Location
  • Portugal
    • Lisbon
Length
1 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Hostel
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
615
Price Details
Fully hosted experience from only $615 for 1 week - this includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 01, 2024
Jun 21, 2024
88 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trusted by 136,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the world's #1 rated volunteer programs in Portugal and 50+ destinations worldwide.

For the past 6 years, we've won the "Top Volunteer Abroad Provider Award" from GoOverseas, so you can trust that you're in the safest hands with IVHQ in Portugal.

Our affordable projects start from $50/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement and local support. Projects run year-round, with durations from 1-12 weeks. Choose from 8 life-enriching projects, ranging from Food Rescue in the treasure trove that is the capital city, Lisbon, to Wildlife Conservation in an ecological park in Miranda do Corvo. Plus, you’ll stay with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world (private room options available).

With IVHQ’s superior pre-departure support services, you’ll gain exclusive access to your own Volunteer Travel Specialist, comprehensive preparation tools and volunteer training before you leave home.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Cheapest volunteer programs from $50/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement & local support.
  • Volunteer for 1-12 weeks, year round start dates most Mondays
  • 15+ years experience & only B Corp certified volunteer travel organization
  • Get free changes up to 14 days before you start with our flexible booking policy
  • Affordable way to earn college credit - gain 5 credits for only US$500!

Popular Programs

Wolf conservation in Portugal with IVHQ

As a Wolf Conservation Volunteer with IVHQ, you'll assist at centers that house wolves rescued from zoos, illegal trapping or human captivity. In a forested valley in Mafra, wolves live outdoors in large enclosures with the aim of providing them a life as similar as possible to what they would experience in their natural habitat.

divers in wetsuits standing on a dinghy

Reducing marine pollution and conserving marine life is an overlooked issue in Portugal. Volunteers on this project have the opportunity to help with underwater clean-up efforts focused on the protection of the marine ecosystem in Cascais. Tasks include cleaning rubbish on the sea floor, learning more about the marine ecosystem and how to protect it, observing and identifying fish, collecting data on fish numbers and more.

volunteers working in a kitchen

Homeless people in Portugal face inequality and poverty every day. This project aims to reduce these inequalities and support people to a place where they are proud of their situation and their place in society. Volunteers work in a homeless center with people from different backgrounds, though there is a specific focus on those with addictions who don’t have any social or family support.

student and teacher at chalkboard

There are many underfunded organizations within Lisbon that aim to provide youth with a safe place to go after school, where they can come together, interact and take part in various activities. Many of the youth in this project come from underprivileged backgrounds and a key role for volunteers is to simply spend time with them, being a positive role model and having an interest in them and their future as this is something that many of them have never experienced before.

Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Project in Portugal - Miranda do Corvo

Want to help protect a variety of endangered wildlife - from lynx, eagles, wolves, brown bears and other animals? IVHQ’s Wildlife Conservation project is a unique and exciting opportunity for volunteers to directly contribute to wild animal conservation in the countryside of Portugal. You’ll also be supporting a park that has a positive environmental impact and strong social inclusion mission.

Program Reviews

4.96 Rating
based on 51 reviews
  • 5 rating 96.08%
  • 4 rating 3.92%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.75
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 51 reviews
Default avatar
Allyson
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IVHQ volunteering 2024

This company helped me to safely set up, and embark on a life changing journey. Volunteering abroad through IVHQ allowed me to travel with a purpose, not only visiting a new country, but making a positive impact while there. They prepared me so well and made sure I had and knew everything I needed to before starting. I only suggest staying 2+ weeks as it is hard to make as powerful of an impact after only 1, as the first day you have to do orientation, leaving only 4 days to volunteer with the 1 week.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would stay for more time, I think that 2 weeks minimum would have been good to continue to build friendships and make a difference in the community.
Pros
  • Friendships
  • Support team
  • Location
Cons
  • Public holiday (missed a day of volunteering)
3 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ethan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Homeless Support in Lisbon Portugal

Absolutely life changing. I was so impressed by the local coordinator they did an unbelievable job. The placement was a great stay. Nothing special but it was clean and comfortable. Volunteering was great. The area we were working very much needed help and it felt like we made a significant impact.
The only issues was the food was a little disappointing. It was edible but some meals were very cold and unappetizing. I would also not go back as a guy alone. I met some great people but there were barely any guys volunteering in my week.
But overall it was a life changing experience to engage in a new culture and volunteer at the same time.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Octopus and duck.
3 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Isla
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Animal care in Portugal

I loved my time spent volunteering in portugal, the support and contact from IVHQ was great and I knew I could always get in contact if I had any questions. The local team were also amazing and made a big impact on my time there! I was nervous about going away by myself for the first time but I made so many new friends for life through IVHQ and I wish I could have stayed longer. If you are considering volunteering abroad then I would definitely recommend doing it through IVHQ they made my trip smooth and organised.

7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Beatrice
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

The volunteering was an amazing experience which I will always cherish, working with the dogs at the shelter and meeting other people really changes your outlook. We also had lots of free time so had the opportunity to explore the city and locations we were in so its such a great way to travel. Memories and friendships to last. The local team were very helpful and supportive throughout the whole time. I received regular emails beforehand about what to expect and how to prepare which was really useful. I loved all of it and will recommend to anyone.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would stay for longer
Pros
  • meeting new people
  • making a difference
  • exploring new countries and cities
Cons
  • food at the hostel wasn't always great
  • did have to commute a long way for placements
15 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
David
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Youth Support Project

I went to Portugal to volunteer in a Youth Support project. The experiences I made were absolutely invaluable and in the one week I was there, I met some wonderful people. The hostel I stayed in was clean, the staff were friendly, the food was plentiful and the coordinators were always there to answers my questions. One of the highlights was getting to meet volunteers from all over the globe and discussing both similar and different experiences with them. I’ll miss the days out that I had with my group and looking forward to hearing about the day they had at their program.

Would recommend to anyone who wishes to venture outside of their comfort zone and try something different.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I am not used to travelling alone so that might have been one of the biggest initial hurdles. However, upon reflection, I’ve come to the realisation that things weren’t nearly as scary as I imagined and I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
Pros
  • Opportunity to meet interesting new people
  • Lots of time to venture out and explore
  • Chance to enrich your life with unforgettable memories
Cons
  • Occasional feelings of homesickness
  • Certain areas lacked a good phone signal
  • Food could have been better on some nights
27 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lisbon Volunteer Program

When I made the choice to apply for the Lisbon Forest Conservation Program, I went in with very little expectations and a lot of nerves, considering it was my first major solo international trip. I decided to get the most value out of the trip, I would stay a healthy 8 weeks on the program. IVHQ made it easy to keep track of my application process and even gave great resources such as packing lists, cultural information on the location, and a guide to the recommended overall budget to allow for.
The airport pickup and move in went super smoothly and i made friends on the first day and continued to make connections over that whole 8 weeks. Looking back now, those 2 months were the best, most exciting and fulfilling, and honestly happiest part of my life so far. I was making a difference with my volunteer work, while still having a great amount of fun with all my new friends. From exploring the nightlife scene in the city and going to the beach just for fun, to making good exercise and teamwork/ relationship habits, the whole experience gave me a lot of useful skills and confidence to find happiness in the future even after my time there came to an end. If you want to learn about yourself and have a blast doing it, I highly recommend going on an IVHQ program, because its very unlikely that you will regret it.

Pros
  • Made lots of close friends and strong bonds with the people i worked with
  • There was so much to see and do in the area
  • Transportation, especially the trains, made getting anywhere very easy
Cons
  • The hostel food wasnt as good as it was made out to be
  • Some odd and seemingly unnecessary rules in the hostel
36 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sadhbh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Animal care in Portugal

I volunteered in Portugal. The hostel I stayed in was amazing! It was so close to the beach and everyone was so friendly. I loved volunteering at the animal shelter. I volunteered with the dogs and got to meet so many great dogs. We helped by walking and feeding the dogs. It was a fun experience and the staff at the shelter were very welcoming. Helping the dogs was important as there is so over 200 dogs in the shelter so the more volunteers the better. I learned a lot volunteering and got to make loads of friends. The food was nice and the facilities in the hostel were very good too. The beds were comfy too. There was always hot water for showers. The hostel even organised a surfing trip which was amazing. I would go with IVHQ again to volunteer and I would recommend them to my friends.

Pros
  • Great to travel alone and make friends
  • Lots to do (activities)
  • Volunteering is fun and rewarding
56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Michelle
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Food rescue

We were only able to volunteer for 3 days as it was easter (which we knew about). But they told us that we wouldn’t be volunteering Friday, so we booked our flight back but then it turned out we did have volunteering that day. And there were also the train strikes (which isn’t on them as they could’ve have known). But besides the confusing schedule the experience was great. We booked a private room and it was very clean and comfortable. The food was good if you like the specific food that they bought.

Pros
  • the people
Cons
  • confusing schedules
69 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers