For a gap year experience with a difference why not consider South America? With ancient colonial cities, fantastic food, an abundance of sports activities and captivating wildlife, it’s easy to see why countries such as Ecuador, Argentina and Bolivia are gaining in popularity – get in quick!
Explore Ecuador
Located in the heart of South America, Ecuador is becoming an increasingly popular destination for gap-year travellers, as, not only does it offer some inspiring culture and scenery; it is also an extremely budget-friendly destination. Ecuador sits on the west coast of the continent and is bordered by Peru and Colombia. There is a population of 14 million, 1 million of whom live in the capital, Quito.
No matter what sort of gap year experience you are looking for, there will be plenty on offer in Ecuador, and it could prove far cheaper than many of the more popular destinations such as Australia or South Africa. For anyone seeking volunteering work, there is a wide range of activities to choose from. Teaching is a popular choice for many travellers, and will allow you to immerse yourself in a local community as well as have a direct impact on their social development.
But one of the more intriguing volunteering placements in Ecuador is the animal conservation schemes that take place in the rainforests. There is a truly exotic array of animals that are looked after by wildlife centres in Ecuador, including such bizarre creatures as woolly monkeys, zongo zongo and a whole host of bird species. For adventure holidays, Ecuador is sure to fit the bill, and, as well as the stunning rainforest inland, the Galapagos Islands are only a short distance away from the coast. Adding even more diversity are the barren volcanic landscapes that can be found around Quito in the north.
Discover Argentina
Argentina can easily offer one of the most diverse gap-year experiences in South America. With an area of over one million square miles, making it the second-largest country in South America and the eighth-largest in the world – there is a rich variety of scenery and exciting locations to choose from. Whether it’s exploring the deserts of Cuyo are immersing yourself in the thriving culture and exhilarating atmosphere of Buenos Aires, there is a gap-year holiday to suit everyone’s tastes.
- Discover Argentina with a Gap YearClaudio.Ar / Nature Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
The climate tends to reach extremely high temperatures inland during the summer months, but there are more varied temperate conditions around the coast. Many tour operators organise adventure-themed holidays travelling to the best of Argentina’s landscape, taking in such breathtaking locations such as Patagonia and the peaks of the Andes.
Argentina is also a popular choice for people looking to learn Spanish abroad, and, if you are considering doing volunteer work for your gap-year, many organisations take on young travellers for a variety of different projects. Healthcare work can be found in Argentina, but another popular choice is the wildlife conservation projects that take place throughout the year. There is also the opportunity to promote environmental initiatives to rural communities in the heart of the country. In comparison to other South American destinations, Argentina will not be as cheap, especially when it comes to flights to the Buenos Aires. Accommodation in the capital will also prove to be slightly more expensive on average, but, as it is a slightly more developed country, there will be greater options to choose from.
Experience Bolivia
For a vast range of breathtaking scenery, Bolivia is easily one of the most sought after locations for gap-year holidays. There is a whole host of attractions in this thriving country that appeal to many different types of travellers, and it is also a popular location for people who want to take on volunteering in South America.
The capital, La Paz, has a population of 835,000, and is a great place to get accustomed to the local traditions and way of life. However, the rural communities in the mountain villages can also offer a real taste of the Bolivian heritage. The town of Oruro is a popular destination, boasting one of the biggest carnivals in the country. For stunning landscape, few countries can boast a location as breathtakingly surreal as the Bolivian Salt Flats – a barren white-salt terrain which stretches out over 12,000 square kilometres. Elsewhere, the Sol de Magana geysers by Uyuni are well worth a visit.
More dream-like scenery can be found in the Laguna Colorada, and the aptly-titled Dali desert, otherwise known as the Salar lie, which is situated on the border with Chile. Bolivia is also home to a vast amount of jungle-covered hills and valleys that are extremely popular for hiking and mountain biking. It is easy to see that a few months could go by very quickly in Bolivia, and people who choose to stay on in the country often take on volunteer work in the rural and less-developed areas. Teachers are especially sought after, due to the lack of educated adults in the country.
I enjoy travelling, discovering new places and meeting new friends and then connecting and sharing my knowledge on Q&A community Blurtit.com
Nice post, I still want to go to south America for some traveling over there