VOLUNTEER IN MEXICO

Where Does GVI Work in Mexico?

The Guide to Volunteering in Mexico

Intro to Mexico

Mexico is the 14th largest country in the world by total area, making it a vibrant country with a variety of cultural influences. Volunteering in Mexico will allow you to better understand these influences as well as the country’s history, and how culture impacts the modern day landscape.

Our Hubs

Our activities in Mexico are coordinated from a central hub located in Puerto Morelos. This location offers different program focuses, local attractions and activities. The area is perfect for people wanting to learn to speak Spanish in Mexico whilst participating on a program, participants who wish to take part in marine conservation or community development in Mexico, those who wish to gain practical experience in a classroom or workshop environment, or even just those who want to get their open water qualification or refine their diving skills.

Focus Areas

By participating on a program in Puerto Morelos, you could be:

• Working in a national research center for fisheries and marine research, along with our partners;
• Contributing to the coral reef restoration national project in the Mexican Caribbean;
• Working alongside other organizations to preserve the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in the State of Quintana Roo;
• A part of the conservation work done inside the largest National Marine Biosphere Reserve in the Caribbean;
• Improving your diving and research skills if you have an interest in a career in the marine field;
• Improving your Spanish (a language spoken by 480 million people around the world);
• Mingling with and raising awareness to tourists, local people and local fishermen, to promote longer term sustainability of the region;
• Gaining teaching experience on one of our community development program;
• Contributing towards improvement of the quality of education in the region;
• Increasing in-country capacity by providing training sessions with the locals;
• Raising awareness of environmental issues and educating others about the local goals in the region, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Local Costs

Mexico uses the Peso as its currency, and the cost of living in Mexico is fairly low in comparison to the United States. It isn’t difficult to plan an affordable trip to Mexico, but like with any travel plans, it is important to consider your budget and do some financial planning beforehand. GVI recently launched a brand new fundraising platform, which can assist you with this.

Additional Information

Travelling outside of the Puerto Morelos base is reliant on taxis, costing anywhere upwards of US$40 one way per taxi. Group trips are generally less expensive, so chat to your fellow participants, volunteers or interns about heading out on further travels together (which is not only more fun, but safer too). Public transport is easy and relatively cheap if you are travelling regularly between major towns.

During your downtime from the program, you could travel to a number of beautiful locations in and around the area. In your time off you could do day trips such as visiting Tulum or Coba Mayan ruins, do some cenote diving or explore nearby cities in the area. Before and after your program you could go to Merida, Chichen Itza, Chiapas or Central America – the possibilities are endless.

Conclusion

Volunteer work in Mexico is a great way to make a difference and to see a what can only be considered a majestic and culturally rich area. The beauty of the jungle, water, and the warmth of the weather, along with the hospitality of the community, will make for an unforgettable experience.