Eco-tourism project: Work at an Eco-Lodge in the Cloud Forest and help maintaining trails, planting trees, working in the organic or orchid garden etc.
Programs Abroad
ECUADOR - Live and Work at a Reserve within the Tropical Rainforest in Pichincha 
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Booking Nº: EC140 Country: Ecuador + Location: Pichincha (90 km from Quito) Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: All year round Price: from 2 weeks, 840 USD |
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Task
You will personally benefit from the constant interaction you will have with the local people. There are three main projects in which you can become involved include conservation, sustainability and social development. You can choose the area of work that matches your interests.
Conservation Project (Minimum Stay: 2 Weeks)
As a volunteer in the conservation project, you will take part in some or all of the following activities:
- Cultivating plants in the nursery
- Collecting and planting seeds
- Maintaining the nursery
- Replanting seedlings
- Conducting forest surveys to evaluate tree growth and survival
- Surveying birds and mammals
- Monitoring bird's nests
- Planting botanical species to provide a natural source of food for wildlife
- Collecting and analyzing flora and fauna data
- Conducting weather surveys
- Constructing and maintaining trails
- Maintaining the medicinal herbs garden
Sustainability Project (Minimum Stay: 3 Weeks)
In the sustainability project, you will take part in some or all of the following activities:
- Tending to the organic vegetable garden, including preparing soil, planting seeds, weeding and harvesting
- Producing organic fertilizers and pesticides
- Carrying out organic agricultural activities, including clearing, weeding, fertilizing, pruning and harvesting banana, coffee and sugar cane crops
- Feeding animals, planting crops for animal feed, constructing fences, milking the cows and goats and transporting the milk into the town
- Producing food, like homemade cheese, butter, yoghurt, chocolate, coffee, pasta, bread, pizza, dry fruits and vinegar
- Maintaining the forest by collecting seeds, nursery maintenance, trail maintenance, tree care and reforestation
- Maintaining the medicinal herbs garden
- Assisting with alternative energy projects
Social Development Project (Minimum Stay: 4 Weeks)
You will work in a small village of about 50 families with a two-room school house, a medical center, two carpentry shops, a small store and a traditional sweet factory.
Your activities will include:
- Teaching at the nursery school
- Teaching at the elementary school (Not available between February and mid-April)
- Working within the community health clinic alongside the nurses (if you have first aid or medical experience)
You will work Monday through Friday for about 7 hours each day. Your weekends will be free to spend as you wish. With the other participants of the project, you can plan small trips and excursions for the weekends.
Accommodation
You will live in a house with other volunteers. The house is simple but comfortable with beautiful views of the forest. You will share a bedroom with up to four other volunteers. It is possible to upgrade to a private room with an en-suite bathroom at an additional fee (please enquire at the time of booking).Meals will be provided and will consist of typical Ecuadorian food. Vegetarians can be catered too as well. Alcohol is forbidden at this project site.
Requirements
Language:English and/or Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Ecuador with us!)
Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.
Age:
18+ years
Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.
Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.
Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.
Details
You will work on a reserve located to the west of the Andes (in the Pichincha Province of Ecuador). Within the reserve there are over 280 species of birds and 40 species of mammals. The project aspires to preserve the incredible biodiversity of the cloud forest. This is achieved through a wide range of activities including reforestation, restoring degraded areas of the forest, monitoring human activity and education about the environment.The sustainable organic farming that is carried out on the farm accommodates the diets of the local people without endangering and destroying the surrounding forest areas.
During your free time there is plenty to do in and around the reserve. In the evenings volunteers often gather around a campfire at the lodge. There are also board games, card tournaments and soccer matches! At your own expense, you can walk through the cloud forest to streams and waterfalls, go bird watching, try horseback riding or rafting, take night hikes to search for nocturnal animals, visit nearby beaches and thermal pools.
The reserve is located 2 hours north of Quito.
Source: Google Maps
Prices
| Program duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks |
840.- |
| 3 weeks |
1,185.- |
| 4 weeks |
1,535.- |
| each additional week |
320.- |
One time registration fee 75 USD.
What’s included:
- Accommodation
- 3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Orientation kit
- Local support
- 24h-Emergency Number
- Volunteer Work Placement
- Certificate of participation
What’s not included:
- Flight
- Medical Insurance
- Visa (if necesary)
- Local Travels
Country
Country Information Ecuador |
 Ecuador, appropriately named after the equator, holds a massive imaginary line running directly through its middle. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America with an area of only 100,000 square miles. Ecuador borders Peru in the southeast, Colombia in the northeast and the Pacific Ocean splashing along the entire west side. The population of Ecuador is 14 million with the capital city of Quito holding 2 million residents.
Though Ecuador lacks bragging rights in its size, the country surely stands proud of its breathtaking landscapes, lush vegetation zones and varieties of climate. The climate, mainly determined by altitude, changes from tropical sun and heavy rain in the Pacific coastal area, to temperate dry climate regions in the Andean highlands. Further, the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rain forest zones. Ecuador is one of eighteen mega diverse countries in the world with thousands of different animal and bird species. The famous Galapagos Islands, a very special spot on earth, is located about 620 miles away from the mainland and is home to unique flora and fauna such as the giant tortoises. The islands are also historic for being the birthplace of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. When exploring deeper into the 100,000 square mile piece of land, you will find diverse attractions for tourists and volunteers alike. Some highly recommended areas of exploration are the Amazon jungles, the Amazon basin, Andean Mountains, volcanoes (active and dormant), tropical forests and a variety of beautiful beaches. The Pacific coast is a perfect place for ocean diving, relaxing on the beach and enjoying hours in the sun. For those backcountry lovers and nature fans, rest assured the terrain of Ecuador offers much in both silent and adrenaline driven activities. Due to Ecuador’s geographical diversity of ocean, mountains and island chains, whenever you choose to travel, one section of country will be in peak season. June through September are typically the drier months. The general high peak season for festivals, fiestas and crowds lie between mid-December through January and then again from June through August. When traveling to Ecuador you will be absolutely amazed by the unique and natural beauty of this country. Keeping in mind that this country is one of poorest regions in South America, you will be surprised by their friendliness, efforts to help you and elements of preserved culture. UNESCO declared Quito, the capital city, a World Heritage Site in the 1970’s for having the best preserved and least altered historic center in Latin America! No doubt, you will feel comfortable and at ease while enjoying this open-minded and hospitable society.
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