Volunteering in Chile - International Cooperation programs

Volunteer Programs in Chile

If you are looking to learn and collaborate at the same time, volunteer projects in Chile are the ideal destination to have this experience.

The enthusiasm, motivation and interest that the volunteers show in learning about the Mapuche culture, produces a space of mutual learning and cooperation between the families, the community and the volunteer.

PROJECTS
PREPARE
ACCOMMODATION
FEES

In Chile we collaborate the volunteer programs with Mapuche families. The work is focused on the daily support of their activities such as: work and care of the garden, care and feeding of animals such as sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, among others; chopping and sorting firewood; help in the kitchen, both in cooking and washing, and other activities.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH MAPUCHE FAMILIES

The activities that the volunteers carry out in Chile are directly in the family house where you will live during your volunteer work.

Families usually live in rural areas relatively close to the center of Kurarewe.

Requirements for volunteering in Chile?

Some of the most important requirements for volunteering in Chile are:

Being of legal age
Demonstrate respect for the Mapuche culture, forms and customs of each host family.
Complying with the assigned schedule during the volunteering period.
Respect schedules and agreements with the host family

You can consult the specific requirements that are requested in the section of the project.

Where will I be during my volunteering in Chile?

The volunteer program in Chile is developed in the country of Chile, specifically in the community of Kurarewe, which is located 140 km from Temuco, capital of the Araucania Region.

When can I collaborate in the volunteer projects in Chile?

Volunteering in Chile is active throughout the year. However, due to the climatic conditions of the area and the cycle of rural activity in the Mapuche community, we suggest volunteering between the months of September and April, the period in which families are most active in the countryside.

ARRIVAL AT YOUR DESTINATION

Depending on the means of transportation used by the volunteer to get to Chile, you will be met by a local coordinator of the organization who will welcome you.

Depending on the time of arrival to the country and facilities of the project, you will be given an orientation of the house, project and activities to be carried out with the family.

VACCINES

Currently, before the world health crisis of March 2020, there is no mandatory vaccine to enter Chile.

VISA TO ENTER CHILE

For Spanish citizens who travel to Chile for a period of less than three months, they will need the following documents

Passport
Round trip ticket
Economic means (Economic solvency)

For stays of up to 90 days you do not need to apply for a visa, being a resident or of Spanish nationality. If you plan to extend your volunteer trip, you must request an extension from the local authorities, since if you do not do so you may be fined and expelled from the country.

Other nationalities please consult the requirements at the Chilean Embassy or Consulate in your country.

SECURITY IN CHILE

In Central America, Chile is considered a safe country. But nothing is perfect, and as in many countries in the world, certain precautions must be taken.

In general, tourist areas are safe, but we still recommend that you take these details into account:

Notify your coordinator, in case of an excursion, so that he can warn you about the places.
Have your coordinator’s phone number and address available in case you need it.
Avoid giving out information about the place you are staying, the project and your colleagues (volunteers) for safety reasons.
Do not bring anyone who is not from the organization to the volunteer’s home.
Avoid risk areas in every place you visit.
Travel in austerity on your daily transfers and excursions.
Avoid attracting attention with jewelry and accessories.
If you can, avoid taking your cell phone out in public places.
Try to use the country’s safe transportation services or services such as Uber or cabs.
Avoid walking alone on unfamiliar streets at night.
Never put someone you don’t know in a vehicle you don’t know.
Do not drink anything you do not know the origin of.

ACCOMMODATION IN MAPUCHE FAMILIES

The houses of the Mapuche families, where the volunteers live, are located 5 km from the center of Temuco.

WHAT DOES THE FAMILY OFFER?

Shared room with other volunteers.
Use of the common areas.
The 3 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during your volunteer work

The contribution to the volunteer project in Chile for a period of 14 days is 185 €. In addition to the fixed contribution of 200€ to secure the place.

WEEKS	COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1	125€
2	185€
3	245€
Additional	60€

What is offered in the volunteering in Chile?

Welcome at the airport
Accommodation during your volunteer stay
3 meals during your volunteer work
24/7 support from the Adventure Volunteer team
Monitoring and evaluation of the program
Project orientation and induction
Certificate of weeks spent volunteering
Guidance, advice and management in the choice of the program
Civil Responsibility and accident insurance
Tax Certificate

What is not offered in the volunteering in Chile?

Flight to Chile
Visa, if necessary
Internal transport or excursions
Travel in or out of the country
Travel Medical Insurance
Drinks, diets and special meals
Bottled water

How to participate in volunteering in Chile?

Step 1

Once you fill out the form to the program, we will verify everything and confirm within 24h if everything is correct.

Step 2

You pay 150 € within 7 days, then your place will be guaranteed and you will be formally part of the family.

Step 3

We send you the volunteer guide, mandatory insurance and the international volunteer agreement.

ARE YOU COMING?

VOLUNTEERING IN CHILE

Chile, located in the southwest of South America, borders Peru and Bolivia. This country is full of unique and impressive places, you can also visit Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the Pacific Ocean and the Juan Fernandez Islands.

You can also visit the Atacama Desert, considered one of the driest areas on the planet.

WEATHER

Due to its size and geographical extension, Chile is divided into 3 climatic zones:

North: here you find the desert areas and the temperatures can be between 16 °C to 24 °C (60ºF to 75ºF)
Center: For summer you find temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 30 °C (22ºF to 86ºF) and in winter temperatures can drop to 15 °C (59ºF)
South: The south of Chile is usually rainy and temperatures are usually between 10 °C (50ºF) and 18 °C (64ºF)

CURRENCY

The official currency in Chile is the Chilean Peso.

You can get it at exchange houses, banks or ATMs. When you arrive in Chile at the airport you can make the first change, the rest you can do in the center of Santiago, where you can find many options.

FLIGHT

Your flight must have as destination the Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL).

You find flights around 550 euros (round trip).
You can find good flight offers at google flights or skyscanner.

Other companies offering cheap flights: Iberia, Latam Airlines, KLM.

TOURIST PLACES

Easter Island

An island full of an incredible landscape, a culture that maintains the ancestral traditions and beautiful beaches with which any visitor is left without words.

The Easter Islands in Chile are the perfect place to see nature and animals at their best. It has a diversity of fauna and flora, you can see wild horses, sea turtles and a large number of fish of different colors.

Torres del Paine National Park

Ideal place for ecology and adventure sports lovers. Its wonderful places and the different species you find in Torres del Paine National Park make your trip different.

The park is located in the Magallanes Region and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978 and is one of the most important parks in Chile.

You can visit these places while in the park:

The area of the Horns
Las Torres
Sarmiento Lakes
Nordenskjold
Grey
The Green and Blue Lagoons

Can you use a foreign currency in the volunteering in Chile?

Some places like hotels or restaurants accept dollars or euros, but anyway be prepared and always have local currency at hand.

Best time to travel to a volunteering in Chile?

If you’re thinking of traveling to Chile for the summer months, we’ll tell you what’s best. If you are passing through the center of Chile, the recommended months for its climate are between November and March. In case you go south, the recommended months are between December and February.