Experience History and Cuisine in Mexico

The Yucatán Peninsula lies between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and is famous for the stunning beauty of its tropical setting and the awe-inspiring remnants of the Mayan civilization. On this trip, travelers will immerse themselves in the wealth of history and culture embedded in the region, while also enjoying the beaches and nightlife of Mexico. The trip will begin in Mérida, the largest city in southeastern Mexico and one possessing a rich cultural history. The city was founded in 1542 by Spanish conquistadors on the site of the Mayan city of T’hó, and many of its historic buildings, including the famous Cathedral of Mérida, are constructed using stone from Mayan ruins. Here, travelers will be able to adventure through the city and explore nearby cenotes, large natural sinkholes filled with water. The Mayans believed that the cenotes were the entrance to Xibalba, or the underworld, and used them for ceremonial purposes as well as water sources. After leaving Mérida, travelers will visit the ancient ruins of Chichen Itzá, a city whose towering pyramids and temples have remained well preserved for nearly 1,500 years. Travelers will also explore Valladolid, where they can enjoy traditional Mayan dishes and rest for a night before venturing on to the pristine beaches of the Mayan Riviera. The trip includes a visit to Tulum, the site of the only Mayan ruins built next to the ocean. The Mayan city of Tulum was a prominent trading center between the 13th and 15th centuries, and it remains one of the best-preserved ruins in Mexico. While in Tulum, travelers will also have the opportunity to relax on the beaches, go snorkeling, swim in more nearby cenotes, and indulge in the local cuisine. The final stop will be Cancún, where travelers can spend the last few days of their trip enjoying the stunning coast, warm water, and vibrant nightlife of the city. Included is also a day trip into the jungles of the Yucatán to visit a small local community that will teach travelers how to prepare their mouth-watering traditional dishes. Travelers can spend their final nights partying in Cancún’s exciting bars and clubs or discovering excellent restaurants before the end of the trip.

This is a 9-day trip that costs $1,129. This trip is a G Adventures Roamie trip, a hostel-based trip style geared towards 18-35 year olds looking to explore iconic destinations through an immersive, and wallet-friendly experience. G Adventures is a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Fight Poverty in India’s "Pink City"

Jaipur, known as the Pink City for its magnificent pink facades, is a bastion of rich cultural history and a vibrant tourism industry, but still suffers from high poverty rates and social inequality. A significant portion of the population lives in slums, families struggling to afford school fees, access healthcare, and face overcrowded housing conditions. Many children under the poverty line or facing social exclusion are neglected and unable to access essential resources they need to thrive. Volunteers can make a difference in the community by helping to build and renovate these facilities and assist with education projects like courses, games, arts and crafts, and sports for a range of age groups. Participants will engage with students to help them catch up with peers and avail them of further opportunities to learn and grow. Each traveler will work on unique projects organized by the need of the moment and the number of volunteers available. The tasks are chosen by the needs of the community. Big group projects involve volunteer working days at a school for 50-100 special needs children affected with mental and physical disabilities such as ADHD, Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, and more.

This trip is 7 days and costs $1,627. Globe Aware is a nonprofit organization that offers international volunteer programs that go beyond tourism. Globe Aware programs promote the immersion of participants in a unique way that also aligns with the United Nations sustainability goals. Volunteers get the chance to experience cultural awareness: acknowledging and celebrating the culture of a community, but not changing it. Participants will also work alongside the host community and help teach and learn skills with the concept of promoting sustainable practices.

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Volunteer in Sustainable Farming in Guatemala

Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, is endowed with an abundance of rich ecosystems and fertile land. However, almost half the population cannot afford the cost of the basic food basket, while food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the country. In recent years, sustainable agriculture has seen a sharp rise in popularity as it simultaneously tackles environmental issues and poverty-induced challenges. However, the introduction of these newer farming practices has also generated a demand for more hands in the field to maintain optimal production. Through this project, volunteers will be able to work with local farmers just outside of Antigua, where they can learn about the sustainable farming of coffee and macadamia nuts and participate in every step of the production process, from picking to weeding, planting, processing, and packaging. At the same time, volunteers will gain a deeper understanding of traditional agricultural techniques that have been practiced for centuries. This project also offers participants the chance to immerse themselves in local Guatemalan life and learn more about the rich history and culture of the region.

This minimum 1-week experience starts at $665 per person and includes airport pick-up, host family accommodations, meals, and 24/7 emergency support. Volunteers will work for 3-4 hours per day from Monday to Friday.

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Escape To The Landmarks of Greece

Greece is home to the longest coastline in Europe, filled with pristine beaches, Mediterranean forests, and rugged mountains. The country is also home to a myriad of prominent archeological sites from its ancient civilizations; these include the monasteries of Meteora, the mystical Delphi Archaeological Site, and above all, the city of Athens, home to the world-famous Parthenon, the incarnation of millennia of philosophy and culture. Travelers will follow the coastline from Corfu to Athens, with the opportunity to visit these landmarks and take in the beauty of this unique nation. From the hanging monasteries of Meteora, to the ancient city of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose structures include ancient buildings like the treasuries, an altar for animal sacrifices, the trip will immerse participants in the deep history of each remarkable site. In Athens, travelers will continue to embrace classic architecture through the city’s many archaeological sites before visiting Shedia Home, a non-profit cafe which provides purpose and employment to over 150 individuals undergoing homelessness in Athens.

This is a five-day trip and costs $705. This trip is a G Adventures Roamie trip, a hostel-based trip style geared towards 18-35 year olds looking to explore iconic destinations through an immersive, and wallet-friendly experience. G Adventures is a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Adventure Along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula

The Yucatán Peninsula, lying between the Gulf of Mexico to the west and north and the Caribbean Sea to the east, is renowned for its lush rainforests, tropical beaches and historic Mayan ruins. During this experience, the group will explore some of the area’s many cenotes – enormous sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock, take a guided tour of the Chichén Itzá, one of the most famous ancient Mayan ruins in the world, home to wonders like the Temple of Kukulcán and the Sacred Cenote, and swim in turquoise waters to escape the heat. In Tulum, once a Mayan port city, travelers will encounter more historic ruins as well as magnificent beaches on which to relax. The city also offers the remarkable natural waterpark of Xel-Há where the group can snorkel and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

This is a 6- day trip and costs $769. This trip is a G Adventures Roamie trip, a hostel-based trip style geared towards 18-35 year olds looking to explore iconic destinations through an immersive, and wallet-friendly experience. G Adventures is a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Dune Buggies to Sandboarding on the Coast of Peru

On this trip, the group will journey along the Peruvian coast, discovering small coastal towns, desert oases, islands and bustling bohemian neighborhoods along the way. Starting off in Lima, a capital city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site at its center and a vibrant nightlife, travelers will get the chance to explore independently and roam the romantic plazas of this coastal center.  In a small fishing town, travelers will experience a fresh seafood lunch and learn how Peruvian ceviche is prepared. Heading into the Peruvian desert, the group will have the chance to zoom around the sand dunes on dune buggies, try out sandboarding, take a sunset swim in an oasis,  take a kiteboarding class, and visit a pisco distillery. In the Ballestas Islands, see a unique pantheon of fauna from penguins to flamingos, to sea turtles on a boat excursion.

This is a 5-day trip and costs $439. This trip is a G Adventures Roamie trip, a hostel-based trip style geared towards 18-35 year olds looking to explore iconic destinations through an immersive and wallet-friendly experience. G Adventures is a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Experience the Amazon with a Host Family in Ecuador

The Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest, is home to over 3 million species and covers much of Brazil and Peru, as well as Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and Ecuador. During this experience, travelers will have the unique opportunity to live with the Quechua people, the Indigenous people of South America who speak the Quechua language, and learn more about both the rainforest and the people themselves. Beginning their journey in Quito, Ecuador, travelers will go by bus and truck into the Amazon Rainforest where they will spend the next four nights with a local Quechua family in the small town of Tena. In the town, travelers will be able to learn about medicinal plants as they explore the rainforest, go on a canoe ride to the amaZOOnico Animal Rescue Center, experience a shamanic healing ceremony and participate in a blowgun contest. Other activities include a natural mud face mask treatment and a cacao culinary experience and tasting. At the village, travelers will get to know the Quechua people on a personal level, sharing meals with them and learning about the secrets of the rainforest with local community members as their guides.

This is a 7-day trip and costs $749. This trip is led by G Adventures, a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s 8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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