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Volunteer in Chile

Volunteers looking for a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with an adventurous edge will love the Buena Onda (good vibes) that Chileans live by. Chile is known for its striking, extreme landscapes, including the Atacama Desert, the Andes Mountains, over 3,000 miles of coastline, and the undiscovered region of Patagonia. Chile has one of the strongest economies and one of the most stable democracies in Latin America. Ongoing efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in regions of the country offer volunteers the unique opportunity to work with locals for the improvement of their communities.

As a volunteer in Chile, you can choose between helping teach English or being a caregiver at a local family support center.

Learn more about all of our volunteer programs in Latin and South America.

One Question Video with United Planet

Our Chile Country Coordinator, Astrid, shares why do we need to pack our bags right now and go volunteer in Chile.

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Chile Volunteer Project Information

woman with child

Children and Education Volunteer Projects

Volunteers in Chile have the opportunity to teach English at a local school or care for children in small children’s centers around Santiago.

Children and Education Projects

Your Chile Quest

Chile Country Coordinator: Astrid Cortés. Astrid owns and operates a tour company in Santiago focused on cultural and natural immersion. She is an avid salsa dancer and enjoys hosting and meeting travelers from all over the world through her business.

As a United Planet volunteer in Chile, you’ll receive a walking tour of historic downtown Santiago, Chile’s capital city. Learn about the history of this vibrant country and get acquainted with your new surroundings.

While in Chile, you’ll also tour the coastal city of Valparaíso, the “Jewel of the Pacific.” Valparaíso is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, thanks to its unique urban design and beautiful architecture.

If you stay in Chile for four or more weeks, you will go on an excursion and immerse in Chile’s unique natural environment. Possibilities include hiking in the Andes Mountains or touring a Chilean vineyard.

All volunteers in Chile live with host families in Santiago. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Chilean culture and speak the language with your new friends.

Free Time in Chile

Take a stroll through the Plaza de Armas: Located in Santiago, the Plaza de Armas is the heart and soul of the city. It is surrounded by some of Chile’s most historic buildings.

Visit Palacio de la Moneda: The La Moneda Palace is one of the most famous landmarks in Chile and represents the official seat of the Chilean government. Check it out when you have a break from volunteering!

Landscape of Torres del Paine National Park

Hike Torres del Paine National Park: Have a free weekend? Hike the trails of the most famous national park in Chile and see spectacular views of forests, lakes, and glaciers.

Catch a glimpse of the San José Volcano: Located only 60 kilometers east of Santiago, it is 5,856 meters high and classified as “an active volcano, but with no immediate risk to the population.”

Chile in Photos

Volunteers painting a swing set in Chile

Check out the experiences of previous United Planet volunteers in Chile.

Optional Quest Add-Ons

Add Spanish language lessons to your Quest! This is a great way to enhance your conversational Spanish skills and will allow you to communicate better with your host family and volunteer project. This Spanish Immersion Course includes five 90-minute sessions at a language institute outside of Santiago. You will be able to schedule these sessions at your convenience, usually in the afternoons after you complete your volunteer work for the day.

Five 90-minute Spanish language lessons: $240 (price includes books)

Volunteer Voices

United Planet Volunteer shared with us her experience volunteering in Chile.

“I’m so glad that I chose Santiago, Chile as the location to do my quest because it has so much to offer. The people were extremely nice, the country was beautiful, and it was a great way to give back to a community while learning more Spanish and seeing another country. My quest experience in Chile was amazing and unforgettable. I got a lot out of only ten days and I’m grateful for all of the people I met and the experiences I had.”

Quick FAQs

Most of the Chile Quest are offered year-round.The projects start every Sunday.

For the Chile Quest, volunteers can choose to volunteer from 1 week to 12 weeks.

The age requirement for the projects in Chile is 18. Volunteers under 18 may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

All volunteers participating in a volunteer Quest in Latin America are required to complete United Planet’s Spanish Placement Exam. Volunteers who do not meet the language requirement of their project are highly encouraged to choose an option below:

A. Choose an alternative Quest program

B. Add a Spanish Immersion course to the beginning of your Quest (availability varies based on location – please contact your Program Coordinator for more details).

C. Enroll for an in-person language course in your hometown to be completed prior to your Quest

D. Enroll for an online language course with the Spanish School where your in-country language lessons will take place (available in Ecuador and Peru – please contact your Program Coordinator for more details).

We ask that volunteers enroll at least 60 days prior to their anticipated departure date. This gives us enough time to schedule volunteer placements, coordinate in-country activities, and provide sufficient pre-departure training. If you are interested in enrolling for a program in Chile starting in less than 60 days, please contact us directly.

Quest Fees and Details

United Planet Quests are designed to be immersive, authentic, comprehensive and provide you everything you’ll need to succeed. The program elements allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. Most importantly, we partner with the community to ensure your experience will be important, relevant and helpful to the community you serve.

Included in Your Quest Fee

Lodging at a local homestay
Two home-cooked meals per day
Tour of Santiago and port towns of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso
Cultural activities and excursions (depending on length of stay)
Online pre-departure training with our Boston staff
In-country airport transportation
Emergency medical and travel insurance
24/7 in-country support
A United Planet t-shirt

Health and Safety

United Planet provides emergency travel and medical insurance for all volunteers. All staff members participate in extensive health and safety training, and are available at all times by 24-hour phone line. Upon enrollment, you will receive a full emergency contact list. In addition, we register all of our volunteers with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment or visiting a travel health clinic a few months out to update your vaccinations. Read more about health and safety.

Transportation and Flights

Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from Chile. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in Chile and will ensure that you arrive safely at your host house. Public transportation to and from your project is cheap and easy with Santiago’s public transportation system or on foot. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.


1 Week	10 Days	2 Weeks	3 Weeks	4 Weeks	5 Weeks	6 Weeks	7 Weeks	8 Weeks	9 Weeks	10 Weeks	11 Weeks	12 Weeks
$1355	$1575	$1865	$2480	$2915	$3295	$3810	$3970	$4430	$4915	$5375	$5835	$5950

Quest Fee

About Our Quest Fee

We want you to succeed. That means having in place the support our volunteers need. We don’t just drop you in country and hope for the best. We provide training before you leave … language exposure … 24/7 in-country support … support for your host family … accommodations, meals and airport transportation … activities and excursions. The whole idea is to make the experience successful and productive for you and the host community, and we have found that these things are crucial. Remember that we are a non-profit, mission-driven organization – we wouldn’t spend money on something that wasn’t important.

*Payment Plan Details: A $300 deposit is due at the time of your enrollment to lock in your spot in our program. After your confirmation in a program, you can choose to pay the Quest Fee all at once or in installments. The total Quest Fee is due 4 weeks before your departure date.

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Have questions? We’re here for you. We’d love to help.