Voluntourism Allows Travelers To Give Back When Visiting Aruba

While volunteering around the world isn’t exactly something new, voluntourism is a new approach to exploring the world. In the case of the Caribbean island of Aruba, various programs are in place to allow travelers to give back to the island while they are on vacation. What with climate change and global warming, the planet is facing many challenges, but these programs will allow travelers to enjoy a more meaningful experience by giving back to Aruba.

Voluntourism in Aruba to make a difference

Among the voluntourism programs, travelers can make donations to local non-profit organizations, or volunteer for a beach clean-up. Meanwhile, the options are often available through local hotels and resorts. The following is a guide to hotels that offer voluntourism programs for travelers wanting to give back while enjoying a vacation in Aruba.

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba

Guests staying at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba are encouraged to participate in the hotel’s Do-Good program. This program is intended to inspire the hotel’s guests to give back to the environment and local community in Aruba. The available options are as follows:

Beach Clean-up:

This Aruba hotel hosts a #Boardwalkbucketchallange [sic] to encourage guests to take a bucket from the bucket station at the hotel and fill it with trash collected from the beach. Moreover, the hotel asks guests to take a photo of their bucket to share on social media to encourage others to do the same, using the hashtag #Boardwalkbucketchallange.

Walk, Adopt or Transport a Stray:

This program invites guests to facilitate the adoption of stray dogs on the island by signing up as a volunteer, or even by adopting a dog themselves.

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba

This popular beach resort offers several voluntourism options including:

Monthly Beach Clean-up:

Guests at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort are each month invited to participate with a team for its traditional beach clean-up. Meanwhile, the volunteer initiative brings together participants in a focused cause to keep the beach pristine and free of debris that could negatively impact endangered Leatherback sea turtles, marine life off the coast and flora and fauna on land.

The Bucuti Tara – GMC Nature Preserve:

For this program, the hotel guests are invited to join resort staff and the local community to work at the Bucuti Tara – GMC Nature Preserve. This helps to support the island’s reforesting non-profit, Ban Lanta y Planta. Guests become involved in a planting effort to reforest the area. So far, more than 700 trees have been planted here.

Pack for a Purpose:

Bucuti & Tara is a long-serving member of the global initiative, Pack for a Purpose.  The program involves guests using a small amount of their luggage space to pack supplies needed by the local community. This way, the needy receive clothing, school supplies, and games and toysfor children who are not able to live with family.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort

Travelers visiting Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort who book a meeting, wedding or event are offered the opportunity to donate to one of the following impactful organizations:

Casa Cuna:

Casa Cuna provides a safe haven for children aged eight and under who have suffered neglect, abuse or other difficult circumstances.

Luna Foundation:

The Luna Foundation is committed to improving the lives of Aruba’s street dogs and strays and offers medical care, shelter and adoption services.

Ban Uni Man Pa Cria Nos Muchanan:

This organization offers disadvantaged children in Aruba the opportunity to receive a nutritious breakfast to start their day.

Hyatt Regency Aruba

June 8 is World Ocean’s Day and Hyatt Regency Aruba encourages guests to participate in the hotel’s annual World Ocean’s Day Hike and Beach Cleanup. The event involves the hotel leading a quarterly beach clean-up along Palm Beach.

Aruba Volunteers

Through Aruba Volunteers, travelers can meet and get to know locals while helping to make the island a better place, while having fun at the same time.

Aruba Volunteers offers several options to participate in volunteering with causes they care about, or to learn something new. Arubavolunteers.org offers a full list of the upcoming volunteer opportunities available throughout Aruba.

Make a difference on your next vacation in Aruba, giving back to an island that offers its visitors so much beauty in the Caribbean.