Ecuador 3-Week

We fly directly to the colonial capital city of Quito (at 9,250 feet) for two days of orientation. We explore the architecture of Latin America’s best preserved historic colonial center, and warm up our Spanish skills with interactive language activities and lessons

The excitement grows as we bus down to the city of Tena. Perched in a beautiful and accessible region of the Amazon rainforest, a jungle lodge will be our base for this portion of the trip. Activities here include rafting, rainforest educational tours and projects, and inspirational service work providing a playground for a nearby school. Evening activities like night hikes, dance lessons, and games will complete our productive days here in the Amazon.

Next stop, Papallacta Hot Springs and a downhill mountain bike adventure! After a beginner/intermediate level mountain bike adventure surrounded by spectacular views, there is no better way to relax than a soak in the stream-fed hot springs with your fellow riders.

A trip to Ecuador would be incomplete 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.

Our small homestay village is located in the high valleys in the Northern Sierra of Ecuador. For the next week, our friendly and hospitable host families will open their hearts and homes to us; you will quickly feel a part of the family! The homestay portion of the trip is without a doubt the most rewarding and a favorite among participants. While meals, evenings, and weekends are reserved for homestay family time, our group gathers daily to work on projects. In the past, we have constructed community gardens, built bridges, and worked alongside the women’s cooperative in their markets. During our homestay days, work and play go hand in hand!

For those traveling on, we take a flight from Quito to Guayaquil and then continue directly on to the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Galapagos Islands. Our professionally guided journey through this unique landscape begins on the island of Santa Cruz. We will join our Galapagos guides, board our boats, and head to Isabela, the largest island of the archipelago. Lodging will take place in hotels and days will be full of adventure and exploration. Our stay in Isabela is highlighted by a trek along Sierra Negra volcano, famous for its gigantic crater measuring 10.5 by 7 kilometers in size! This educational and exciting adventure continues onto Santa Cruz where we can view nesting sea turtles and an array of fish while snorkeling the Concha Perla. We’ll be sure to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center for an introduction to “Lonesome George”, the most famous of the giant tortoises we will see. Then we’re off to our third island paradise, San Cristobal. Time here is highlighted by snorkeling at the remains of an underwater volcano, better known as Kicker Rock. We wrap up our action-packed and educational experience in Galapagos with a celebratory dinner before heading back to Quito.

The final day, we fly home to the United States via Quito to reunite with friends and family and share our new experiences. It is the end of a trip, but a beginning to a new awareness about yourself and new cultures. Few countries can boast the geographic and cultural diversity that Ecuador holds. Join us for an amazing journey!