We travel to a rural, authentic Ecuadorian community for cultural exchange and service opportunities. During the days we work alongside our host brothers and sisters on service projects that are determined and coordinated with community members prior to the trip. Some examples of previous community projects have included building the foundation to a community center, working in the cooperative garden and plant nursery, constructing a school library, teaching English at the primary school, painting a mural in a school classroom, and working on reforestation and conservation projects in the rainforest that surrounds the town. In the afternoons we explore the rainforest, go for hikes, play soccer and basketball, and spend time with the community members.
A trip to Ecuador not be complete without a visit to the bustling city of Otavalo, host to the largest indigenous artisan marketplace in the world! Otavalo’s colorful artisan market is a shopper’s paradise and a wonderful opportunity to practice your Spanish and hone those bargaining skills.
Return to Quito for our final night in Ecuador. We return to our hotel to enjoy a farewell celebration before boarding a flight home the next day. It's been an incredible journey, but we're excited to head home! Our friends and family greet us when we arrive to share our new experiences.
The excursion to the Galapagos begins with an early morning transfer to the airport and a flight to Baltra Island, Galapagos. Our friendly and professional guides meet us and take us to the boat for a transfer to stunning Isabela Island. On day two we tour up Sierra Negra Volcano to view the second largest crater in the world!
From Isabela our journey takes us on to Santa Cruz Island and then onto San Cristobal. Highlights include snorkeling with sea lions and sea turtles, body boarding at Tortuga Bay, swimming and snorkeling at Kicker Rock and Isla De Lobos. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn from our expert guides!