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Four reasons why Mexico’s a treat for any type of traveller

Tasneem Johnson-Dollie

Posted: November 29, 2019

Whatever your preferred flavour of excitement, the volunteer opportunities in Mexico are for any type of traveller.

From nervous travellers to adventurous travellers, from nature-lovers to language-lovers, travellers are as diverse as the culture of Mexico itself.

Fortunately, with GVI, there are many reasons why volunteering in Mexico is really for any type of traveller. Here’s why.

A Mexican cenote

Original photo: “Mexico Yucatan Cenote” by Emilian Danaila licensed under CC by 2.0

1) You can experience a wide variety of environments

GVI’s base camp can be found in the coastal town of Puerto Morelos, home to the oldest port community in the Mexican Caribbean. From here, you’ll have easy access to the beautiful beaches, vast coral reefs and other fascinating marine life along the Riviera Maya (a stretch of Caribbean coastline).

Beyond base camp, you could spend a day in the desert, clamber your way through a canyon, or frolic through the ferns of a rainforest. Mexico has every traveller’s tastes covered when it comes to terrain.

Travelling around Mexico is easy enough with buses running regularly for short, or long trips; and flights available between cities.

So there’s no stress when it comes to getting to your next destination.

Flags flying from houses in a street in Mexico

Original photo: “Colorful paper flags over street” by William Zinn is licensed under CC by 2.0

2) You’ll love the diverse cultural experiences

The culture of Mexico is dynamic, with a variety of languages and traditions as you move from one part to another.

Because of this, Mexico abounds with opportunities for cultural immersion wherever you go.

Cultural immersion means taking part in the cultural practices of a community, and allowing it to increase your cultural awareness and sensitivity.

In Mexico, speaking Spanish – the most widespread of the local languages – is an excellent way to become immersed in Mexican culture. Learning some – or lots – of the local language will allow you to make the most of your experience.

With a focus on empowering local communities, GVI’s volunteer programs offer ample opportunity for cultural immersion, including Spanish language lessons.

A volunteer congratulating a Mexican child in a class

3) You can take a tentative approach to travel

If you’re the type of traveller whose nerves tend to take over, it can be difficult to relax and enjoy your travels. But Mexico makes it easy for even the most tentative thrill-seeker to have a good time.

You could begin your program with a bit of conversational Spanish under your belt already. This will help to ease you into your interactions with local community members.

You’re given 360-degree support – before, during and after your program – on all our projects. This can take away heaps of your travel stress.

A diver swimming just behind an adult sea turtle with sea vegetation on either side

4) You’ll dive into adventure travel

And, for those who prefer to throw caution to the wind, volunteer opportunities in Mexico can quench your thirst for adventure, while still ensuring a responsible experience.

From open water diving to sea turtle monitoring, Mexico has more than enough on offer. You can:

be part of a marine conservation program
receive world-class dive training, including your PADI certification
conduct research on the second largest coral reef in the world
gain additional accreditation as a PADI Advanced Open Water diver and in the PADI-endorsed Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
participate in the sea turtle monitoring program from May to October.

Even if you have never made eye contact with a sea turtle, our pre-program training means that you’ll be fit to take on every task.

While volunteering in Mexico, there’s really no reason to restrict your inner thrill-seeker.

An outdoor walkway in Peurto Morelos

Meet us in Mexico

With GVI’s abundance of volunteer opportunities on offer in Mexico, you’re bound to find something that suits you. You can:

live with a local family, and get a true taste of Mexican culture and cuisine
gain new skills to increase your future employability
participate in community development programs that focus on childhood development and teaching
participate in programs with a keen eye on ethics
volunteer responsibly, guided by our Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
be a part of projects that see local communities and volunteers benefitting equally.

So, take a moment (or rush right in), check out our volunteer opportunities in Mexico, and see how much they have to offer you. The only question is, really, when do we leave?

Tasneem Johnson-Dollie is an intern at the GVI Writing Academy. The Writing Academy is a skills-development program that pairs development editors with budding travel writers. Learn more about the program here.

By Tasneem Johnson-Dollie

Tasneem Johnson-Dollie is a travel writer living in South Africa. She has experience in public health nutrition and worked as a dietician before launching her writing career. She loves bringing her passion for public health and sustainable development to every article she writes. Her travels around South Africa as well as to India, Australia, and Saudi Arabia have fueled her passion for exploration.

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