Spend a week touring around Ecuador and its capital city of Quito while engaging in Spanish lessons, then head off to volunteer with rescued animals! During orientation week you will be able to see several of Ecuador's biggest tourist destinations and embrace a new culture.
Days 2-6, Monday-Friday: During your introduction week, you will spend the mornings attending Spanish classes for four hours, and the rest of the day exploring and doing fun organized activities. These will include welcome cocktails, salsa classes and a full-day tour of Quito’s popular sites with your teacher to practice using your new Spanish skills.
Day 8, Sunday: Volunteers will take a bus from Quito to Puyo. Take the time to rest after your journey and get used to living in the rainforest.
Days 9-13, Monday-Friday: Your days will be spent taking care of the animals, doing maintenance work at the site and helping with the cleaning. You are also encouraged to use your initiative and nominate tasks that you would like to work on such as working with the vet or helping out with the local environmental education program. Evenings are free for you to rest or take a trip to Puyo where you will be able to interact with the locals and enjoy the Ecuadorian nightlife.
Days 14-15, Saturday-Sunday: Weekends are mostly free, apart from a few morning chores.
Orientation: The first week of this project is an orientation, consisting of 20 hours of Spanish lessons, a city tour of Quito, a visit to Cotopaxi National Park and its volcano, a visit to the Equator and more! *Some small fees apply for excursions.
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, meals during orientation week, some weekend meals, bus ticket from Quito to Puyo (approx. $6 USD), taxi from Puyo bus station to project (approx. $3 USD), transfer to airport on departure day, personal expenses.
This project takes place in two main locations- first, embrace Ecuadorian culture in the capital city of Quito and then head towards Puyo to volunteer with rescued wild animals.
Quito is located in the Andes Mountains, which provides beautiful, scenic views. Spanish courses will be in the city, but there will be several excursions. Volunteers will visit Cotopaxi National Park and its volcano, the Equator and more.
The volunteer portion of the project takes place near the quieter town of Puyo, which is located close to Baños, a tourist-friendly city, where volunteers will have the chance to participate in excursions of their own planning.
The rescue shelter is home to various species of native Ecuadorian wild animals that have been abused, injured or neglected. This haven has several sections, one of the most impressive being Monkey Island, which is only accessible via a pedestrian bridge. These animals are in need of loving volunteers to care for their daily needs.
During your first week of this program, you will enjoy an orientation, including 20 hours of Spanish lessons, as well as getting an introduction to Ecuador. Fun activities during this week include a private salsa lesson, a city tour of Quito and a visit to the Equator.
Starting with your second week, your volunteer responsibilities will be assisting in the care of the rescued animals at the shelter. Day-to-day tasks include cutting fruit and preparing other food for the animals, feeding the animals and participating in maintenance tasks around the shelter. This may include the building, repairing of and cleaning of enclosures as well as general cleaning.
A typical day: Volunteers will work from 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM and then from 2:30-5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. On either Saturday or Sunday, volunteers will work a few hours in the morning and once tasks are completed, will have the rest of the weekend free.
Internet: During orientation week,Wifi is available free of charge in Quito at the student house and school. During the project, Wifi is available at the pool area.
Accommodations: During orientation week: Volunteers will stay in shared, same-gender rooms in the student house that have communal bathrooms and a shared, fully equipped kitchen. There will be two volunteers per room. At the project: Volunteers will stay in shared cabins with bunk beds in same-gender rooms, with up to five other volunteers.
Food: During orientation week, volunteers will need to prepare their own meals. There is a fully equipped kitchen in the student house and markets nearby. At the project: 3 meals per day are provided, Monday-Friday. Breakfast usually includes cereal and fruit, and lunches and dinners are often traditional South American dishes such as rice and beans.Ingredients for breakfast are provided on the weekends and there is space to cook other meals. There are markets in the town of Puyo where volunteers may purchase food for lunch and dinners on weekends.
Aside from the included travel highlights, including visit to a volcano and national park and the Equator, volunteers can participate in other activities for an additional fee during their free time. Listed below are a few suggestions.
Rafting Baños Ecuador is for the thrill-seeking volunteers! Guests here have the choice to white water raft down either the Patate or Pasta Rivers.