Discover South America with the Ecuador Experience: Andes, Amazon, and Coast

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Guayaquil,  Banos,  Tena,  Pichincha,  Puyo,  Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Year round. Most programs start every Monday of the year.

Description: Get a taste of Ecuadorian culture, its people and its regions! Be part of Spanish Lessons, spend time at a beautiful beach and get to experience the Amazon Jungle! The program is composed of 4 weeks of traveling around the country and volunteering! During you time in Ecuador you will not only visit the Old Historic Town in Quito where colonial churches and plazas are found but also experience breathtaking landscapes.

Ecuador offers different adventure, cultural, historical and natural opportunities for you not to miss. It maintains a unique contact with its ancestral indigenous cultures and is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.

Coast: One of the most known areas of the Coast is Machalilla National Park. This park has abundant and exotic wildlife, exquisite unspoiled beaches and rich historical past. Within the Park, Isla de la Plata offers fantastic opportunities especially for bird lovers. At the island you can see blue-footed and masked boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, and giant albatross

Andes Highlands: The majestic snow-capped mountains and active volcanoes with hot springs surrounded, humid cloud forests and fertile valleys, colorful Indian markets, lovely colonial towns, ancient haciendas and historic cities make of this area a paradise on its own.

Amazon Jungle: There are innumerable varieties of flora, including many of Ecuador's 4,500 species of orchids, and many plants with medicinal value. Wildlife such as butterflies, bats, monkeys, sloths, parrots, macaws, river dolphins and caimans are easy to view.

Highlights: Week 1: Introduction to Ecuador
An introduction to the Ecuadorian culture, the spanish language, and to your fellow participants. You will be based in the heart of Ecuadors capital city Quito, within touching distance of markets, bars, museums and salsa clubs.

On day 1: Participants arrival

On day 2: Participants will receive an Orientation and then a guide will accompany the group to a city Tour to the old town of Quito.

Participants will have days 3, 4, 5, and 6 full with Spanish lessons in the morning in our Spanish school. Here they can also learn how to cook Ecuadorian food and also how to dance Salsa and Merengue (if available at the school),

On day 7: Participants will go visit the Quilotoa Volcano and Lagoon, where they can overlook a marvelous lagoon inside its crater. Also they can hike down to the bottom and ride a boat or a kayak on the lagoon. Authentic Andes mules will be waiting for them to ride back, up the crater.

On day 8: Participants will go to the Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park. The Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world. Participants will get the chance to hike to the first refuge of the volcano to get an amazing view of the Andes Highlands. They can have some hot tea to overcome the altitude and on the way down they can mountain bike, hike, or just ride the car back. They will also enjoy some healthy lunch while sitting along a beautiful Lagoon inside the Park. (entrance to the Cotopaxi national park is not included 10 dollars)

Accommodation:
Participants will be assigned to stay at host families. Host families are located in good residential neighborhoods in Quito. Home stays have been selected after an application process to make sure they have everything participants need.

Meals:
Breakfast and dinner is included at the family. On the tour days: lunch is included.

Week 2. Quito Social Work

From Day 9 to Day 13, Participants will be social working in a Quito day care center for street children. Volunteers will work in the centre from 8:30 am to 1: 30 pm. Their tasks will be:

- Ensure all children wash their hands.
- Provide care and support for the children and make sure they stay with the group.
- Plan activities in advance and ensure all materials are ready on the day of the project.
- Participate in activities and help children successfully complete projects.
- Ensure the children adhere to the program rules.
- Help children with assignments and homework.
- Aid the teachers with in class activities.
- Supervise children during break time.
- Aid the staff during snack and meal times.
- Organize the children to clean up at the end of the day.

* Optional: if Participants want, they can do football (soccer) coaching and training instead of the day care.

On day 14: Participants will go to Otavalo Market. This is the most famous Indian Market in Ecuador, well known for its assortment of textiles and other crafts. At the center of the town, all streets are jammed with stalls selling souvenirs to the tourists. About 15 minutes from Otavalo there is Cotacachi Village, where its narrow streets are full of stores that sell a great variety of leather goods.

On day 15: Participants will have a free day to explore Quito and Its surroundings.

Accommodation:
Participants will be assigned to stay at host families. Host families are located in good residential neighborhoods in Quito. Home stays have been selected after an application process to make sure they have everything participants need.

Meals:
Breakfast and dinner is included at the family. On the tour days: lunch is included.

Week 3 Amazon Rainforest Discovery
Participants will be heading to the Amazon Rainforest to the Cuyabeno natural reserve.

The Amazon Rainforest encompasses not only the largest forest in the world, but it is perhaps the least known natural wonder on earth. Participants will ramble through its waterways and primary jungle teaming with life. They will navigate with hand-carved canoes, (as natural to the animals eye as a floating log), guaranteeing an intimate contact with all aspects of this astonishing environment.

On Day 16: Participants will travel to Cuyabeno (by overnight bus)

On Day 17: Upon arrival at the Cuyabeno bridge, your guide will meet you and transport you by motorized canoe to your camp, the Cuyabeno Lodge. Lunch will be followed with an initial jungle walk, dinner and rest.

On Day 18: After breakfast at 7:30 am, you will visit the Cuyabeno lake system by motorized canoe. During this excursion you will observe the exotic flora and faunae (monkeys, dolphins, etc.) peculiar to this unique environment. With luck you might spot a giant anaconda on the Hormiga River, a tributary river of the Laguna Grande. In the afternoon you will stop for a boxed lunch and travel to the Laguna Grande to enjoy a refreshing swim before returning to the camp for dinner and rest.

On Day 19: Beginning with breakfast at 8 am, you will spend the morning hiking (approx. 4 hrs.) through the primary rainforest where your guides will introduce you to various medicinal plants. You will also have the opportunity to observe monkeys and parrots, among other animals, and with luck you might spot a jaguar. Various animal tracks will also be seen (tapir, armadillo, paca, puma, etc.). After lunch, you will have the opportunity to row down the river in canoes and fish for piranhas.

On Day 20: After an early breakfast you can choose the activity that you enjoyed most during the previous three days and experience it again. Lunch will be provided before taking the bus back to Quito.

On Day 21: Arrive to Quito early in the morning to the Hostel. Participants will have a free day to explore Quito and do laundry.

On Day 22: Participants will take part of Toachi River white water Rafting, in Santo Domingo, about 3 hours away from Quito.

The Toachi River is the most popular rafting destination in Ecuador because of its close proximity to Quito. It flows through a sub-tropical forest on the western (coastal) side of the Andes Mountains. The rapids on this lowlands river are an excellent introduction to whitewater. There are big splashes and fun drops, but is not overly challenging. Depending on the water levels, it might increase in difficulty.

Participants will enjoy a wonderful scenery. The brightly colored flowers create a vibrant backdrop for Toachi rafting trips. River otters can be spotted playing around and tall palm trees line the canyon.

On Day 23: Participants will travel to Puerto Lopez by overnight bus

Accommodation:
Participants will be staying at local hostel.

Meals:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Week 4. The Best of Ecuador
Participants will be based in Puerto Lopez. Participants will visit stunning beaches and vibrant towns. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the real Ecuador and marvel at its beauty. A guide will accompany the group on Days 24, 25 and 26. After these three days, the guide will explain to the group how to get back to Quito and will give them specific instructions on transportation.

On Day 24 - Los Frailes
Viewed by many as the most beautiful beach in Ecuador, the surrounding area has a host more beaches, many of which are almost deserted. (Entrance to the national park not included 20 dollars)

On Day 25 - Isla Del Plata
A jewel in Ecuadors crown. Cheaper and less commercialized than the Galapagos Islands, youll have the chance to view red and blue-footed boobies up close along with a host of other rare animal and bird species

On Days 26 and 27: The guide will take you to Montanita and will leave you set up to have surf lessons (included on the first day), and you will be given instructions to come back to Quito

Montanita Beach: One of the best surf beaches in South America and the undisputed party capital of Ecuador, Montanita has only really been discovered by travellers in the last 10 years. The town itself has a funky bohemian feel and is packed with cafes, restaurants and bars almost all done in native bamboo style.

On Day 28: Participants will return to Quito early in the morning, after they have followed instructions from their guide. They will stay overnight in a hostel in Quito. This marks the end of the program.

On Day 29: Participants Departure

Qualifications:

Cost in US$: 1890 dollars

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Please visit our testimonials page in our web site!

Age Range: 15 years old up to 90 years old!

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

LEAD Adventures Ecuador's Mission Statement: Since its creation in 2004 LEAD Adventures has been extremely successful launching programs in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships abroad. Up to date we have efficiently managed over 2,000 inbound participants individually and in-group programs. Our programs are targeted to young minded people from all over the world that want to experience the great destinations Ecuador and South America have to offer.

Year Founded: 2004