Mexico A Philosophy For Travelers

Teach English to schoolchildren in the shanty towns of Mexico City .
Rescue baby turtles and their habitat in Quintana Roo .
Fight for reproductive rights in Oaxaca .
Dig up dirt on the Maya on a research trip in Yaxunah .

As a tourist, you are always a foreigner. While hostel-hopping and sightseeing can be great fun, you may want to consider going beyond tourism. Experiencing a foreign place through studying, volunteering, or working can help reduce that touristy stranger-in-a-strange-land feeling. Furthermore, travelers can make a positive impact on the natural and cultural environments they visit. With this Beyond Tourism chapter, Let’s Go hopes to promote a better understanding of Mexico and to provide suggestions for those who want to get more than a photo album out of their travels. The “Giving Back” sidebar features (see The Quick Flipper Fixer Upper; Party for the Turtle’s Sake; La Ventanilla; Teach to Tots) also highlights regional Beyond Tourism opportunities.

Mexico offers many opportunities beyond the conventions of traditional tourism. You can play a pivotal role in one of the many organizations that are working to build a better Mexico through conservation, education, and public service. Opportunities for volunteerism abound, with both local and international organizations. Studying in a new environment can be enlightening, whether through direct enrollment in a local university or in an independent research project. Working is a way to immerse yourself in the local culture and finance your travels simultaneously.

As a volunteer in Mexico, you can participate in projects from assisting doctors in poverty-stricken areas to tracking endangered turtles, either on a short-term basis or as the main component of your trip. Later in this chapter, we recommend organizations that can help you find the opportunities that best suit your interests, whether you’re looking to get involved for a day or for a year.

Studying at a college or in a language program is another option. These schools cluster in Cuernavaca and other university towns. Many programs cater to interest in ancient Mexican ruins, offering the chance to participate in archaeological digs. Opportunities to engage in environmental conservation abound along the coast.

Many travelers structure their trips by the work available to them along the way, ranging from odd jobs on the go to full-time, long-term stints. Cities like Oaxaca and Guadalajara are meccas for gringos in search of do-good opportunities.