Program Directed by
Juliana Gutierrez & Gregorio Rojas
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Highlands, Kichwa Culture, & Island Biodiversity
Live in Ecuador’s Andean highlands on this summer service program. During your student travel program in Ecuador, join members of a local Kichwa community in meaningful service projects—lend a hand with light construction work, participate in water access initiatives, or help with the local harvest. Then, explore the otherworldly landscapes and extraordinary wildlife of the Galápagos Islands, home to giant tortoises, lava tunnels, equatorial penguins, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.
- Highlights
• Join a community-wide minga to refurbish a town building
• Ride horseback at the base of Cotopaxi Volcano
• Join local contacts during the annual Inti Raymi celebration
• Snorkel with sea lions in a sheltered Galápagos bay
• Ride horseback at the base of Cotopaxi Volcano
• Join local contacts during the annual Inti Raymi celebration
• Snorkel with sea lions in a sheltered Galápagos bay
“I now step into life with a ‘go for it!’ mentality that I gained from this trip.”
—Yara A., Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, Pittsburgh, PA
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Miami and fly together to Quito, Ecuador. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Quito — 2 days
Spend the first days of this summer program exploring Ecuador’s capital city, Quito. Get to know your leaders and fellow students, take a guided walk around the Old City, ride the teleférico up the Pichincha Volcano, savor rich Ecuadorian coffee in an outdoor café, and participate in an in-depth program orientation.
Host Community — 10 days
Travel by bus to our host community, home to about 500–1,000 people, located in the central Andean highlands north of Quito. Experience local culture and everyday life as you work with local contacts to complete several community-determined volunteer projects. Lend a hand constructing a community center, harvest crops, or organize a summer camp for local children. In the afternoons and evenings, play pick-up soccer with Ecuadorian friends, practice your Spanish, hike into the hills surrounding your community, or take part in an Inti Raymi celebration. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Otavalo and explore the renowned outdoor market featuring embroidered textiles, handwoven alpaca blankets, art, jewelry, and more.
The Cloud Forest — 3 days
During your time in the community, take an overnight excursion to explore the surrounding area. Hike around the rim of Laguna de Cuicocha, a crater lake with spiritual significance to the Kichwa people. Hike to a mirador to spot some of Ecuador’s 1,500 bird species, soak in geothermal hot springs, and visit a coffee farm to learn about coffee production from bean to cup.
Cotopaxi — 2 days
After saying goodbye to your host community, visit snowcapped Cotopaxi, one of the world’s largest volcanoes. Stay at a cozy Andean hacienda, hike to the mountain refugio on Cotopaxi Volcano for breathtaking views, and ride horseback across the surrounding Andean páramo. At night, savor traditional meals and tell stories by the fireplace with chagra guides.
Quito — 1 day
Return to Quito for one night before a morning flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands — 1 day
Fly from Quito and arrive on the island of Santa Cruz. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, formerly the home of one of the Galápagos’ most famous residents, a 100-year-old tortoise named Diego, who helped repopulate an entire species of giant tortoises. Meet tortoises and rarely seen land iguanas, and talk with scientists to learn what they are doing to reintroduce them into the wild. Go for a hike in the highlands and check out the cavernous lava tubes. Head to Tortuga Bay, a stunning beach with fine white sand to see marine iguanas.
San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands — 4 days
Next, board a boat bound for San Cristóbal. Visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal for an introduction to the biology, geology, and history of human impact on the islands. Then, jump on bikes and ride from the main harbor to Lobería to swim with a lively colony of sea lions. Snorkel through the passage of Kicker Rock, the remains of an underwater volcano, and spot manta rays, sea turtles, harmless Galápagos sharks, and an impressive array of colorful tropical fish.
Return — Travel Day
Fly with the group from the Galápagos to Quito for a final evening at our airport guesthouse. The next morning, fly from Quito to Miami with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Miami and fly together to Quito, Ecuador. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Quito — 2 days
Spend the first days of this summer program exploring Ecuador’s capital city, Quito. Get to know your leaders and fellow students, take a guided walk around the Old City, ride the teleférico up the Pichincha Volcano, savor rich Ecuadorian coffee in an outdoor café, and participate in an in-depth program orientation.
Host Community — 10 days
Travel by bus to our host community, home to about 500–1,000 people, located in the central Andean highlands north of Quito. Experience local culture and everyday life as you work with local contacts to complete several community-determined volunteer projects. Lend a hand constructing a community center, harvest crops, or organize a summer camp for local children. In the afternoons and evenings, play pick-up soccer with Ecuadorian friends, practice your Spanish, hike into the hills surrounding your community, or take part in an Inti Raymi celebration. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Otavalo and explore the renowned outdoor market featuring embroidered textiles, handwoven alpaca blankets, art, jewelry, and more.
The Cloud Forest — 3 days
During your time in the community, take an overnight excursion to explore the surrounding area. Hike around the rim of Laguna de Cuicocha, a crater lake with spiritual significance to the Kichwa people. Hike to a mirador to spot some of Ecuador’s 1,500 bird species, soak in geothermal hot springs, and visit a coffee farm to learn about coffee production from bean to cup.
Cotopaxi — 2 days
After saying goodbye to your host community, visit snowcapped Cotopaxi, one of the world’s largest volcanoes. Stay at a cozy Andean hacienda, hike to the mountain refugio on Cotopaxi Volcano for breathtaking views, and ride horseback across the surrounding Andean páramo. At night, savor traditional meals and tell stories by the fireplace with chagra guides.
Quito — 1 day
Return to Quito for one night before a morning flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands — 1 day
Fly from Quito and arrive on the island of Santa Cruz. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, formerly the home of one of the Galápagos’ most famous residents, a 100-year-old tortoise named Diego, who helped repopulate an entire species of giant tortoises. Meet tortoises and rarely seen land iguanas, and talk with scientists to learn what they are doing to reintroduce them into the wild. Go for a hike in the highlands and check out the cavernous lava tubes. Head to Tortuga Bay, a stunning beach with fine white sand to see marine iguanas.
San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands — 4 days
Next, board a boat bound for San Cristóbal. Visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal for an introduction to the biology, geology, and history of human impact on the islands. Then, jump on bikes and ride from the main harbor to Lobería to swim with a lively colony of sea lions. Snorkel through the passage of Kicker Rock, the remains of an underwater volcano, and spot manta rays, sea turtles, harmless Galápagos sharks, and an impressive array of colorful tropical fish.
Return — Travel Day
Fly with the group from the Galápagos to Quito for a final evening at our airport guesthouse. The next morning, fly from Quito to Miami with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Service
During your travels in Ecuador, you can expect to participate in several different service experiences—construction projects such as mixing cement and laying blocks for a community building, environmental projects like water access initiatives or shadowing local farmers, and educational projects such as leading activities in English with local children. The focus of this summer abroad program in Ecuador is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. All students participate in each of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Choose an independent project and pursue an aspect of Ecuadorian culture of particular interest to you—learn to make empanadas with a local family, try milking a cow, learn a traditional dance, or organize an opportunity for you and your friends to lend a hand in reforestation efforts.
Language Practice
Proficiency in Spanish is not required; however, students who study Spanish in school will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. Students who do not speak the local language will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills. On this program you will also have the opportunity to practice Kichwa, the indigenous language of this region.
Physical Activity
This is a very active summer travel program. The service work, as well as activities and excursions, can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside. You can expect to work on projects, play soccer, hike, horseback ride, swim, kayak, bike, and snorkel. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Altitude
This program visits high altitude destinations—Quito and the region around our host community (~9,000 feet/2,743 meters), our hacienda in Cotopaxi National Park (11,800 feet/3,597 meters), and a hike to the base camp of Cotopaxi Volcano (15,750+ feet/4,800+ meters).
Accommodations
Living accommodations in Ecuador are very simple. The group lives in a community building, or albergue—we use sleeping bags and sleeping pads on the floor with simple bathrooms, running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. During overnight excursions and in the Galápagos, we stay in simple ecolodges, bungalows, and family-run inns where students sleep in beds, have hot showers, and share a room with other students in your group. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
Meals
In the host community, we eat delicious home-cooked meals prepared by local cooks. Each day several students from the group form cooking crews and help the cooks prepare meals. Students learn about shopping at the market and preparing Ecuadorian food. During excursions and in the Galápagos, the group eats most meals in restaurants and occasionally visits markets to shop for a picnic lunch.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Service
During your travels in Ecuador, you can expect to participate in several different service experiences—construction projects such as mixing cement and laying blocks for a community building, environmental projects like water access initiatives or shadowing local farmers, and educational projects such as leading activities in English with local children. The focus of this summer abroad program in Ecuador is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. All students participate in each of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Choose an independent project and pursue an aspect of Ecuadorian culture of particular interest to you—learn to make empanadas with a local family, try milking a cow, learn a traditional dance, or organize an opportunity for you and your friends to lend a hand in reforestation efforts.
Language Practice
Proficiency in Spanish is not required; however, students who study Spanish in school will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. Students who do not speak the local language will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills. On this program you will also have the opportunity to practice Kichwa, the indigenous language of this region.
Physical Activity
This is a very active summer travel program. The service work, as well as activities and excursions, can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside. You can expect to work on projects, play soccer, hike, horseback ride, swim, kayak, bike, and snorkel. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Altitude
This program visits high altitude destinations—Quito and the region around our host community (~9,000 feet/2,743 meters), our hacienda in Cotopaxi National Park (11,800 feet/3,597 meters), and a hike to the base camp of Cotopaxi Volcano (15,750+ feet/4,800+ meters).
Accommodations
Living accommodations in Ecuador are very simple. The group lives in a community building, or albergue—we use sleeping bags and sleeping pads on the floor with simple bathrooms, running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. During overnight excursions and in the Galápagos, we stay in simple ecolodges, bungalows, and family-run inns where students sleep in beds, have hot showers, and share a room with other students in your group. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
Meals
In the host community, we eat delicious home-cooked meals prepared by local cooks. Each day several students from the group form cooking crews and help the cooks prepare meals. Students learn about shopping at the market and preparing Ecuadorian food. During excursions and in the Galápagos, the group eats most meals in restaurants and occasionally visits markets to shop for a picnic lunch.
A Day in the Life: Host Community
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Help local cooks prepare breakfast for the group
8:00am
Lay blocks for the construction of a community kitchen
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Eat a homemade lunch and relax
2:00pm
Continue work on the main service project, shadow a local dairy farmer, or work on your independent project
4:00pm
Hike into the hills surrounding the community to prepare for your Cotopaxi hike
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy a communal dinner as a group
8:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the progress of work projects
A Day in the Life:
Host Community
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Help local cooks prepare breakfast for the group
8:00am
Lay blocks for the construction of a community kitchen
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Eat a homemade lunch and relax
2:00pm
Continue work on the main service project, shadow a local dairy farmer, or work on your independent project
4:00pm
Hike into the hills surrounding the community to prepare for your Cotopaxi hike
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy a communal dinner as a group
8:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the progress of work projects
“We expected a combination of challenge, inspiration, and wonder. All achieved. An outstanding, engaging, and very deep experience for Zach.”
—Molly Stern & Jay Mandel, Brooklyn, NY
Program Directed by
Juliana Gutierrez & Gregorio Rojas
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
