VIDA trips start at $1465. The cost of a trip will vary depending on the duration of the trip. Please see the VIDA Trip Schedule for specific trip prices.

First, choose a service trip and date from our VIDA Trip Schedule. Submit your application online and once you have paid your $100 application fee, you have begun your VIDA adventure. Once we have received your application and application fee you will be sent a letter of confirmation via email.

No, participants do not need to be bilingual. We provide bilingual guides, assistants, and interpreters for every VIDA adventure. We offer a survival Spanish class as part of our orientation process with every service group.

Yes, we welcome citizens of all countries. Please check with the nearest consulate(s) for each country you plan to visit as separate visas may be required to enter each country (even if you are only traveling through that country, such as the U.S.) Normally, visas are granted for 30 days depending on the origin of your passport and are ONLY valid for ONE entry into that country, so you may have to select a service trip where you fly into one country and fly out of another or a trip that only visits one country.

• The visa process is a very slow process and may require our staff to submit documents from Central America so please inquire as soon as possible and no later than 75 days prior to your service trip.

Yes, one option would be for you to organize your own group and we can accommodate the dates of your choice. Please contact us directly for further details regarding special groups.

Another option would be to join the group late or schedule an early departure from the dates listed. There is a $100.00 fee for flexible arrival & departure dates as VIDA staff will personally pick you up and drop you off as needed.  Please contact info@vidavolunteertravel.org to check on the dates you would like to travel.

Yes, we welcome all groups; corporate retreat groups, church groups, student groups, community groups, family groups, men’s groups and women’s groups. We would be happy to include your group in an already scheduled service trip or offer you the opportunity to choose your own dates, depending on availability and VIDA approval. If you wish to coordinate you own group you will need to contact us at least 15 months prior to the start date.

Groups of more than 15 people will be offered their own service trip dates to choose from and have the opportunity to develop a specialized itinerary for their group’s needs. Please contact VIDA staff at info@vidavolunteertravel.org.

Yes, you can sign up to participate in two back-to-back trips. Any student who wishes to participate in two VIDA adventures in a row is eligible to receive a $200 scholarship.

Typically, you will have the opportunity to call home or have access to the internet at least twice during the trip. However, due to the remote nature of some of established routes, you may not always have the opportunity to call home.

We recommend that you bring at least $400* with you for a two week trip; however many volunteers bring much more than that amount to purchase souvenirs, gifts for family and friends, food, etc. We also require that volunteers bring a well recognized international credit card such as VISA.

* Please bring cash in US Dollars as other currencies cannot be exchanged. Please do not change money before you arrive. VIDA staff will take you to exchange your money upon arrival.

Please check the Trip Schedules Page for the trip you have chosen.

We encourage our volunteers to raise a minimum of $100 worth of donations for their service trip.

100% of monetary donations will be utilized according to your specifications. (i. e. utilized for direct donations to patients for follow-up procedures such as an x-ray or ultrasound, extra medications for clinics, etc.)

Click on How to contribute to review the medication donation list, dental donation list, and veterinarian donation list, as well as general donation list which includes items for our Partners for a Brighter Future.

• If you would like to donate dental, medical or veterinary equipment, please contact VIDA staff directly at info@vidavolunteertravel.org.

Congratulations! All of your hard work has really paid off! If you have so many donations that they don’t fit in extra luggage, please notify VIDA staff at info@vidavolunteertravel.org as we may be able to have other volunteers bring some of the donations. Please double check that your donations are not expired and are on the medication list. Expired medications will most likely be confiscated in customs and should not be brought with you.

All meals offered by VIDA will be prepared to strict food safety standards and all meals will be well balanced. Many meals will be typical Central American fare which may include the staples of rice, beans, plantains, vegetables, and tortillas. Most meals will include chicken or fish along with rice, beans, and cooked vegetables.

Will my service trip be all work or will I see some of the country’s natural beauty as well?

All of the countries in Central America are beautiful and seeing some of the breathtaking beauty is integrated in each VIDA service trip. VIDA trips are designed to have just the right amount of work and play. Typically we will offer a minimum of 7 work days and 2 recreational and 2 days of travel per trip. Our Spring Break and end of the year trips typically include 4 days of service and combined recreation/travel days.

See our itineraries to get an idea of how you will spend your days.

VIDA staff members are always happy to assist with the application process for employment, volunteer experiences, as well as fill out paperwork for internship experience and academic credit.

VIDA will issue a letter which includes an outline of volunteer hours and project information upon request.

Requests for letters of recommendation will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please contact VIDA staff at info@vidavolunteertravel.org

*Medical volunteers who are bilingual and willing to interpret must be certified interpreters or  present a reference letter from a hospital or clinic verifying previous interpretation experience. They would be eligible for a scholarship up to $300. For more information contact info@vidavolunteertravel.org

Benefits of traveling with volunteer organizations:

While going through an organized program can also have its pitfalls, the benefits include:

• Orientation: This usually includes important pre-departure reading material as well as on-site orientation on local culture, history, and customs.
• Language and technical training
• Arranged accommodations: A supportive and caring home-stay environment provides an important connection to the culture and a first-hand view of social and political events in country.
• A Safety net: Staff are there to provide logistical and emotional support.
• Clear expectations: The volunteer’s responsibilities are clear and well-defined.
• Affordability: When you calculate the difference between traveling to a country on your own and the cost of participating in a program, you might be surprised by how little the difference is. Of course, many people successfully arrange their own volunteer placements. But in virtually every case, those who come away with a satisfying experience have strong ties in the host country as well as technical experience or specialized skills in areas such as teaching English, construction, and agriculture. Even with an organization, there is no guarantee that the experience will be 100 percent trouble-free. Those who want such guarantees should probably consider a vacation on a cruise ship.
• Advice to the would-be volunteer with good intentions, great organization skills, and a real interest in international development and cross-cultural education is to allow an experienced organization to channel that energy, intelligence, and good intentions into an established volunteer program.

The money that volunteers pay goes towards two areas:

1. Directly to the costs of the volunteer’s trip.  This includes two meals a day, hotel costs, home-stay costs, transportation, professional staff such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians as well as guides and translators and necessary supplies for clinics or service projects, including medicines and instruments.
2. Administrative costs include pre-trip service and support to volunteers, organizational costs such as clinic and service project coordination, etc.

There are many ways to help even if you can’t participate in one of the service trips.