Spain A Philosophy For Travelers

Simmer and slice with Basque chefs in San Sebastián .
Speak Portuguese (almost) like the Portuguese in Lisboa .
Sweat as you plant cherry trees in the mountains of Morocco’s High Atlas .

There comes a point when tourism and traveling diverge. Whether exploring Spain, Portugal, or Morocco, you will be surrounded by chances to immerse yourself in your environment. And as you do, certain realities around you become more obvious: environmental destruction, poverty, and discrimination, to name a few. Even as tourism plays a heavy role in the development of local economies, it contributes to some of the worst environmental and cultural erosion. Responsible and socially-conscious tourism, therefore, is not only essential but also one of the most rewarding ways to travel.

As a volunteer in Spain, Portugal, or Morocco, you can unleash that inner superhero with projects from fighting racism in Barcelona to painting murals in Marrakesh. This guide is full of ideas to help get your search for NGOs and other relevent organizations started, whether you’re hoping to pitch in for a few days or run away to a whole new life of Iberian activism.

The power of studying abroad is beyond comprehension. Thousands of students descend on Spain every year to take advantage of a broad array of language programs, and Portugal and Morocco offer equally incredible learning experiences. If you want to brush up your Arabic, birdwatch in the Pyrenees, or conquer the Spanish lisp, there is probably a course out there for you.

Working abroad can bring some of the most meaningful relationships and experiences of your life. (And it doesn’t hurt that a job helps pay for more globetrotting.) High rates of unemployment in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco can make it difficult to find a job or obtain a work visa, and travelers should also realize that they could be taking away jobs from locals. That said, English speakers are always in high demand as teachers, au pairs, or workers in seasonal resort towns. In order to work abroad, you must meet the legal requirements for either short-term or long-term work (see Working, ).

Share Your Experience. Have you had a particularly enjoyable volunteer, study, or work experience that you’d like to share with other travelers? Post it to our website, www.letsgo.com.