and
Nature Protection in Patagonia

Quick facts
Program details
Costs and Services
Photos

Booking Number

CL-WN101

Program Place

Nature park with touristic operations (hotels, leisure activities)

Location

Neltume, Region de los Ríos, Chile.
The next largest city Panguipulli is about 60 km away. The capital Santiago de Chile is located about 760 km north of the project site.

Tasks

Working in the hotel business
Helping with catering and customer service
Maintenance work
Supporting the Huemul project to reintroduce this endangered endemic deer species
Working in organic garden and orchards
Helping in agriculture
Selling excursions and outdoor sports in the nature park
Tasks in the park administration (or similar, such as marketing, international relations, etc.)
Supporting the park guards and rangers (male volunteers only)

(We would like to point out that the tasks may vary and depend on factors such as the number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, and self-motivation. Volunteers may not be fully involved in all the tasks mentioned above.)

Working Hours

Between 30 and 40 hours / week

Start Date

Year round, start and end dates are flexible. The low season during the Chilean winter is from May to October.

Duration

Minimum 4 weeks, máximum 12 weeks

Minimum Age

18 years

Language

Spanish at communication level (book your Spanish course in Chile with us!)

Accommodation

Shared room in staff house in Neltume (about 2,500 inhabitants). The work site is located about 1 km from Neltume.

Food

Full-board (3 meals/day)

Internet

Internet (Wifi) available. The connection is not always reliable.

In-Country Support

Our English-speaking team in the Chile Inside office in Santiago de Chile is always there for you.

24/7 emergency Number

With the booking confirmation you will receive our 24-hour emergency number, under which you can reach us 24/7 in case of emergency.

Application

Please send us your detailed CV with photo and the completed registration form. For more information on the registration process, please see the instructions on the first page of the registration form or contact one of our experienced staff members.

Application Deadline

There are no application deadlines. We recommend submitting the documents as early as possible, at least 12 weeks before the desired start of the program, so that there is sufficient time to assure a smooth placement process. For short-term applications please contact us.

Insurance

You need to have a travel health insurance for Chile. You can buy your travel insurance, tailored to the needs of our participants, online with us, at convenient rates. See: Travel health insurance

Program Highlights

Volunteering at a location that has been awarded by the National Geographic's World Legacy Award
Working and living in the middle of untouched nature, where others spend their holidays
No application deadlines
Flexible start and end dates
Participation also possible without prior knowledge
English speaking support through our office in Santiago de Chile

This volunteer project is run by a private foundation that has been dedicated to ecotourism and nature conservation in Patagonia since 2004, to help preserve forests and protect native species. Neighboring communities are actively involved in order to introduce them to the methods of sustainable use of their natural resources.

In the long term, this project aims at improving the quality of life of the local people, because ecotourism ensures a stable employment and regular income for many villagers.

The foundation's main source of income to fund environmental and biodiversity efforts is eco-tourism. There are several "fairytale" hotels, guesthouses and a campsite. Visitors are offered guided day trips into nature as well as cultural and sports activities (outdoor and adventure sports).

With the income from tourism, among other things, a protection project for Huemuls in the park is financed. Huemuls are native, very rare, small deer, which used to be widespread in Chile. With only a handful of Huemuls in Chile left, the organization has launched a special Huemul conservation program focused on the reproduction and release of the animals. The guanaco, a lama species from the Andes, is also protected and bred here.

Meanwhile, the project is recognized worldwide. It has won numerous awards, including National Geographic's first place in the category "Conserving the Natural World" in 2005, where it won against 150 rival projects from 56 countries.

The program includes:

Shared room in staff house
Full-board (3 meals/day)
Competent English-speaking advice
Translation of the application documents and your CV in Spanish
Organization of your volunteer work in Chile
Program confirmation for the visa application (if necessary)
English-speaking in-country support
Useful information about your stay in Chile
Handbook Chile
Our collection of "Insider Tips" for your stay in Chile
Informative welcome talk in our office in Santiago
You will be accompanied to your volunteer place on the first day (only possible in Santiago)
Certificate of participation from Chile Inside
24/7 emergency number

Costs

Instance 1

Registration Fee

US$ 120

Program costs

US$ 510

minimum stay 4 weeks

each additional week

US$ 65

As add-on you can book:

- Spanish course in Chile: Choose your favorite Spanish school among 6 different locations

Do not forget!

Get your travel insurance here:

Apply now!

- Swipe left/right to see more