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Main | Tripcenter: Faq's | ||
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Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can I get work there? A: It depends. Your expectations in terms of fun and compensation are key factors. Your willingness to spend some of your free time tied down by a job in places of so many possibilities is relevant. And your need to work should be important.
My advice is that you should only work if you have an abundance of time and want to know what it feels like to live in South America, if you want to learn Spanish fluently and need to offset some of the cost of classes, or both. Otherwise, be free! The pay isn’t enough to make it worth your time. You can save up more money by working before you go. You’re better off living it up and coming home a little earlier if you have to.
My initial plan was to settle in one place and work for a couple months in order to save some money and learn Spanish in a work environment. While I moved from place to place, I found out that other travelers generally were teaching English or working in tourist offices. In Buenos Aires, you can make some pretty decent money teaching English by signing up with a school or placing an ad in the paper. Actually, I don’t know of any other employment that pays better than that for gringos in South America. I met someone else who worked in Quito, Ecuador at a tourist office six days a week. Through my tours of the jungle and other such remote areas, I met a few people who were doing some pretty awesome jobs as jungle guides or biological researchers. These jobs can be arranged before your trip or can be created if you go to where you want to work then offer your services. Usually, you need, at the very least, to be conversant in the local language. Always, you need to be persistent.
If you want to work at a bar, there are few better places than the No Bar in Quito, Ecuador. The manager likes gringos and keeps a revolving stable of them as they come and go. If you like to play pool, serve drinks, and have a few, while listening to the same music 3-4 times per night, you best get yourself over there.
The best resource I know of is the South American Explorers club. There are clubhouses in Lima, Peru, Cusco, Peru, and Quito, Ecuador. It costs $40 to join, at least it did when I joined, and among other benefits, they keep an updated book of job opportunities. You’ll also find postings for tour groups that are looking for people to work as guides. Usually, you’ll need to be conversant in Spanish, somewhat responsible, and tolerant of unseasoned travelers. You won’t get paid well, but you’ll get to travel free.
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| travelbackpacker.com is dedicated to unique backpacking travel experiences. Viaje A Sudamerica highlights a six month trip backpacking through South America. |
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