Travel With Purpose: 15 Vacations That Give Back

Group of young adult youth people doing heart gesture against bright blue sunny sky. Friends hold up hands making heart shapes in sunlight feeling love and connection. — Adobe Stock

Are you looking for a great way to give back while you travel? Voluntourism became popular back in the 1990s and has been a growing way to travel ever since.

Millions of people travel to popular destinations each year to work on projects including conservation, education, and helping to build homes and schools. A big bonus is that many of these trips come with a discounted price tag compared to their commercial counterparts.

If you’ve ever considered voluntourism, here are 15 vacations you can take that promise to give back to the local community.

Heal the Coral Reef in Belize

Volunteers scuba diving in Belize to help restore coral reefs and marine habitats. — Tripadvisor

Belize boasts crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, Mayan ruins, and the world’s second largest barrier reef. It’s an English-speaking country where US currency is widely accepted, making it an easy place for Americans to travel.

Most volunteer opportunities here help with marine wildlife and range from data collection to helping to raise coral that will one day be part of the reef. Volunteers will need a scuba certification, which can often be obtained on-site through project sites.

Save the Turtles in Mexico

Sea turtle swims through crystal clear water with coral reef below. — Tripadvisor

If you love wildlife conservation and beach vacations, this is a great option for you. Mexico’s Pacific coast is home to some of the most popular beach destinations in the world. It is also home to sea turtles that need your help.

Protect tiny turtles from poachers and predators, work in the hatchery, and see the ultimate culmination of your work by watching a turtle sprint where a group of baby turtles is released to make their way to the ocean. The lodgings aren’t five-star, but the views still are.

Help Animals in South Africa

rescued wildlife at a sanctuary in South Africa — Tripadvisor

Fall in love with African wildlife and safari the right way by helping save animals in South Africa. Here, you can help abandoned and injured animals recover and be returned to nature.

The best part of this experience is interacting with the animals instead of just looking at them and taking pictures. Nothing will warm your heart more than seeing these animals restored to a happy, healthy life.

Accommodations generally match other safari-style stays, but expect plenty of hard work feeding and caring for the animals and their habitats.

Clean Up the Ocean in Indonesia

Burmese Volunteer cleaning the plastic mountain of garbage in Myanmar — Adobe Stock

Indonesia has turquoise waters and great commercial beaches, but they are also seeing their country’s marine life threatened by plastic and other garbage. You can join a clean-up crew and explore some of the best beaches in the world while getting rid of the plastic threatening them.

During downtime, you can snorkel, surf, and sunbathe to your heart’s content. Depending on the program you choose, you might be staying anywhere from a beach cottage to with a local host family.