Want to protect some of the most beautiful environment in the world?

Despite being the smallest country in the Andean highlands, Ecuador is certainly making the most of the space it has. If it’s not covered by dense jungle, then it’s jam-packed full of wildlife reserves, unexpectedly beautiful beaches, swarms of indigenous animals or picture-perfect colonial architecture. This leading conservation project works hard to preserve the tropical forest and wildlife in the beautiful cloud forest. Conservation work in Ecuador involves a variety of activities, including jungle hikes, reforestation activities and weekend visits to local villages. If you get a taste for the country you can stay longer than four weeks and enjoy rotations among a variety of reserves, one of which is on the Galapagos Islands!

Fast Facts

Project Information

Project Duration: Min 1 week - Max 8 weeks
Project Costs: US$ 1260.00 for 1 week, US$ 220.00 for every week thereafter
Location of project:Several reserves across Ecuador: two in the cloud forest on the mainland and one on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands
Arrival Airport:Quito (airport code UIO). For the Galapagos project a flight on to San Cristobal will be arranged for you and added on to your statement (budget approximately US$550)
Activities:Various types of conservation work, including planting, surveys and data collection, path clearance and facilities maintenance. You may also get involved with community education and marketing activities
Working Hours:Flexible; usually 7 hours a day with 8 days off per month, all other time is free
Getting to the project:On site
Requirements:Minimum Age 17
Other:Semana Santa (Latin America Holy week) will be from April 3rd to 12th 2009 and March 26th to April 4th 2010, you may have some disruptions to the placement during this time

What's Included

Accommodation:Shared rooms in cabins or guesthouses.
Food:All meals (not included at weekends, budget approximately US$20 per week)
Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
Training:In-country orientation
Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's not included

Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return Airport transfer, Local Transport, Food (at weekends)

Project details:
We currently provide volunteers to several reserves across Ecuador: three in the cloudforest on the mainland and one on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. All the reserves are part of Ecuadorian non-profit, non-governmental organisations. We have also recently joined with a coastal conservation project based in Parque Nacional Machalilla that focuses on eco tourism and reforestation.

Why the project needs volunteers:
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.

Much of the work at these reserves is dependant on having the necessary labour. That is not to say that it would not get completed without i-to-i volunteers, but it would certainly take much, much longer!

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
General fitness and lots of enthusiasm is definitely needed for all the reserves. Volunteers also need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process!

Your role as a volunteer:
While there are a large number of conservation activities that are broadly similar across the reserves, each has its own unique aspects. Typical examples of work that could be required at the specific reserves are as follows:

La Hesperia: Sustainable agriculture, reforestation, collating biological inventories, community integration, and COB eco-construction are all typical activities at this project. You will also get involved in educational activities and eco-tourism and will have the opportunity to participate in hikes and workshops, as well the opportunity to teach English to local children and project staff.
Alto Choco: Native tree nurseries, reforestation, botanic garden, environmental education in community schools, organic orchids.
San Cristobal: Habitat restoration and agricultural components, various hikes to a nearby lagoon, native forests, beaches, and local villages to explain the ecological and human dynamics of Galapagos. Opportunities to work on group research and monitoring projects will also be developed.
Trees nurseries, reforestation, Organic Farm, worm projects, feeders, Orchid Garden, Eco Tourism, environmental education with the school and community, Ecotourism, Health Campaigns in the Community.

Where the project is based:
Depending on the length of the project booked, it is common for volunteers to visit more than one reserve as part of a rotation, spending four weeks at each. You will be allocated to the project with most need at the time of your arrival, however if you have a preference please get in touch with your nearest i-to-i office, you will need to specify if you wish to include the Galapagos islands as part of the rotation as there is a supplementary fee to join.

La Hesperia is approx 2 and 1/2hrs west of Quito in the Pichincha province. Please note that in order to reach the reserve you will have to walk for between 20 and 40 minutes both up and down hill. Work with the communities requires a similar amount of walking. The nearest main town to the reserve, Santo Domingo, is 45 minutes away and buses run past regularly throughout the day.

Alto Choco is approx 5 hours north of Quito. The facilities are more basic here and the project a little more remote.

The project on the Galapagos is based on the island of San Cristobal and will require a flight from Quito which is not included in your placement fee and will be added to your statement at the time of booking.

Mindo is located approx 2hrs from Quito on the lower flanks of the western Andes in the province of Pichincha. You will be staying in a guesthouse on site.

You will need to arrive at Quito International Airport (UIO) for all placements and after spending two nights in Quito for orientation you will travel onto your project.

Project Log

UPDATE FROM CIAN FRIEL AND AISHLING NEARY

Date: 2008-07-01

We spent 8 weeks in total, working in 3 different reserves; Alto Choco (3 weeks), Mindo (3 weeks), and La Hesperia (2 weeks). At Alto Choco we worked under Milton Arose. This was definitely the toughest reserve, but also the most rewarding and our favourite. Milton was great to work for, a complete gentleman. In the first week the weather was very wet, and as a result, most of the work was confined to the sheltered areas. Milton felt very bad about this, realising that the work soon became tedious (even though it was beyond his control). Milton keeps the work varied and interesting. The work during the early wet weather involved shredding compost for the worm farms, sifting through compost in order to extract worms for the worm farms and also potting of some young trees. However, towards the end of the first week and for the remaining 2 weeks, the weather improved greatly and we moved out into the reserve and the forest. The work primarily involved reforestation, however there was other work to be done as well, such as weeding and gardening in the vegetable plots, clearing invasive bamboo from the maize fields (very tough), surveying walks into the forest and collection of tree saplings. As I have stated the work was tough, but very enjoyable and rewarding. Milton is a very happy man, and I must say we miss him and his family very much. The conditions at the reserve are very basic, but I found that this just added to the experience. The food was excellent (especially the breakfasts, some of the best breakfasts IÂ´ve ever had have been in Alto Choco). Everything that i-to-i recommend to bring are essential, especially a good rain poncho, rubber boots, torches and plenty of books as there is no electricity up there. This is also the case for Mindo and La Hesperia.

Conservation in Ecuador

Date: 2008-05-27

At Alto Choco we worked under Milton Arose. This was definitely the toughest reserve, but also the most rewarding and our favourite. Milton was great to work for, a complete gentleman. In the first week the weather was very wet, and as a result, most of the work was confined to the sheltered areas. Milton felt very bad about this, realising that the work soon became tedious (even though it was beyond his control). Milton keeps the work varied and interesting. The work during the early wet weather involved shredding compost for the worm farms, sifting through compost in order to extract worms for the worm farms and also potting of some young trees. However, towards the end of the first week and for the remaining 2 weeks, the weather improved greatly and we moved out into the reserve and the forest. The work primarily involved reforestation, however there was other work to be done as well, such as weeding and gardening in the vegetable plots, clearing invasive bamboo from the maize fields (very tough), surveying walks into the forest and collection of tree saplings. As I have stated the work was tough, but very enjoyable and rewarding. Milton is a very happy man, and I must say we miss him and his family very much. The conditions at the reserve are very basic, but I found that this just added to the experience. The food was excellent (especially the breakfasts, some of the best breakfasts I've ever had have been in Alto Choco). Everything that i-to-i recommend to bring are essential, especially a good rain poncho, rubber boots, torches and plenty of books as there is no electricity up there. This is also the case for Mindo and La Hesperia. The next reserve that we went to was in Mindo, where we worked under brother and sister Louis and Sonia. We enjoyed our time here as well, Sonia and Louis are great, and Sonia's cooking is something that you might expect at a 5 star resort. However, there was no reforestation, and basically the tasks for 3 weeks was trail maintenance, trail and step building. I recognise the importance of this, however we were under the impression that we would be primarily involved in reforestation. The work was tough here too, but also rewarding in that you could step back and look at a job well done at the end of it all. I don't want to take away from what Sonia and Louis are doing, they seem very passionate about the reserve and its conservation. Finally our last reserve was La Hesperia, (between Quito and Santo Domingo). We had a really great time at this reserve too. It was also a working farm with a large number of employees, practicing organic and sustainable agriculture which was very encouraging to see. As a result, there was a much greater variety of work that you could become involved in depending on your interests, I stuck almost totally to reforestation, with some more trail maintenance, and data collection. I think that we were unlucky with our timing and Alexdria, one of the coordinators was expecting a baby and as a result we did not get the chance to meet her. Her husband Juan Pablo was also away a lot. As a result, we were given free reigns to do what we wanted......however this might always be the case in La Hesperia. Despite the absence of the 2 coordinators, i felt that everything was extremely well organised and ran very efficiently. The facilities were also very good here too, and lot more comfortable compared to Alto Choco. Finally, there were 8 other volunteers there while we were there and this introduced a nice social aspect which also made things a lot easier. In summary, I had a great time and experience on the three reserves, Alto Choco and La Hesperia being my 2 favourite.

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

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….

Project sourcing and assessment

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

Expert help-desk

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.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack 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.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

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.

Arrival orientation

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 and meals

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

Local in-country coordinators

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

24/7 emergency support

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

Ongoing training

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

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.

Recruiting people like you

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.

The intangible benefits

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

What we will do after you've booked:

Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account

We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know

Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course

Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant)

We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.

We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've booked

We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required

We are available for any questions you may have on 800 985 4852 or support@i-to-i.com

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

Book your flights

Arrange suitable travel insurance

Fill out some extra details through our online interface:

Application from
Travel details
Insurance details
Medical information
Emergency contacts

Complete your police check if requested

Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)

Make final payment at least 90 days before you go

Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's needed

Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention

Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip

Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!

Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

Having arrived on the Monday, you will be taken to your accommodation in Quito. You will have a group orientation meeting with the in-country coordinator on the Tuesday morning, with your placement starting on the Wednesday. If you choose to take the language lessons add-on you will spend the remainder of the week in Quito - please contact the Latin America Team for more information on what this involves. You will then start your placement the following Monday, travelling on Saturday if out of Quito.

Ecuador

A little bit of history…

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.

Best time to go…

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.

Getting around…

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.

Useful Links

www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.

www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.

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.

Conservation work in Ecuador

Trip Notes

Project Info