Give-back in Mexico
Step beyond the resort and into something your family will never forget — care for the most vulnerable people in Cancún.
About this project
What makes this project distinctive is both its scale and its philosophy. Rather than a single charity addressing a single need, it functions as a living, breathing community — a city within a city — where different organizations, religious groups, healthcare professionals, and people work side by side under a shared mission: to serve those most in need with dignity, warmth, and joy.
Your main activities:
- Spending time with elderly residents at mealtimes — helping prepare food, setting up and cleaning the cafeteria, and assisting with meals
- Providing companionship to elderly residents who have little or no family contact
- Playing with children in the women’s shelter daycare — practicing English, coloring, reading, and simply being a cheerful, caring presence
- Supporting the donation distribution center, sorting and organizing donated goods for low-income families
- Assisting with educational activities for at-risk youth in the foundation’s youth development program
- General support tasks across the various homes as needed, which may include light upkeep, event support, or preparing activity spaces
Key information:
- Time commitment: Families typically spend 2 to 4 days giving back at this project
- Daily hours: Sessions typically run from 9am to 3pm
- Best months to visit: This project welcomes visitors year-round. For the most comfortable weather, the dry season from November through April is ideal
- Family friendly: Yes. Younger family members can connect easily and immediately with the children there.
- Minimum age for children: We recommend this project for families with children aged 10 and above.
Successes to date:
The foundation now reports supporting more than 44,000–47,000 vulnerable people a year across northern Quintana Roo, run through 13 different support programs spread over a 4.6-hectare campus. That’s grown from a single project into what local press describes as “a comprehensive humanitarian project, unique in Mexico.”
This project is for you if:
- You are looking for a project that enables you to interact meaningfully with the local people
- You would like to make a difference to both the elderly and youth
- You are happy rolling up your sleeves and getting involved
Nearby Leisure Activities:
- Chichén Itzá — One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Mayan archaeological site is a two-hour drive from Cancún and unmissable
- Cenotes — The Yucatán’s extraordinary network of natural sinkholes and underground rivers is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and exploring; Cenote Ik Kil and the Gran Cenote near Tulum are both exceptional
- Isla Mujeres — A short ferry ride from Cancún, this laid-back island offers beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling, and a completely different pace to the Hotel Zone
- The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — The second-largest reef system in the world sits just offshore, with world-class snorkeling and diving accessible from Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel
- Playa del Carmen and Tulum — Both within easy reach for a day trip, offering beaches, boutique dining, and a more relaxed take on the Caribbean coast
- Cobá — One of the few Mayan sites where you can still climb the pyramid for panoramic views across the jungle canopy
Suggested Mexico Trip Itinerary
Jungle, Reef & Heart: Nine Days in the Yucatán
Example Price: US$10,250 per adult
Nine days of adventure, ancient wonder, and genuine human connection across one of the world’s most extraordinary coastlines.
Trip Highlights
- Bonding as a family as you make a difference with the elderly, youth, or in classrooms
- The iconic Chitzen Itza
- Private guided tour of the wonders of Tulum and Rio Secreto’s underground caves
- Wildlife spotting in Sian Kaan biosphere reserve
- Private catamaran charter to swim, snorkel and relax
Price Includes
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Private transfers
- Expert local guides
- Breakfasts and meals as specified
- Give-back project costs
Note: Price excludes international flights; these can be arranged for you, including by private jet
Sample Day by Day
- Day 1: Arrive Cancun, met at airport and private transfer (1 hour) to Rosewood Mayakoba
- Day 2: Private guided tour of Tulum and Rio Secreto (B)
- Day 3: Ultimate adventure in the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve (B,L)
- Day 4-6: Renovations of classrooms, caring for elderly, or providing meals for at-risk youth (B,L)
- Day 7: Private flight to UNESCO Chitzen Itza with guide (B,L)
- Day 8: Swimming, snorkeling and relaxing aboard your private catamaran (B,L)
- Day 9: Free day. Options include Coba ruins, colonial Merida, and Xcaret adventure park (B)
- Day 10: Transfer to Cancun and fly out (B)
Note: This is a sample itinerary, to give you an idea of what is possible; we delight in crafting unique itineraries to match your exact requirements
Note – this is purely a sample itinerary, designed to show you what is possible in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and we delight in crafting trips to your exact preferences. Inclusions and exclusions may vary accordingly.
You can customize this trip to suit your specific requirement, in fact any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation.
Here are some suggestions to customize this itinerary:
- Isla Mujeres — A short ferry ride from Cancún, this laid-back island offers beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling, and a completely different pace to the Hotel Zone
- Head west to the cultural and culinary riches of Chiapas and Oaxaca
- Combine with nearby Guatemala or Belize