Those seeking a peaceful rural experience with a strong community connection where you will teach English to all ages. No teaching experience is required, but completing some relevant training, like a TEFL certificate, is encouraged.

Project details

Ready to immerse yourself in a rich cultural experience while making a lasting impact? Volunteer to teach English in a traditional Mexican village nestled between serene rivers, majestic mountains, and a stunning coastline.

This unique opportunity allows you to support a vibrant community project focused on sustainable development. By promoting eco-tourism and conservation as pillars of the local way of life, you’ll help empower the community while preserving its natural and cultural heritage.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

You’ll play a vital role in supporting a vibrant community project in a traditional Mexican village. Your primary focus will be teaching English, empowering children, teenagers, and adults to achieve their personal and professional goals. Parents are eager for their children to learn English, teenagers are highly motivated to gain experience in the language, and adults see it as an essential skill for their jobs.

As a volunteer, you’ll actively participate in:

English Workshops: Teaching children, teenagers, and adults in engaging sessions.
Lesson Preparation: Creating materials to support interactive and effective learning.

In addition to teaching, you’ll support broader community initiatives that make this program unique, such as:

Eco-tourism Activities: Join hiking or horseback tours to learn about the area’s natural beauty.
Horse Care: Feed, bathe, and care for the horses.
Cultural Immersion: Cook traditional Mexican dishes with local chefs.
Environmental Conservation: Participate in reforestation, beach and river cleanups, and wildlife monitoring.
Support Local Projects: Visit and assist efforts like turtle conservation in Chacahua National Park (October–April).
Self-Sustaining Farming: Contribute to the eco-tourism project’s farming initiatives.
Light Construction: Beautify volunteer accommodations and partner project sites.

You’ll volunteer 5 days a week for up to 6 hours a day, leaving plenty of time to explore the breathtaking surroundings, bond with the community, and make unforgettable memories.

Why do Teaching English volunteering in San José Manialtepec with IVHQ?

When you volunteer in Mexico, you’ll be adding value to the local community and species conservation while also developing personally and professionally by:

Contributing to community-driven volunteer projects
Developing your communication skills
Immersing yourself in Mexico’s culture, food, history
Connecting with local people in an authentic way, working side by side with them
Discovering Mexico’s beautiful beaches, national parks and communities

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this project, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Volunteers must speak fluent English.
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a recent criminal background check to IVHQ after registering on the program.

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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Who is going?

Group video calls

Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.

Mexico photo gallery

A group of children and a volunteer teacher sit around a wooden table in an open-air classroom in San José Manialtepec, Mexico.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

A group of children and a volunteer teacher sit on the ground around a large sheet of paper in San José Manialtepec, Mexico.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

A volunteer teacher warmly embraces and interacts with three young girls in San José Manialtepec, Mexico.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

Volunteers and children surrounded by mature trees, unloading plants from a truck and preparing for tree planting.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

A volunteer cooking a traditional tortilla on a large outdoor griddle in a rustic kitchen.

Cooking in San José Manialtepec, Mexico

Children from San José Manialtepec, Mexico, walking along a tree lined path carrying large bags, accompanied by two dogs.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

Children lower a young tree into a small hole made using spades.

IVHQ Teaching English Project

A group of five international volunteers hiking to a stunning viewpoint during their volunteer trip abroad. Surrounded by lush green landscape in San José Manialtepec, Mexico.

Hiking in San José Manialtepec, Mexico

Lagoon shoreline at night in San José Manialtepec, Mexico. Illuminated by glowing blue bioluminescent plankton. The tiny specks of light shimmer across the wet sand and water.

Bioluminescent plankton in San José Manialtepec, Mexico

A person relaxing in a stone hot pool in San José Manialtepec, Mexico. Surrounded by lush greenery and tropical trees. They lean on the edge of the pool, gazing into the distance

Hot Springs in San José Manialtepec, Mexico

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit

Recommended online TEFL course

We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.

Get TEFL certified online

Location

A group of people paddle a traditional wooden canoe through calm waters surrounded by lush mangroves. Golden sunlight filters through the trees in San José Manialtepec, Mexico.

Location

San José Manialtepec is a hidden gem on Mexico’s Oaxaca coast, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and community warmth. Nestled along the serene Manialtepec River, the village provides peaceful views, opportunities for birdwatching, and explorations of local flora and fauna. Nearby Puerto Suelo Beach invites visitors to relax on its unspoiled shoreline, enjoy gentle waves, and witness breathtaking sunsets.

For those seeking rejuvenation, the area’s natural hot springs offer a tranquil escape. The biodiversity here is remarkable, with vibrant bird species like herons and parrots, iguanas, and even sea turtles. At night, the nearby lagoon comes alive with the magical glow of bioluminescent plankton, a spectacle not to be missed.

Beyond San José Manialtepec, the Oaxaca coast offers a diverse range of experiences:

Mazunte Pueblo Mágico – A laid-back village with a bohemian spirit, perfect for those seeking a unique cultural escape.
Puerto Escondido – A world-famous surf destination catering to both beginners and experienced surfers.
Yoga and Wellness – Unwind with yoga sessions or embark on scenic horseback riding adventures.
Jungle Hiking Tours – Immerse yourself in nature with unforgettable treks through the tropical jungle.

Whether immersing yourself in the cultural traditions of San José Manialtepec or adventuring along the vibrant coastline, this region offers unforgettable experiences for every traveler.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins every Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Puerto Escondido on Sunday before program orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) in Puerto Escondido on the Sunday before your program orientation by 4:00 PM. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in San José Manialtepec, a 20-minute drive from the airport. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Mexico prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a prearranged destination in Puerto Escondido on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Mexico team in San José Manialtepec for one day (approximately 6 hours). Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Mexico – an introduction to Mexico, Mexican customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Mexico, and an introduction to your project and placement.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

You will be escorted to your placement by a member of the local team and introduced to the placement staff you will be working alongside.

Weekdays

During the week, you will have a morning, afternoon, or evening shift, which will last approximately 6 hours.

Schedules can vary depending on the time of the year and the tasks taking place when you join the program. A typical day on the Teaching English project may look like this:

8:00 - 9:00 AM	Breakfast at your accommodation.
9:00 - 12:00 PM	Volunteering on your placement for 3 hours alongside the placement staff. You will be given a plan for your volunteering work.
12:00 - 4:00 PM	Lunch at your accommodation and free time.
4:00 - 7:00 PM	Resume volunteering at your placement for 3 hours.
7:00 - 8:00 PM	Dinner at your accommodation.

Weekends

Weekends during the Teaching English project offer the perfect opportunity to explore the stunning beaches and natural beauty of the Oaxaca coastline. While the placement area offers some small shops and local restaurants, there is a wealth of other experiences waiting to be discovered, whether you’re looking to unwind or explore.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers will be accommodated in a homestay and hosted by a local family who has been approved by our local team in Mexico. Your host family is given a fee for your support, food, and board. It is exciting to stay with a host family, providing you with a unique opportunity to learn about the Mexican way of life, meet local people, try traditional food, and speak the local language - especially when host families in Mexico tend to have limited English.

Living is often basic but comfortable, and all homestays have electricity, hot water, and western style bathrooms. However, low pressure showers are common, and the water is not heated, but the weather is very warm all year long. You will share a bedroom with up to two other volunteers of the same gender. Bedding is provided by your homestay.

WiFi is available in all volunteer accommodations, free of charge. If you would like to keep connected during your stay, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Mexico.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays. Breakfast typically consists of quesadillas, tostadas, eggs, and tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner typically consist of typical Oaxacan meals such as entomatadas, Mexican-style zucchini, chicken salad, vegetable soup with rice, lentils, and enchiladas.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not provided on weekends and you will need to purchase these yourself. You can expect to budget around US$4 - US$8 for breakfast and slightly more for lunch and dinner; however, prices will vary depending on what type of establishment you choose to purchase your meals from.

Bottled water is readily available in Mexico, and volunteers should budget approximately US$12 per week for two liters of water per day. Drinking water is also available free of charge in your homestay, so remember to bring your reusable drink bottle!

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when submitting your application so we can make arrangements for you. As you will be living and volunteering abroad, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home; however, the local team will do their best to ensure you are well taken care of.