Volunteer World Reviews 

This was our first time volunteering abroad, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. At first we werent sure what to expect but it was so well organized and well communicated that we never felt worried, all the questions we had were quickly answered and even just our first day we felt very welcomed immediately having been offered a glass of water or coffee. They also had a really nice common area which made it easy to meet other participants. They even gave us clear written instructions for how to get to and from our project and homestay and they even went with us the first times to make sure we would be comfortable making the journeys on our own the rest of the week. I would highly recommend volunteering with maximo nivel to any interested in visiting the beautiful country that is costa rica!

Great immersive experience. Opportunities to learn and apply what you learn immediately.

Volunteer World is an excellent organization, with a friendly, supportive, and knowledgeable staff. They always made themselves available to answer my questions, and find solutions to support my travel and volunteer goals. This is an excellent and affordable way to travel while also giving back to the local communities they help represent globally.

First off. My travel companion and I have been volunteering for years. We have spent time in Haiti, DR, Post-Katrina New Orleans....we are not high maintenance and we are very familiar with "roughing it."

The goal of Paseo de los Mones(our placement booked through Volunteer World) and the family who supports/runs the facility is admirable and all staff are incredibly friendly. If you do not speak atleast intermediate Spanish, you are going to struggle with a language barrier.

Paseo is about 4.5 hours by car from Quito Airport. The surrounding town is quite large, however you are very isolated and to visit waterfalls,etc you will need a car.

It is worth highlighting here,that Volunteer World is what we call a "referral service." They take your information and forward it to the volunteer hosts, then charge you a reservation fee. The reservation fee you are paying DOES NOT SUPPORT any volunteer work. It's simply a finders fee. In addition. Volunteer World has not physically been too many (if any) of these volunteer placements and do not provide accurate descriptions. You can volunteer at Paseo by simply contacting their website directly and you will not have to pay an extra 200 US just so VW can forward your information.

Paseo is a HOST FAMILY. It is NOT a volunteer dorm. The family and their 10/12 year old son live In the house on the property. Yes, there is bunk style bedding in some of the rooms, but it is very much a host family. Some of the bedrooms have blatant water damage/mold and were not being occupied. If there are not other volunteers scheduled at the same time, it will be just you and the family.

We ended up cutting our trip short after my travel companion was bitten by a monkey. In addition we did not want a program where we would be placed with a host family, the description clearly stated it was a volunteer dorm. The actual living conditions...to be nice we will say are "rustic." The entire house smells of heavy mold and mildew (yes, I realize it's in the rainforest). The metal roof in our bedroom and all windows were lined with a fine coating of mold and mildew. The windows are lined with chicken wire at the top (to prevent monkeys from crawling in)...so if there was ever a fire....best of luck. The worst part are the mice nesting In the ceiling and you constantly hear them communicating and running in your room.
I will be very honest and say we onlt actually saw one in our room the night before we left....but you can hear many more.

You should know also, that in case of an emergency or need to relocate to a new placement, Volunteer World is not going to help. There is ZERO after hours support and they only respond via email. So....in the event you have been bitten by a monkey and need medical attention or you're being kidnapped....may the odds be ever in your favor. You are not getting a quick response of any kind.

We did request to get moved to a different volunteer placement in Quito after traveling to Quito for emergency care. The other program only accepted volunteers that could stay a minimum of 4 weeks so we were left to find our own accommodations and meals. We have since requested a refund from VW due to the incorrect description of the program,unsafe living conditions that had clearly never been audited and a complete lack of emergency support (as promised by their website). They have ghosted myself, my travel companion and an attorney to date.

If you like camping and do not have a mold allergy you could love Paseo. We strongly suggest a rabies shot before you go from your local travel clinic. I would suggest contacting Yvon directly through their website and not including Volunteer World as they are unorganized, uninformed and quite frankly do not deserve your money. IVHQ and Love Volunteering are 100% better then this company. Do not give them your money.

Regards! Good Luck!

Had a good experience with volunteer world, they responded very fast and overall it was easy and organized to find a volunteer opportunity. Would recommend :)

Working for Maximo Nivel for the Turtle Conservation project in Parismina Costa Rica was a literal life changing event. My sister and I traveled together and really felt that we were able to make a connection to a new community and we learned their ways of culture!

The Bantu Kapal team was filled with Wonderful people who truly want the best for the animals and environment 🥰. I felt valued as a volunteer and had a lot of fun with the staff and volunteers💕!

I can´t told a lot for your organisation. My first experience was really nice. My trip start in september.

My two weeks in Portugal were the best experience of my life so far! The culture and the atmosphere there in Portugal and at the hostel specially were so welcoming that it was impossible for me to not feel safe. The placement shifts and the free time were really easy to combine and this gave me enough freedom to explore and to meet the world as I wanted. If you are a minor the programme may have some more trouble finding a placement than if you’re not, but you don’t have to worry! The hostel is well located and the commute to Lisbon or Cascais is very manageable. Kids and adults were super kind and lovely, and also very helpful. If u go with the intentions of making new friends, be sure you will, your friendship will last forever. But, if you’re maybe not looking for friends or social interactions, this is not your activity. I highly recommend everyone to do a volunteer experience, specially if you’re scared to do it, it will be perfect for you!!

Always responded to my messages
Website well done, everything is put in a way for users to understand

All of the representatives from Volunteer World have been very helpful and kind. Patient with my many questions or concerns.

My inquiry about specific programs was answered in a timely fashion.

I’ve been here a week now and I’ve had the best time. The staff are amazing and so so helpful! My placement has been so welcoming and my host family are incredible. I feel so supported and I’m thoroughly looking forward to the next three weeks!

Really recommended! I’m still planning my trip but for now they’ve helped me a lot!

Maximo and their staff are great! The university of Florida pre-PA association had an amazing week working on a volunteer medical campaign and going on excursions through Maximo. Experience of a lifetime!

Very good service, fast and reliable! Highly recommended!

I am soo looking forward to participate in some of their programs. I've been in contact with couple of different organisations about volunteering and Volunteer world have been most professional in providing me with the needed data.

You're welcome my friend's Mama Support Community

I had to cancel my original destination and I used the 'Flex Option', Volunteer World were super efficient and responded quickly on Whats App. All went really smoothly. Would thoroughly recommend.

The website presents a variety of outstanding offers. The clear structure and easy-to-understand information made my search for relevant details much easier.

What particularly impressed me was the speed and efficiency of communication. No matter what request or concern I had, the team always responded quickly and offered helpful solutions. This willingness to meet customer needs so attentively is a testament to exemplary customer service.