Program Directed by
Juliana Gutierrez & Gregorio Rojas
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Head to Ecuador’s Andean highlands on an immersive summer service program for high school students. Contribute meaningfully to construction, water-access, and agricultural initiatives led by our host community. In the afternoons, play fútbol with Ecuadorian friends, visit a coffee farm, and explore local markets. Take an overnight trip to the cloud forest, then travel to majestic Cotopaxi to hike to a high-altitude refugio and ride horseback across the páramo. End your journey in the Galápagos Islands, where you’ll snorkel with sea lions, and spot giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies in an unforgettable finale off the Pacific coast.
- Highlights
• Join a community-wide minga in a construction-based project
• 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 service 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 — 5 days
Travel by bus to our host community, home to about 500–1,000 people, located in the central Andean highlands north of Quito. Putney groups have worked with our host community for over a decade, returning each summer to collaborate on projects determined by the community. Experience local culture and everyday life as you work with local contacts. 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 — 1 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 and visit a coffee farm to learn about coffee production from bean to cup.
Host Community — 4 days
Head back to the community to finish your projects and celebrate all you achieved with the community.
Cotopaxi — 2 days
After saying goodbye to your host community, visit snowcapped Cotopaxi, one of the world’s largest volcanoes. Stay at a cozy hacienda run by locals who are committed to reforestation efforts and play an active role in the regional protection of the high Andean grasslands. Hike to the mountain refugio on Cotopaxi Volcano for breathtaking views and go horseback riding across the 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 — 3 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Review specific program questions here. For more general information, visit our full FAQ:
What are the main focuses of this program?
The focus of our high school service program in Ecuador & the Galápagos is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and engaging in 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. Everyone participates in all of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
The program also explores the different ecosystems that Ecuador has to offer, from the city center to snowy peaks, cloud forests, and the incredible Galápagos islands.
What types of service projects do students participate in on this program?
During our high school Service Ecuador & the Galápagos program, you can expect to participate in several different types of 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.
How many service hours can students expect to receive?
Students on Putney’s high school Ecuador & the Galápagos service program can expect to participate in 60–80 community service hours. Students receive a digital service certificate after the program that confirms their participation. The certificate will specify the exact number of hours completed, based on our host community’s identified projects for the group.
What is the technology and cell phone policy?
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney Student Travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to and from the program. During in-country orientation, leaders facilitate a call home, then collect and securely store all phones for the first half of the program. At the end of this tech-free period, leaders return student phones for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Will students have the opportunity to practice the local language?
Yes! Proficiency in Spanish is not required for our high school service program in Ecuador & the Galápagos. However, this is a great program for high school students seeking real-world Spanish language immersion. If you study Spanish in school you will have ample opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. If you don’t speak Spanish you will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.
What is an Independent Project?
All students on Putney programs pursue an independent project as a way to more deeply engage with aspects of local culture that are of particular interest to them—in Ecuador & the Galápagos, you might 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.
How physically active is this program?
This is a very active high school service program abroad. 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.
Does this program visit high altitudes?
Yes, our high school Service Ecuador & the Galápagos 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).
What are the accommodations for this program?
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.
What are meals like in Ecuador?
In the host community, our Service Ecuador & the Galápagos group eats delicious home-cooked meals. Students form cooking crews and help prepare meals. During excursions and in the Galápagos, the group eats in restaurants or has picnic lunches.
What type of student is most successful on this program?
This service program is designed for high school students (grades 9–12) who are seeking meaningful, ethical service experiences and genuine cultural exchange. The most successful students come with an open mind, a willingness to try new things, and an eagerness to participate in group living and shared experiences. Students who enjoy this program are excited to learn about Kichwa culture, like to hike and do outdoor activities, and are interested in exploring the different ecosystems in Ecuador, including the unique wildlife and history of the Galapagos Islands.
What makes Ecuador & the Galápagos a good location for a Putney Student Travel program?
Putney has developed longstanding relationships with our friends and local contacts in Ecuador, and has worked in partnership with these same communities for more than 25 years. Students who join our Ecuador programs find their place in this long tradition of partnership and collaboration. Ecuador, with its unique culture, the warmth of its people, and the remarkable ecosystems we explore, makes an ideal location for a meaningful and immersive high school service program with Putney.
How does the Ecuador program compare to Putney’s other Service programs?
Our Ecuador & the Galápagos program stands out among Putney’s Service programs for its balance of meaningful community engagement and cultural exchange with world-class exploration of the country’s natural beauty. Students spend much of the program living and working alongside a Kichwa community in the Andean highlands, contributing to construction, environmental, and educational projects while building genuine relationships with community members. The program concludes with several days in the Galápagos Islands, where students experience one of the world's most remarkable ecosystems through hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and wildlife observation. This program is a good fit for students seeking a service program that combines sustained community partnership, rich Indigenous culture, dramatic mountain landscapes, and an unforgettable environmental finale.
Do students need prior experience or specific skills to join this program?
No specific experience or skills are required for success on this program, aside from coming with an open mind, a willingness to try new things, and participating positively in a supportive, small-group environment.
What outcomes, skills, or growth can students expect to gain from this experience?
Students return from Ecuador with greater independence, confidence, and adaptability, along with a deeper understanding of what thoughtful, community-led service looks like. Working alongside local partners helps students develop teamwork, communication, practical problem-solving, and a willingness to contribute wherever needed. Daily interactions with Ecuadorian friends and community members build cross-cultural awareness and provide ample opportunities to practice Spanish and learn basic Kichwa. Through active exploration of the Andes, cloud forest, and Galápagos, students also strengthen their resilience and gain a richer understanding of biodiversity, conservation, and the connections between people and the natural world.
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
