South America Gap Year Jobs, Volunteering & Tours

South America is an incredible continent with so many amazing places to visit. From seeing Machu Picchu in Peru, exploring cities like Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro or going off the beaten track to discover the jungles of the Amazon – this region of the world will leave you spellbound.

Paid Work, Volunteer Programs & Backpacking Trips in South America

Gap Year and Backpacking in South America

If you want to travel, go backpacking, volunteer, work, study or book an adventure our website can help you plan a dream trip to South America.

South America is a huge continent and you will need to decide where you want to go and what you want to do. Booking an organised trip is recommended if it is your first time visiting the continent or if you don’t know Spanish or Portuguese. There are lots of options, with affordable prices as this region is very cheap compared to North America, Oceania and Europe.

Get inspired for your South America adventure today.

Where to Go

South America includes 14 countries, these are the most popular destinations:

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Peru

Other places you could add to your itinerary include: Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), French Guiana (France), Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

There are so many incredible cities and tourist destinations, some of the most popular places to visit include Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Salt Flats, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.

Volunteer in South America

Spending a meaningful trip volunteering in South America can be a life changing experience. There are so many unique projects available and where you go and what you do really depends on your personal preference.

You could travel to the the Amazon and help the environment, wildlife in Ecuador, communities in Brazil or teach in Chile – just to name a few popular ideas. Other popular options include voluntary exchanges and working in hostels and other places in exchange for accommodation and meals which is popular with backpackers.

Short and long term programs can be joined with local NGO’s and charities throughout the continent and are a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, contribute to good causes and improve your language skills.

Work in South America

Are you keen on the idea of being more than just a tourist? Stay longer by applying to work in South America. Although finding paid work here can be more difficult than other regions of the world, there are still lots of options for foreigners.

A popular option is to teach English as there are recruiters and language schools in most major cities which hire staff all year round. Other jobs can include working for travel and tour companies, scuba dive resorts or as a program coordinator. Knowing Spanish (or Portuguese for Brazil) will really enhance your prospects.

Teach in South America

If you want to teach in South America, your best bet would be to do a TEFL course that can help you find a job there or can guarantee you one when you’ve finished. Again it can be very competitive to get a job in a big city Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro, as they require lots of experience and many people want to live there.

The smaller the place, the more likely you’ll be able to get a job. Again in South America, you will find that many schools will want to do a face-to-face interview, which can be very difficult, so you may want to set up as many interviews as possible before you go, so you are more likely to get a job. This can be a bit of a gamble so make sure you take enough money to last you for a few months. Most schools will give you a good indication of the likelihood of job prospects before you go.

English schools vary greatly and you could find yourself teaching in a small private family run one or a large international one like Berlitz, Education First or International House. Many of the bigger schools, such as Berlitz have their own teaching material and methods of teaching, so once you’ve been offered the job you will need to go through more training to learn a school’s particular style.

Study in South America

Travelling to the South American country on your gap year offers the ideal chance for you to learn a language. If you are keen to boost your knowledge or language skills there are lots of top rated schools and universities in South America.

You could book a study abroad program or join a Spanish or Portuguese class. Beginners courses are very popular and are also great value for money. Most schools also arrange sightseeing excursions and fun activities during your free time, where you can also put into practice the things you have learnt.

South America Tours

Booking a tour is one of the safest and best ways to see the real South America. You will get to travel with likeminded people, get taken to the best locations with experienced guides, go off the beaten track or see exotic wildlife.

Local and international travel companies offer amazing trips in South America, from exploring individual countries to going overland and seeing the whole continent. You could travel overland seeing world famous cities, islands, beaches and ancient ruins. Trips last from a few days to three months and longer.