Volunteering Projects in Ecuador

Ecuador is bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. There are three distinct zones: the Sierra or uplands of the Andes, the Costa, a coastal plain between the Andes and the Pacific with plantations of bananas, cacao, coffee, and sugar; and the Oriente, the upper Amazon basin to the east, consisting of tropical jungles threaded by rivers. Quito, the capital city is in a setting of great natural beauty, overshadowed by the volcano Pichinca with its twin peaks of Ruca and Guagua. For more information we suggest you purchase the Lonely Planet’s guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

The Ecuadorian climate is extremely diverse and because each reserve is located in varying altitudes and geographic zones, they all have different climatic factors to be considered. The temperature in Quito averages 14 degrees celsius throughout the year; June through to September is the driest period, while April often has torrential downpours during the afternoon.

Volunteers can participate in research assistance, education, community service, station maintenance, plant conservation, and agro-forestry activities carried out by the Amazon, Bilsa, Congal, La Hesperia, Lalo Loor, and San Cristobal biological stations.
You can be involved in:
Plant Conservation: collecting seeds, reforestation, medicinal plant garden development, nursery work, and clearing areas of invasive species.
Community Work: teaching English in local schools, environmental education, and community visits.
Sustainable Income Generation: implementation of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture projects, crafts, and agro-forestry.
Supporting Local Research: assisting in collecting data for local research.
Wildlife: monitoring projects with birds and bears.

Once you have secured your placement by paying your application fee, you will be put in touch with our partner who will provide you with more specific details.

There are six different reserves located around Ecuador, and volunteers may choose which reserve they would like to volunteer at.  Please see the program page for more detailed descriptions of the specific reserves.

It is possible to take part in research projects, although these will often require specialist knowledge. The reserves with ongoing research projects that volunteers may be able to assist with are Bilsa and Congal. If you have the relevant background and experience it may also be possible to design your own research project and work on it while at a reserve, but this will require you to work independently and you may need to bring your own equipment. For an independent project, ideally you would submit a proposal beforehand so that it can be approved by the reserve.

Teaching programs in the La Hesperia and Amazon reserves run between September and June. Teaching in the reserves on the coast, Congal and Lalo Loor, runs between May and January. Teaching may not be available if there are other volunteers already at the reserve already doing this, or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

As in many countries, foreigners are perceived as wealthy in Ecuador. Although the people are generally warm and friendly towards foreigners, as well as appreciative of the work done by volunteers, not every individual is the same. We work extremely hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering and security policies are in place to achieve this. However, as in any situation at home or abroad, there is no way to erase all potential threats. There is lower risk of crime at the volunteer placements in Ecuador, due to their remote locations. It is still important, however, to be wary of thieves and pick pocketing, especially in cities and crowded areas. You should also avoid extremely remote areas where you will be alone. You should also be aware that there are active volcanoes in Ecuador and minor earthquakes are relatively common. Volunteers will be given further safety advice, including for the case of natural disasters, in their orientation session.

For all the Ecuador programs, you need to fly into Mariscal Sucre International airport in Quito. While in Quito, you need to attend an orientation session, which take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, before heading out to your reserve. You will need to make your own way to our partner’s office, details for which will be supplied after you have signed up for the program. You will therefore have to arrange for a couple of nights accommodation while in Quito. After you have signed up for the program we will provide you with some recommended options for accommodation in Quito.

Yes, we’re happy to place you in the reserve of your choice as long as there is space available.

• Diphtheria and tetanus
• Polio
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Rabies

These are rare but do affect people in poorer communities that you may not even come into contact with:

• Yellow fever - you will need a certificate to say you have had this vaccination to be presented on arrival if you are from Africa or South America. In addition, the vaccination is highly recommended if you are travelling to the Amazon reserve.
• Malaria (needs to be closely discussed with doctor) Quito itself is free of Malaria. Bilsa reserve highly recommends immunisation as Malaria is present in some of the towns you may visit, even though it’s not on the reserve itself.
• Cholera outbreaks can occur in poorer areas of Ecuador; however vaccinations can become resistant to the disease so your doctor may say it is not needed. If you show any signs of violent vomiting and extremely watery diarrhoea see a doctor straight away for medication that can help treat you.

Some of these can be taken in oral form so please do discuss all options with your doctor to see what is best for you. Some people can be affected quite differently than others by medication.

It is possible to bring your family to some of the larger and more accessible reserves, such as Amazon or Congal, as long as there is space available. If you have young children we would strongly recommend that two adults travel with the family, so that they are adequately supervised.

Each GVN program has different criteria depending on our partner's requirements. Every application is reviewed to ensure that the minimum requirements (as set out on the program page) are met. Next we look to see what skills or experience you have that relate specifically to the program. We are also interested in any previous volunteer experience you may have (either local or international), travel experience, and your particular interest in the program.

After reviewing your application, should we require any further information from you, we will email you to request this.

During Semana Santa (Holy Week/Easter) the whole of the country shuts down for 5 days. This takes place in late March/early April and you should take this into account when traveling.

You can arrange this for before or after the program, but not during, due to the isolated nature of some of the reserves.

Yes, you get six days off each month, and you are free to do as you please during this time. There are often other volunteers who want to go trekking or see the local sights. You will, however, need to have money for this time according to what you plan to do. You may want to spend some time in Ecuador before or after volunteering to see more of the country. You can survive on as little as US$7 a day in Ecuador. You can also spend much more if you want a bit of luxury.

The program costs cover accommodation and all meals. If you plan on arriving early or staying on, then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off depending on what you intend on doing. Other costs include buying bottled water, visa (only required in staying longer than 90 days), departure tax, and any shopping you will do personally. All visitors to Ecuador are required to pay a US $25 departure fee in cash at Quito airport when they leave. There are also additional costs for the San Cristobal project - volunteers on this project will need to pay for the flight to the islands and a US $100 park fee upon arrival.

While you are in Quito (where your international flight will land) you are required to attend an orientation session at the volunteer offices. These take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 3pm. It is a short session, no more than half an hour, on the rules of the reserve. You will be given more detailed directions on how to get to the reserve, and you should use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Once you arrive at the reserve you will be given a more detailed orientation on the work required, safety procedures, and work schedules.

If you need one, you will need to organize your visa through your travel agent before you leave for Ecuador. The information pack includes links to Ecuadorian Embassies through out the world.

As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as a ’loss of deposits’ cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc (up to US$8,000). If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/.

Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully transferable to a later date or different program if you decide not to take part in the program, subject to the terms of service). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer’s expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program. Refer to GVN's legal terms of service for full details.