GoEco Reviews 

I spent 7 weeks in Costa Rica. My first week was in San Jose with a lovely host mom to learn Spanish. All of the workers were very helpful and kind. After my first week I was brought to the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Centre. It was honestly the best experience of my life! I got to work with so many animals which is a passion of mine! I learned so many things about all of them and we fed and cleaned them everyday. Definitely a lot of work but all worth it to help the animals! One of the best parts was feeding the sloths which was so amazing! I never realized how cute they really are! The workers were all so amazing at what they did and were very patient. Meeting other volunteers from around the world and making such great new friends will always be something special to me. If you’re considering doing this program I definitely recommend! Just make sure you’re ready to work in the climate. I’m from Canada so it was a big change for me but it was 100% worth it!

The divemasters and instructors were fantastic. Felt very safe and supported.
Killed many lionfish. Saw lots of great fish under the sea.
The accommodations were not great. Shared our room with cockroaches.

This organization is unable to own up to their lack of clarity in their program details and refusing to refund my deposit

I spent 3 weeks at Chipangalli Animal Orphanage along with my 23 year old son. What an experience like never before. There was an instant bond with the other volunteers because we were all there for the animals...
Three weeks flew by. You work hard, eat a lot, take excursions, and become one family. I cried saying goodbye to the animals and the other volunteers as well as our wonderful hosts, the Wilson family.
I spent time with Atlas, the young Hyena as well as the adult Hyena, Apollo. Who would have thought that I would ever get to play and hold a little Hyena!
If you expect everything to run smoothly, think again. The electricity is on and off. The water in the shower may be hot or cold or just right. The work is labor intensive. I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING!
If you are looking to make a difference in the lives of animals, this is the place. The Zimbabwe employees are so kind and helpful. Very patient with all the volunteers who are learning the ropes.

I am almost 72 years old and have done very little traveling other than to some Caribbean islands. I embarked on my journey to Chipangali in Zimbabwe in part to celebrate semi-retirement, to indulge my deep love of all animals, and to challenge myself with a big adventure including very long flights from the US. I satisfied all my goals for certain!! Chipangali requires a lot of hard physical work, as well as emotional work being with the animals in less than ideal circumstances, as well as experiencing life in a very poor country with limited resources. But the rewards are immeasurable!! My fellow volunteers were mostly “20 something’s” who were an impressive group of fascinating, hardworking, respectful, sincere, and caring young people from all over the globe and restored my faith and hope for the future generation! The close access to sit and make eye contact with a mighty lion or give treats to a gentle baboon chittering at you in respect are experiences that have left me with palpable sense of awe, love, and reverence. I was overwhelmed with tears of joy at the scene of releasing a sweet little jackal back into the wild. Chipangali requires only that you do as much as you feel comfortable with….whether it is heavy lifting, long walks into the bush to retrieve fresh leafy branches for the kudu, or chopping pieces of a cow carcass for the meat to feed the many lions. You can comfortably set your own limits and do as you are able. My fellow volunteers were so respectful and helpful. I never once felt judged or any hint of negativity due to my limitations. Also, the indigenous employees and student interns are no doubt the hardest working and most dedicated group of people I have ever experienced! DO NOT let the mention of all the hard work deter you. They welcome people of all ages and abilities to be part of the group and contribute as you can. Chipangali, and most likely GoEco in general, attract the most interesting, wonderful, caring people you would ever hope to meet. GoEco is a very very well organized ‘manager’ of the whole volunteer experience from start to finish and every step along the way, attending to all details and being so responsive to any and all questions or requests. I am so thankful for my experience and highly recommend working through GoEco for any of the great variety of volunteer programs available around the world. BTW I consider it a very economical way to travel as an added bonus. A hands on volunteer experience is far superior to sitting back as a bystander simply observing. So you actually save money but come away with an invaluable experience!! So go for it!!

My time in South Africa has shaped who I am today in ways I wouldn't have expected. I am so grateful for everyone I had the pleasure of meeting and the opportunities this experience has brought me. I could not have done it without the support of the GoEco team, always available for any queries or concerns I had. I was met with utmost kindness and responsiveness that is hard to find with other service providers.

Our family (couple + 2 kids 7 and 9) recently got back from a week in Sri Lanka volunteering with GoEco’s Family Friendly Sea Turtle Program, and it was a great experience. Honestly, when we first started planning we weren’t sure how it would go. Would the kids like it, and would it be safe? But once we arrived, those concerns quickly went away.

Everything was really well-organized from the start. We were picked up on time and taken to Unawatuna, where the program is based. Our accommodation was great, an en-suite family room in a house next to beautiful Unawatuna Beach. There was even a pool in the main volunteer house that we all enjoyed after our volunteering shifts. The food was local and really tasty, and we were also within walking distance of places where we could try different food, whether local Sri Lankan dishes or something familiar like pizza.

Most of our shift were spent at the sea turtle hatchery, where we helped feed the turtles, clean their tanks, and even release baby turtles into the ocean. That was such a special moment for our family. One of the kids’ favorite tasks was cleaning the turtles’ shells on "spa day" with toothbrushes. It sounds funny, but they loved it and learned a lot.

We also got involved in a lagoon clean-up by canoe, where we managed to pick up over 80 kg of trash in one day. It was a big eye-opener for the kids. We did a beach clean-up too, and had a fun break with a surfing lesson that everyone enjoyed.

Aside from the volunteering, we visited a Buddhist temple, took a bike ride through local villages and ended the week with an elephant safari at Udawalawe National Park. Seeing elephants up close was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Overall, this experience gave us the chance to do something meaningful as a family. It was a great mix of hands-on conservation work and experiencing Sri Lanka’s culture. If you’re looking for a family trip that’s both fun and makes a difference, I’d recommend giving this program a try.

Costa Rica was beautiful and GoEco helped our family see it in the best way possible. Between helping the animals and the tour and the beautiful place that we stayed, everything was incredible. Definitely recommend this company!

Don’t send your kids there. It’s not safe!

I had a problem with the host family. After a cold welcome, letting me wait outside until they finally opened the door, guys watching tv not even bothered to say hello when someone is about to live with them. Also I was told it’s a mother and her daughter and not any guys. A room I couldn’t lock, about 35 degrees Celsius in that room, a plastic kind of window that you couldn’t open but had a slit just big enough to let all the animals in, no blanket, no mosquito net like they said. TV full volume all day until late at night. I had no information when I’m supposed to go to the project site. When I asked the host to show me where it is she said she’s not going to show me and that it’s close. Of course I walked the wrong way and a man on the street showed me where it is. The project manager was not there as it was his free day. Someone told me I didn’t had to come and that there’s nothing to do. Just a beach cleaning per day and then sometimes night patrolling. The daughter of the host who lived next door had another spare room in her house and said „she can have it if she pays more“.. following a dinner „being served“ by myself. When I told the host that I might change to the dorm with the other volunteers, she and her older son started to write a grocery list and went shopping. Coming back with a ton of meat. This would be later become the explanation that they have bought already all my food. After a hot and loud night with no sleep I packed my bags. At the project site they said they can’t give me the spare bed at the dorm because I signed up for the host family. They also said they were unable to cook my „special diet“ which was a little bit of protein per meal. The daughter of the host was their cook. The one I didn’t want the room for more money. They also denied my offer to that I cook my own food. „You have to stay in the house. If you’re out of the house you’re out of the project“. I felt physically not safe in that house, no air in that room, men that didn’t feel safe, animals that could just crawl in, being treated like an afterthought, lied to, just a business that doesn’t need any sort of human kindness. So that was it and they just left me alone on the street in a country I didn’t know anyone and was in a remote area 6h expensive drive away from the airport. Within 24 hours I was finally out of Costa Rica. A place I will never go again.

Preparation before starting was to be fair very organised, but on site a disaster. Also nothing to do. Made everything very complicated, inside job with the people involved coming up with the lamest gaslighting excuses. No refund. Didn’t even send me back a bag that I forgot in the let’s call it house in the heat of the departure. They said they can send it to my place in Costa Rica… you do the math.

Grate service

I sent my son to Bali w goEco. The prep and interaction prior to the trip with our local contact was great. I felt organized with all the info and what I needed to do to get him ready. He had the time of his life. The exact quote was “it was the best 2 weeks of my life”. Volunteering and a good amount of independence. The ground team was supervisory enough. Bonded with the 10 other kids. Planning to travel with them next year. Great overall experience.

I spent three weeks in South Africa at an African Wildlife Ranch. This was an incredible experience that I will never forget. I learned so much about wildlife care and conservation as well as seeing so many amazing species! On top of that, the people were life changing. This would not have been possible without Go Eco!

I just completed a one month vacation visiting South Africa and Zimbabwe. I found my experience working in Zimbabwe at a wildlife orphanage to be life changing and full of forever memories. Discovering goeco was a blessing for me. I spent 20 years in my career in IT but lately I lost my passion. I needed to recharge my batteries so was able to get a month off. I needed to do something different to celebrate my 60th birthday. Goeco was the answer to what I searching for. I call it ‘voluntourism’ where you pay to volunteer to help save and protect the wildlife. I love to travel but needed to make a difference no matter how big or small. My experience at the wildlife orphanage in Zimbabwe was incredible, fun, challenging and self rewarding. I met amazing people and it was so much fun meeting other volunteers. They made my experience a blast!
I’m definitely doing this again next year. Hands down this program will build your self confidence!

It was a good experience in Costa Rica. I met great people and had an excellent time working with the other volunteers and the people from Costa Rica. Safety was important and also the mission. Working with the animlas was fun. I will do it again.

Volunteering at the Amazon Shelter in Perú was truly a life-changing experience. It was incredible to be part of the effort to help rehabilitate animals in the rainforest. Magali and her team do amazing work, dedicating their lives to rescuing and caring for wildlife. Every bit of sponsorship goes directly to the animals, ensuring they receive the care they need. They are friendly, thoughtful, accommodating, and help make the trip for volunteers unforgettable.
This experience made me appreciate the Amazon Shelter immensely and made me realize how little is truly needed in life to make a meaningful impact. It's not a luxurious holiday, but it's a deeply rewarding and eye-opening volunteer program. You leave with a sense of fulfillment, knowing you’ve made a difference to help the animals in the Amazon Shelter.

We recently had the pleasure of spending two incredible weeks at the Atoll Marine Conservation Center, and we can’t recommend this experience enough to other families. Contributing to turtle rescue, ocean clean-up, and connecting with the wonderful local community was both rewarding and inspiring. The island's relaxed and friendly atmosphere provided a refreshing change from our busy lives. We came away with new friends and unforgettable memories. If you're looking for a meaningful and enriching family adventure, this is it! 🌊🐢💚

My GoEco experience was amazing.
I was very sceptical at first but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. All the people at the costa rica animal rescue center were so helpful and open and after adjusting to my new surroundings I was able to fully dive into the life at the animal rescue center. Everything was simple but the food was yummy and cooked freshly every day, the rooms were cleaned daily and there were evening activities everyday. I got to meet so many new people from all over the world. I am very thankful for this experience and would do it again anytime.
Thank you thank you thank you

I enjoyed my experience English teaching in the Galapagos. It was a very enriching experience working with the locals and other volunteers. I learned a lot and will cherish the memories I made. GoEco made the booking and planning process very easy and straight forward. They were always available if I had any questions and were quick to respond. I plan to book another volunteering abroad experience through them in the future.

I had such an amazing experience traveling the world, meeting new people, and doing fulfilling volunteer work! GoEco made planning my trip easy and convenient, and I’m very glad I chose them. The support staff was also incredibly helpful and super friendly. If I had any questions or concerns they were always there to help.

My experience as an English volunteer in Thailand was incredible. Even though I was a minor, I felt completely safe because the team picked me up at the airport. Everyone on the team was extremely kind, and I had the chance to immerse myself in the local culture and learn from the people there. The highlight was definitely teaching English. I also made friends from around the world—USA, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. I highly recommend GoEco; this is my second year volunteering with them, and I hope to continue next year!