Community volunteering in Latin America – All projects (Ecuador, Colombia)

Bogotá

A comprehensive and inspiring project in the heart of the working-class Egipto neighborhood, which supports:

• 70 vulnerable children (meals, school support, activities)

• Women reintegrating into society through a weaving workshop

• Ex-convicts through a carpentry workshop

• Community garden and education in food self-sufficiency

Possible activities : academic support, animation, gardening, artistic guidance, translation, guided tours.

⏰ Hours : Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm (lunch break included).
🛏️ Accommodation: Hostel in the historic center (mixed dorm)
🍽️ Included: Breakfast at the hostel, lunch at the project
💬 Basic Spanish required

La Boquilla (Cartagena)

Community project in a coastal Afro-Colombian village, structured around 7 axes:

• Women artisans (coconut)

• Children's education

• Traditional music & dance

• Environment & Mangroves

• Animal shelters

• Support for the elderly

• Sport, yoga, health prevention

Possible activities : animation, creative workshops, communication, plastic collection, academic support, physical activities.

⏰ Schedule : Monday to Friday, 4 to 8 hours/day depending on your availability.
🛏️ Accommodation: Room in the coordinator's house or hostel.
🍽️ Meals optional (you're free to cook).
💬 ​​Intermediate Spanish recommended.

Quito – Center for Street Children

Day center welcoming children from the streets, from precarious families or victims of violence.

Objectives : to offer them an educational, emotional and hygienic environment, while strengthening their confidence and their future.

Possible activities : academic support, games, hygiene, meal assistance, creative workshops and academic support.

⏰ Hours : Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm (lunch break included).
🛏️ Accommodation: hostel near the project (dormitory)
🍽️ Lunch at the center, other meals on your own
🎁 Included: excursion to Cotopaxi
💬 Basic Spanish recommended – it's possible to combine 1 week of Spanish classes in Baños with 3 weeks (or more) of volunteering in Quito

Las Tunas – Community & Environment

A coastal project combining ecology, education and sustainable development, driven by an engaged community.

Objectives : beach cleaning, turtle monitoring (in season), reforestation, children's workshops, support for a marine wildlife center.

Possible activities : environment, animation, composting, education, awareness-raising.

⏰ Schedule : Monday to Friday, mornings starting at 6:00 AM (turtle monitoring), then resuming after lunch.
🛏️ Accommodation: Beachfront hostel
🍽️ Breakfast and lunches (Monday to Friday), welcome dinner included
💬 Spanish recommended – it's possible to combine 1 week of Spanish classes in Baños with 2 weeks (or more) of volunteering in Las Tunas
🎉 Community cocktail on Thursday evening

Granada – Community 

A community-based project in the heart of Granada , which supports the education and personal development of young people from vulnerable backgrounds, while promoting cultural exchange.

The project notably supports:

• Approximately 30 children and teenagers (aged 7 to 20) from disadvantaged backgrounds

• An educational center before and after school , with academic support

• Access to quality education through school scholarships (primary, secondary and university)

• Educational, cultural and recreational activities that promote autonomy, self-confidence and openness to the world

• A language center where learning Spanish directly funds the social project

Possible activities

Academic support and homework help, leading fun and creative activities, sports, music, arts and crafts, English teaching assistance, educational workshops (hygiene, equality, leadership…), accompanying children on activities or outings, and participating in the daily life of the center.

Practical information

• 🕘 Schedule : Monday to Friday, half-day sessions (morning or afternoon depending on the level of Spanish)

• 🏠 Accommodation : with a host family in Granada (private room, shared bathroom)

• 🍽️ Included : three meals a day

• 🚲 Transport : journeys between the host family and the project included (bike or taxi)

• 🗣️ Language : Intermediate Spanish required (advanced for working with teenagers)

• 👤 Minimum age : 18 years

• ⏳ Minimum duration : 2 weeks

• 💬 Note : the project can be emotionally demanding; a good ability to adapt is essential

Dates of your next community volunteering placement in Latin America (Ecuador or Colombia)

• All projects start on a Monday (arrival no later than the day before)
• Available all year round, except :

  • Colombia: Colombian school holidays (December, Holy Week, July-August)

  • Ecuador: No major disruptions except for local holidays

Prizes for your next community volunteer program in Colombia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua

 Bogotá

• 2-week program (13 nights): 990 €

• Additional week (7 nights): 350 €

• Additional night: 40 €

 Cartagena

• 3-week program (host family): 900 €

• Additional week (7 nights): 250 €

• 3 meals/day (per day):30 €

 Quito

• 3 weeks in a dormitory: 900€

• Extra week in dormitory: 200 €

Amazon/Puyo

• 2 weeks in a dormitory: 800€

• Extra week in dormitory: 300 €

It is possible to combine these programs in Ecuador with a 1-week Spanish course in Baños

Granada

• 14 nights: 10 half-days of volunteering + 10 half-days of Spanish lessons, full board with host family: 999€
• Additional week with full board host family: 450€

Generally included :

• Donation to the local project

• Accommodation (dormitory, apartment or family)

• Lunches on volunteer days (often)

• Support from a local coordinator

• Surprise activities or excursions (depending on the project)

Not included :

• Airport pick-up or on-site orientation – extra charge

• International flights

• Meals not mentioned

• Health insurance (mandatory)

• Personal expenses

Our partner offers immersive experiences with a strong social and environmental impact across several Latin American countries. Whether you're passionate about nature, drawn to languages, or motivated by helping communities, you'll find a project that suits you.

Ecuador

• itinerant volunteer experience
  between Quito, the Andes, the Amazon, and the coast – a complete adventure combining cultural immersion, animal care, and sports activities.
  Ideal for a comprehensive first experience.

• Animal Rescue Center – Puyo:
  2-week mission in the heart of the jungle to feed, care for, and observe rescued animals.
  Open to families.

• Community work in Quito
  : Educational or social support for local children, families, and schools.
  Duration: 3 weeks – suitable for beginners in Spanish.

Colombia

• Social project in Bogota:
  Educational support, activities, and social missions in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
  Duration: 2 weeks – beginners welcome.

• Community work in La Boquilla (Cartagena):
  Social and cultural project in an Afro-Colombian community by the sea.
  Duration: 3 weeks.

Costa Rica

• Animal Shelter – Puerto Viejo
  Volunteering at a tropical animal care center in a paradise setting.
  Duration: 4 weeks – suitable for families.

• Sea Turtle Conservation – Osa Peninsula: Spend
  one week monitoring, protecting, and releasing baby turtles on the beaches of the South Pacific.
  Open to those 18 and older – ideal for a short but intense immersion.

L&T is very careful in choosing its volunteer projects , which too often turn into voluntourism and do more harm than good to the community. Project leaders were selected based on their actual impact on the community or the environment; the organization is a certified B corporation, which provides an objective criterion for this impact.

Our partner organization is small and has a personal touch. The person in charge of volunteers has been personally interviewed and provides exemplary support and guidance.

Other possible eco-volunteering projects:

• Sea turtles in Costa Rica
• Various community or environmental volunteer projects in Argentina
• Wildlife Park in Australia
• Great Barrier Reef in Australia
• Nature Conservation in New Zealand