Coba Dental Project (Original Clinic)

You Don’t Have To Be a Dentist To Volunteer ... General Volunteers Welcome!

Working in partnership with the local community, we will set up a clinic in the pueblo of ChanChen, deep in the heart of the Mayan jungle in the Yucatan Peninsula. Volunteers base out of Coba and work for five days in the clinic. After the clinic, participants continue to the small beach town of Akumal where you have a few days to relax on the beach before returning home.

Project Cost: $2,350 (based on double occupancy)

Clinic-Only Itinerary: $1,850 (based on double occupancy)

Call our office for single-occupancy and triple-occupancy rates.

Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.

Project Dates

October 11 – 20, 2025
October 19 – 28, 2025

What’s Included?

3 star accommodation in Coba while working in the clinic for 6 nights
4 star accommodation in a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom beachfront condo on Akumal Bay for 3nts at the end of the clinic
Two meals a day while working in the clinic and breakfast only on sightseeing days
Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle
All internal overland transportation within Mexico
Airport transfers
Sightseeing as listed in the project itinerary
Celebratory farewell dinner on the beach

Plus, you will get all this too:

A small group of 14 to 18 international volunteers
The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
Two GDR designated trip leaders
A GDR volunteer coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
All tips for guides and drivers (except for arrival and departure airport transfers)

Sightseeing Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from the US to Cancun – Coba. On arrival in Cancun, transfer from the airport to Coba. Evening at leisure in Coba. Overnight in Coba. (-/-/-)

Day 2: Coba. Morning visit to the famous ruins of Coba. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Day 3: Coba – ChanChen. Full day working in the clinic in ChanChen. Return to Coba in the late afternoon. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Days 4 – 6: Pueblo. Working in the clinic. Return to Coba in the late afternoon. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Day 7: Pueblo Working in the clinic. Late afternoon transfer to Akumal (1.5hr drive). Overnight in Akumal. (B/L/-)

Days 8 – 9: Akumal. Day at leisure. Overnight in your spacious beachfront condo in Akumal. (B/-/-)

Day 10: End Akumal. Transfer to the Cancun airport for your flight home, or continue with independent travel. End of Services. (B/-/-)

Clinic-Only Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from the US to Cancun – Coba. On arrival in Cancun, transfer from the airport to Coba. Evening at leisure in Coba. Overnight in Coba. (-/-/-)

Day 2: Coba. Morning visit to the famous ruins of Coba. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Day 3: Coba – ChanChen. Full day working in the clinic in ChanChen. Return to Coba in the late afternoon. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Days 4 – 7: Pueblo. Working in the clinic. Return to Coba in the late afternoon. Overnight in Coba. (B/L/-)

Day 8: End Coba. Transfer to the Cancun airport for your flight home or continue with independent travel. End of services. (B/-/-)

Physical Demands

Volunteer dental clinics are fast paced and require a fair amount of physical activity each day.

Volunteers attending our service trip in Coba should be able to:

Walk at a steady pace for 15 to 30 minutes, including climbing stairs.
After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location and local restaurants.
Tolerate hot temperatures and indoor spaces without air conditioning

What Volunteers Say

After my first dental volunteer trip I was sure to do this continuously no matter what! This is helping kids in need effectively. This is having enjoyable conversations with new friends. This is creating unforgettable memories. So in my specific case the letters GDR stand for the German Dentist Returns :)”

- Wolfgang Pfannenstiel, Dentist, Germany

What Partners Say

Global Dental Relief makes sure children are receiving continuous care and that clinics are run efficiently and with the highest ethical standards. They take care of every detail on your service trip — I plan to volunteer with them for years to come!

- Darshani Khosla, Dentist, Texas

What Volunteers Say

Thank you Global Dental Relief! Nothing compares to the efforts and impact of your volunteer overseas programs, working hard to bring healthy smiles to children.

- Carol Lim, Vice President of Business Development, Cranberry U.S.A

What Volunteers Say

I plan my whole year around these opportunities to volunteer abroad. I love travel with a purpose, being more than a tourist and making a small, positive mark in the world. This organization has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has really helped broaden my world view.

- TJ Gabriels, Lawyer and General Volunteer, New York

What Volunteers Say

As a dentist, I have treated and cared for many patients, however, nothing can compare to the sense of fulfilment when volunteering your time and skill to ease the pain and suffering of others. It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished when surrounded by dedicated, caring and talented volunteers, such as those I met in past international dental clinics with GDR.

- Michael Pasoff, Dentist, Montreal, Canada

What Volunteers Say

I am honored and grateful to help these amazing children, meet incredible people, explore their culture and change children's lives for the better. I look forward to many service trips with GDR in the future.

- Nour Shehadeh, Dental Hygienist, Illinois

What Volunteers Say

If you want to literally change lives, this is a great way to do that. Our work with Global Dental Relief produced more real good than all the other cumulative good works I've helped with through the rest of my life.

- Peggy Lamm, CEO Colorado Mesa University Foundation and General Volunteer, Colorado