Volunteer and Intern Abroad in Belize
Next Step: Click here to choose a project in Belize
Getting involved in a Projects Abroad volunteer project or internship in Belize is a chance for anyone with a passion for meaningful travel to give back to disadvantaged communities in this beautiful Central American country. Whether you are on a gap year, career break, or looking for a meaningful experience during a vacation, volunteering with Projects Abroad gives you the chance to live and work alongside a diverse and friendly people.
Although Belize is an increasingly popular destination for tourists with over one million tourists visiting each year, the country still faces major development challenges and there are many people in need. Volunteers can have a hugely positive impact by helping to improve literacy levels as teachers, caring for children and contributing to their educational development in care centres and kindergartens, and providing healthcare in impoverished communities.
Where You Will Live in Belize with Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad Belize is based in San Pedro, a town on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye. It is the second largest town in the Belize District. Our volunteer projects are all based here, except for the Diving & Marine Conservation Project, which is located in Placencia, a peninsula nestled between a lagoon and the Caribbean.
When you arrive in Belize, you will fly into either San Pedro (SPR) or Placencia (PLJ) airport.
Volunteers on the Conservation project will stay in shared apartments. All other volunteers will live with a local host family, who will welcome you into their home and help you become part of the local community. This is a fantastic opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and you will find yourself learning a great deal about the local culture and you could even pick up some of the local languages, such as Belizean Creole or one of the Mayan dialects.
As a former British colony, Belize is a country with numerous cultures, languages, and ethnic groups. The population is a complex mix of Creols, Garifuna, Mestizos, Mennonites, and Mayan descendants. There are also immigrants from other Central American and Asian countries. English is the official language, so most volunteers will find it easy to communicate with locals and the staff at their placements. Spanish is also widely spoken.
Volunteer Travel and Tourism in Belize
As a volunteer living and working in Belize, you will have plenty of opportunity to explore the stunning landscape around you, both on the weekends or after finishing your placement. Belize is home to an incredibly diverse ecosystem and features an abundance of natural wonders, including the second largest barrier reef in the world and the largest cave system in Central America. The country also has a rich Mayan history, with almost a thousand Mayan ruins for you to explore.
Volunteers have plenty of activities to choose from in Belize and more than 250 different Cayes (islands) for you to discover. The waters are safe and ideal for boating, scuba diving, and snorkelling and there are numerous rivers for rafting and kayaking. You can also visit various jungle and wildlife reserves for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, where you can see more than five thousand species of plants and hundreds of animal species, including jaguars, armadillos, snakes, monkeys, and more.
Projects available in Belize

Volunteer with children in care centres and schools. Your role will be to support their education and early childhood development, by helping with homework and organising fun activities.

Conservation volunteers in Belize help gather necessary data from the Belize Barrier Reef, volunteers can also participate in a PADI Open Water course.

Public Health interns work alongside qualified medical professionals, who will be on hand to train you. You will focus on a variety of areas, including community outreaches and public health campaigns.

Help run a summer sports programme for school children during their holidays. Every week, coaches and volunteers will focus on a different sport, such as beach football, swimming, martial arts and softball.

Volunteer as a school sports coach in Belize and organise fun sporting activities to encourage fitness, teamwork and a healthy lifestyle.

Volunteers on this placement work in primary or secondary schools in San Pedro. Your main role will be to help children build on their reading, writing, and comprehension abilities.
Animal Care

Assist with the treatment and care of stray cats and dogs at a non-profit veterinary clinic and shelter. You will help with a range of tasks including feeding, bathing and examining the animals.

Take part in a stand-alone Spanish Language Course in Belize, or learn Spanish as an add-on course alongside your regular volunteer programme.

Take part in a stand-alone English Language Course in Belize, or learn English as an add-on course alongside your regular volunteer programme.
High School Specials for 15 to 18 year olds available in Belize

You will get involved in a variety of tasks during your time abroad. These include salvage dives to clean-up the reefs and surrounding seabed, marine wildlife surveys and beach clean-ups.

Work with qualified medical professionals, and provide children and adults with access to vital healthcare and medical treatment on our Public Health High School Special in Belize.