Why Join Ecoteer?

If you're considering volunteering as part of your gap-year, sabbatical, retirement or during a long break from your normal life then you will have lots of questions.

"Where do I start?  Where should I go?  What should I do?" These are common questions that most volunteers ask themselves.

How Ecoteer is Different

The only way to volunteer in the conservation and cultural sector is to join a volunteer organisation. Even though you work for free, you are normally asked to pay substantial amounts to join many of the projects.

Ecoteer believes that cost is the biggest single reason why so many people decide not to volunteer.

This is why our approach is very different.

What we offer

We only offer placements that are low-cost. You will normally only pay for airfares, personal insurance, transport to your location and, for some placements, accommodation. Many ecolodges will provide food and accommodation for free, reducing your costs even more.

Projects through large conservation companies are usually funded solely by the volunteers and would cease to exist if no-one volunteered. In comparison, Ecoteers low-cost volunteer projects are self-running businesses or projects that will run with or without volunteers. By volunteering you will be helping them. This is why Ecoteer placements are low-cost and different to the other organisations.

This small but substantial difference brings a few major differences.

Firstly, you will be expected to get to the placement largely on your own but you will often be offered transportation from the nearest major settlement. There is no need to worry about navigating the tributaries of the Amazon by yourself! Just be prepared to travel on your own for a while, as if you where backpacking. This aspect of an Ecoteer placement is very different to the high cost placements and is more like traditional backpacking. Travelling on your own always sounds far worse than it actually is - it can be extremely rewarding and will be a real eye opener!

Once you have become an Ecoteer member and start to email certain placements, we may be able to provide you with a list of past volunteers to discuss any anxieties you may have.

Secondly, the projects and eco-lodges are run by local people. Often you will be the only volunteer on the placement at that time. Instead of making friends with other volunteers, you will make friends with the locals. These friendships are much more fulfilling and different.  By volunteering with Ecoteer you will benefit so much more as an individual. The most important thing being the broadening of your mind, not to mention your CV!

Thirdly, this type of placement combines the best aspects of volunteering and backpacking.

You will become a more independent person and although it is a cliche, you may very well "find yourself". You will gain work experience that other volunteers and backpackers will not have.

We would like to emphasise that you will become more aware of other people and a different way of living, which will further your horizons.

Click below if you want to find out how to volunteer with Ecoteer.