Venezuela Ecological Building / Carpentry

Offering the most varied and striking terrain of almost any South American country, come to gorgeous Venezuela to see the Andes shrouded in snow, the tantalising Caribbean beaches where jungle cascades down to the shore, the indescribable depths of the vast Amazon rainforest, and the eerie beauty of Gran Sabana with its unique flat topped mountains. Experience Latin American fiesta spirit as you dance the night away in one of Venezuela's traditional live music bars, sample outstanding fresh fish as you watch the Caribbean sunset, spot river dolphins, caimans, or even big cats near the Rio Orinoco – all this and more awaits you in this irresistible destination!

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• See some of the most striking terrain in South America
• Contribute to highly valuable construction work
• Make lifelong friends

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• An advanced level of carpentry is required for this project

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

The volunteer village requires constant maintenance and there is always a need for experienced carpenters to provide a help and mentoring for other volunteers allowing them to conduct this highly valuable construction work.

There is a fully stocked workshop within the village which you will be able to use in your daily activities which could involve you in anything from the construction of new buildings to carrying out repairs, or making furniture for the volunteers' rooms or desks for the new school.

This is the ideal opportunity to use your skills to enable volunteers to continue their work in helping local communities.

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You'll fly into Caracas and travel 22 hours southeast to the project site in Santa Elena using local bus services and following the simple and clear travel instructions provided. You will be met at your destination and shown to your accommodation in the project village. For a small extra cost, we can organise for a representative to meet you at Caracas airport, escort you to the bus station and put you on the right bus.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

You will be living in shared accommodation within the purpose built project village. Part of your time will be spent maintaining the shared house and the village and tasks will be shared amongst all volunteers.

You will have a shared bedroom and bathroom with access to kitchen facilities. Single rooms are also available for a small additional charge.

Within the village there are gardens, a gym, wading pool, hammock terrace, craft wood workshop and a field for games of football and frisbee. There are also fire-pits which volunteers gather round for social evenings under the starlit South American skies.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

Snacks and refreshments are provided and you will share the cooking of three meals a day with your fellow volunteers.

Venezuela's cuisine is quite unique and there is nothing else quite like it in the world. Venezuelan food and drink tends to be highly regional. Many of the dishes in Venezuela are based on French, Italian, and Spanish recipes, but have varied over the years to become uniquely Venezuelan.

Fresh fish and shellfish make up many coastal recipes. Tubers such as the potatoes and yucca are quite common in the highlands. Corn, rice and pasta are found everywhere. Many tropical fruits and vegetables make up dishes from Amazon regions. Spices such as cumin are often used as well.

Pabellon is the delicious national dish of Venezuela and consists of rice, black beans and banana covered in stewed and shredded meat. If you fancy a snack, then try an arepa. These are made of corn flour, water, and salt and often fried or baked. They can be topped with a number of ingredients such as chicken, ham, cheese, or jam.

What Next? Apply Now!

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ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

There is a huge variety of things to do in Venezuela, all of which can be booked with local providers, helping to support the local economy. Why not try mountain trekking or rock climbing in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, ride the world's longest and highest cable car (teleférico), which runs 12.6 km (7.9 miles) from Mérida to the top of Pico Espejo, providing easy access to starting points for mountain treks.

Parque Nacional Mochima on the northeast coast offers excellent snorkelling and diving with dozens of offshore islands and islets, some – like the popular Isla de Plata – surrounded by coral reefs. The Cueva del Guácharo is the most spectacular of Venezuela's many cave systems where you can hear the eerie screeching of thousands of Guácharos (Oilbirds), a type of nocturnal bird that inhabits the subterranean dwelling. There are hundreds of exotic bird species such as hummingbirds, herons, Tanagers, Toucanets and Curassows at the Parque Nacional Henri Pittier on the central northern coast.

If you enjoy beach life, swimming and delicious, fresh seafood then pop over to Isla de Margarita, Venezuela's largest Caribbean isle with 168 km (104 miles) of beaches. With so much to do and see, you can be sure that you will never be bored in Venezuela!

To apply for this project, or to register your interest, just click on the orange "Apply Now!" button at the top of the menu. Fill out and submit a short application form and then one of our advisers will give you a call back to answer any questions and to progress your application if you wish to continue.

There is no obligation when making an application, and you do not need to pay anything at this point.