About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
call
us on 1-800-352-1793
About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
Travel With over 25 countries in 4 continents to choose from we are confident you can find your perfect trip!
TEFL Courses Teach English Abroad - Travel the world and use your talents to inspire. Free paid job placements all over the world with our 100-hour Courses
Finding the most bio-diverse place in Ecuador is a bit like finding the most idyllic beach in Thailand; a hard job but well worth the effort! In Mindo, forests reach up the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano, wispy clouds surround tree-less plateaus and bright hues of tropical vegetation give way to picturesque waterfalls. Such is Ecuador’s dramatic elevation that every hundred metres brings another new habitat and species. You'll have plenty of time to explore this ecological reserve while you're here but your main purpose will be to help conserve these beautiful surroundings and the wildlife that they support. Tasks are as varied as the location and range from creating an orchid garden, building feeders for butterflies and maintaining trails to providing environmental education in the local community. You will also be able to work in a local project looking after domestic animals that have been abandoned or rescued, great for you animal lovers too!
Welcome to Ecuador! You will be collected from the airport by our i-to-i team who will be waiting in the arrivals hall for you; you’ll know who they are as they’ll be carrying our logo and they’ll be ready to give you a warm welcome!
You’ll be transferred to your home stay accommodation for tonight. Our home stay families are fantastic and so welcoming; it’s also your first opportunity to test out your Spanish skills!
You’ll stay with your home stay family for the next two nights, so feel free to unpack, get stuck in with family life and enjoy the lovely home cooked local food!
Today you’ll have an early start, tuck into a hearty wholesome breakfast then head off to your orientation, which will be held at one of the home stay accommodations or at the office of the in country team.
This will give you a good insight into Ecuador - the culture, things to do and see, what to do in case of an emergency and much more! It can also be a good way to meet other i-to-i travellers and ask any questions you may have. You’ll then be given some lunch and will have the afternoon free to explore or relax.
Today is the day you’ll be heading to Mindo! You will be picked up in the morning - an early start so don`t forget to bring your alarm clock with you- and will be taken to the bus station for your bus to Mindo. The journey takes approximately 2 hours so you can catch up on some sleep, read a book, chat to your companions on the bus or just take in the amazing scenery!
On arrival in Mindo you will be met off the bus by the project co ordinators and then taken to your main accommodation. This will take about 20 minutes by local bus or truck followed by a walk of about 45 minutes to 1 hour, this really is rural living you know! You will then have time to settle down in to your accommodation and get to know the project co ordinators.
You may have chance in the afternoon to start getting your hands dirty!
Well here it is, your very first day at the conservation project in the heart of the cloud forest! It’s time to get stuck in to a full day’s work and get your hands dirty! You will be working on a variety of tasks during your time here and will definitely be using muscles that you haven’t` used before. You will be planting new trees, clearing land ready for re forestation, preparing compost for different projects, one thing is certain is that you will be ready for a good night`s sleep after a hard day`s work! You will also have the opportunity to work with a local animal project whose main aim is to look after injured and sick wild animals and also to help the local community with a program for caring for domestic animals and how important it is to have them sterilized.
The rest of your week will be spent at the project on various activities and getting settled in to your new home!
We’re sure you’ll be exhausted after your hard work so the weekend is now time for you to do as you wish! You may just want to while away the weekend at the accommodation relaxing on the verandah and catching up on some books that you haven`t read yet. For the more adventurous you could travel into Mindo, the nearest local town and spend the weekend here, you can try out the canopy tour and some horse riding! There are local guesthouses you can stay at so you can also sample the local bars and restaurants! Please note that costs for the weekend in Mindo are not included.
Settle down in to the local pace and way of life in the cloud forest as you spend your days on the land and also helping at the animal project.
However many weeks you have booked for, you’ll be making a difference every day!
It's sadly time to leave your home at the project and say goodbye to all your new friends. You will get the bus back to Quito on this day and spend the final night at a homestay ready to catch your flight back the next day.
Time to fly home; the return transfer back to the airport is not included in your trip but our team will be happy to help you arrange this.
This is a focused opportunity to work on one of the most important ecological reserves in Ecuador. Mindo has suffered severe deforestation from the past century and it is extremely important to develop tree nurseries with native species and reforest with these species. Mindo is part of the protected 48,000 acre Mindo - Nambillo reserve.
The forest stretches over the slopes of Pichincha volcano, at altitudes from 1,400 to 4,700 meters (4,600 to 15,500 feet) and covers diverse ecosystems ranging from the cloud high, treeless plateau or "paramo" through subtropical forest to tropical jungle. The steep slopes also give birth to myriad waterfalls, many of which have never been even named, just an example of nature's undiscovered treasures that await you there! Cloud forests like Mindo have high humidity, cool temperatures, and an abundance of wildlife and plants, particularly ephiphytes, varieties that grow on other plants. Mindo is considered the heaven for bird watchers, but also it appeals to photographers, and explorers for its outstanding panoramic view It is also considered to be one of South America's best bird watching sites and has been named by Birdlife International as the first Important Bird Area (IBA) in the Americas in 1997, due to its exceptional flora, fauna, and botanical abundance, unique in species, considered vital for the development of ecological tourism. One key fact to take note of is that every 200 meters or so drop in altitude means a change in the species of birds that live in Mindo.
The animal rescue centre was set up in 2006 by Guido And Rose who originally came from Belgium and never looked back! They realised the importance of helping both wild and domestic animals in the local area and across Ecuador and decided to invest all their time and money into helping the animals who had been victims of animal trafficking, neglect and injured animals. The aim of the centre is not only to rehabilitate the animals back into the wild but also to educate people who come to the centre about the importance of conservation and not having wild animals as pets. School groups often attend the centre where presentations are given about the importance of saving endangered species.
The project is based in a rural location so you will have plenty of peace and quiet and time to chill in the evening. It is located in the middle of the cloud forest where you can relax on an evening and watch the thousands of fireflies light up the trees! It is located 10kms from Mindo, the nearest local town and 2 hours bus ride from Quito.
You will be getting involved on a variety of tasks during your time at the project but the two things are for sure - you will be getting your hands dirty and also needing your sleep by the end of the day!
You will also be getting involved at the animal rescue centre if you wish, which will be for a couple of days per week, this project aims to rehabilitate sick, injured and neglected animals back in to the wild and to also look after any neglected or abandoned domestic animals.
With deforestation being Ecuador's largest environmental problem, a huge effort is now being made by both national and private reserves across the country to preserve what remains. There is plenty of work to do at the project as you will be working amongst thousands of acres of cloud forest! There will also be plenty of animals to look after at the animal rescue centre, sadly one of the founders of the project passed away in late 2010 so there is plenty of opportunity to carry on his good work.
The animal rescue centre is funded by visitors, volunteers and sponsors and is not able to afford to employ many people so do need the help of the volunteers.
You will be working Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 1pm and then from 2.30pm to 5pm, a couple of days a week you will also be working at the animal rescue centre but transport will be provided for you.
You will be working the land getting your hands dirty as you do a variety of activities;
You will also be working at an animal rescue centre looking after animals and general maintenance duties a couple of days a week. You will need to be flexible and able to work with the requirements of the project.
The project has some resources but does have to watch its budget, any resources that you are able to bring would be appreciated, if you do want to help we'd recommend you wait until you get there so you can see what is needed and then buy anything locally thus helping the local economy too!
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive an online account that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects through our Big Giving initiative to provide resources to those projects that really need it.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
Your accommodation in the Cloud forest is based on a lodge that has 6 bedrooms and is basic and clean accommodation. This really is rural living in the middle of the cloud forest where you will have plenty of time to chill and relax in the evening!
Bedrooms are based on shared rooms and have rooms for 2, 3 4 5 or 6 people sharing which are based on same sex share. Sheets and blankets are provided however you may want to bring your own sleeping bag or liner if you want to go travelling at weekends. Each bedroom has its own bathroom with a western style toilet and a shower with cold water. There is a chance of hot water in the evening which is boiled over a campfire and shared between you all – very good for a hot wash or hand washing clothes! There isn’t a huge demand for hot water though because the weather is already hot, and you’ll find that you won’t miss hot showers all that much!
There is a verandah with a hammock where you can relax and chill for the evening listening to your ipod or play cards with your fellow volunteers. The project co ordinators also live in the next building so you may have the opportunity to have a salsa class or practise your Spanish in the evenings with them.
We’d also recommend that you bring your own padlock to keep your valuables secure although the location is very rural!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included; expect traditional (and delicious!) Ecuadorian meals such as: fruits, lots of rice, pasta, plaintain, different types of bananas, potatoes, vegetables, juices.
Electricty is provided by solar panels during the day and a small power plant on site and is available for some hours in the evening.
Based on previous volunteer feedback, we’d recommend bringing the following items with you from home:
You’ll be based 10kms from Mindo in the cloud forest, in a lodge with 6 bedrooms. Rio Bravo reserve is a reserve of 6000 hectares and your accommodation is situated among this so expect to be in a rural location! Brilliant!
Mindo is the nearest main town where you will find restaurants, bars and guesthouse accommodation where you may want to spend your weekend sampling the local night club and the zip lines! Please note that this is not included and you will need to budget for this.
Free time activites include horse back riding, mountain biking, tubing, rafting, kayaking, birdwatching in the tropical forest, canyoning and visiting natural spots such as waterfalls.
Depending on the work undertaken at the reserve you will need to walk to the location so this could be 5 minutes or 40 minutes, what is great through is that you are surrounded by nature, so a very different walk to work from back home. The work on the reserve is usually undertaken in an area of around 200 hectares.
If you are working at the animal project you will be picked up and taken to the project, the walk from the accommodation to the nearest round takes approximately 30 minutes.
For thousands of years before the Incas arrived from Peru to expand their empire, advanced indigenous cultures made Ecuador their home. They fought hard to hold on but from the 1400s the Inca’s succeeded in developing its civilisation into neighbouring territories. The Incas were not immune from shifts in power and, during the same year the Spanish set foot on Ecuadorian soil (1526), the Inca Empire was divided for the first time when Inca ruler Huayna Capac went against tradition by leaving his empire to two sons rather than one. After years of fighting, Atahualpa defeated Huascar to become ruler of the empire. His position was short lived and the Inca Empire was all but confined to a place in history when in the 1530s the Spanish laid down the foundations to rule the country. Under Spanish rule, Indians and Mestizos (people of mixed indigenous and European descent) suffered forced labour and several uprisings ensued. Liberator Simón Bolívar helped secure independence for Ecuador, which was fully achieved by 1830.
Against a backdrop of violent rivalry between liberal and conservative factions, an unstable political climate dominated the 19th century and was marked by a quick succession of rulers. The 20th century brought mixed fortunes. The country’s development was hampered by the collapse of the coco market in the 1920s and the Great Depression of the 1930s but it achieved stable civilian rule and increased banana exports from 1948 to 1960. Recession and social unrest led to an anti-communist military government taking power in the early 1960s and it wasn’t until 1979 that democratic constitutional measures were put into play. Indigenous groups now have a voice and influence on politics but the country has a lot of economic ground to cover and high levels of unemployment. On an environmental level, Ecuador is rich in biodiversity but has one of the highest deforestation rates in South America.
The diversity of Ecuador does not fit neatly into four seasons. As a general note, it has a dry winter from June to September and a wet summer from December to April. For hiking in the highlands, the best time is during the cool winter. For exploring the jungle (the Oriente), there isn’t a temperate period as it’s often thick with humidity, while the sierra can get chilly and coastal areas are warm year round.
The Galápagos Islands experience hot, rainy weather from January to April and its waters are comfortably warm during this time, making it ideal for snorkelling. During the rest of the year the water is on the chilly side at around 20°C (68°F) or lower. The surfing season is typically December to February.
The biggest celebration days are Christmas, Semana Santa (Easter week), Inti Raymi (June 24), and Independence Day (May 24). Expect an influx of visitors during these periods and from June to August when the vacation season is in full swing.
There’s no better way to see the snow-capped Andes than to fly. The flight from Quito to Cuenco alone takes in the sight of volcano after volcano. With great views aside, flying in Ecuador is affordable and also convenient; you can get to where you want to go in usually no more than half an hour’s flying time. The country’s main airlines like Tame offer daily services to the main towns and cities, usually departing from Quito or Guayaquil. It’s also the best way to get to the Oriente, with other modes of transport unable to access the area. Flights to the Galápagos Islands, however, can be pricey and flying time from Ecuador is around 3 hours. Depending on your destination but particularly for flights to the Galápagos Islands and the Oriente, there is a system in place whereby foreigners are required to pay more than double what Ecuadorians pay. It’s also worth noting that seats are not reserved and are given on a first come, first served basis. Reconfirming a flight 24 hours before is imperative as it’s not unknown for airlines to refute your reservation if it hasn’t been confirmed ahead of departure.
Buses are a cheaper option and although most long distance journeys take a day or less, it can feel longer due to the road conditions. Buses usually leave from central terminals and it’s best to buy a ticket at least a few hours in advance to reserve a seat. Local buses are often very cheap but also very crowded. Taxis are a good option for short journeys or day tips out of cities if hired for the day and can be cheaper than car rental. Taximeters are in existence but not always switched on so it’s best to agree on a price before the journey begins.
www.tame.com.ec
National airline Tame.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
Bookmark this page with... GoogleFacebookMSN LiveYahoodel.icio.usDigg What are these links?
* We can be held responsible for any starry-eyed and amazing journeys of enlightenment, discovery and thorough enjoyment...
User Options
