Travel to Teach: Volunteer in Ecuador

Ecuador is an extremely poor country, nearly 50 percent of its population live in poverty. There is real need for volunteer contribution to the development and conservation of many areas in Ecuador.

Travel to Teach volunteers can choose to volunteer in orphanages, nurseries, juvenile homes, jails, centers for child workers and the elderly.

Our volunteer working vacations give you the opportunity to contribute to several community projects involving Agriculture, Conservation, Infrastructure and Construction, among others.

Ecuador

Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean countries (roughly the size of Switzerland) and the most travelled. The Pacific coast, the Andean highlands, the Amazon Basin and the Galapagos Islands are all packed into a very small surface area.

Ecuador is one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse areas in the world, rich in bio diversity, culture and architecture due to its Spanish and Inca heritage. It has a vast indigenous population and broad ethnic diversity.

In short, Ecuador is one of those rare destinations in the world that seems to have the right combination of natural beauty, intriguing history, vibrant culture, traditions, hospitality, and much more.

Program Locations

The volunteering opportunities in Ecuador are mainly in the capital Quito and Puerto Lopez however we do have a limited number of work placements on the Galapogas Islands. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, it is set in a long shallow valley at an elevation of 2,850M above sea level.

Puerto López is one of the more established cities along the Ruta del Sol (along the Pacific Ocean). It is popular for it's proximity to Isla de la Plata and Parque Machalilla, also known as the small Galápagos Islands.

Ecuador Facts:

In Ecuador we will be working mainly in the capital Quito and Puerto López.
Quito is the second highest capital in the world, it is set in a long shallow valley at an elevation of 2,850M above sea level. On the other hand Puerto López is one of the more established cities along the Ruta del Sol (along the Pacific Ocean). It is popular for it's proximity to Isla de la Plata and Parque Machalilla, also known as the small Galápagos Islands.

Country Information:

Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Located: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Area: 283,560 sq km
Population: 13,363,593
People: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish 7% and Afro Ecuadorian 3%.
Language: Spanish, Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 92.5%
Male: 94% Female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government: Republic fronted by President Alfredo Palacio
Money: US Dollar
Climate: Ecuador has tropical weather along the coast and the Amazonian region. It becomes cooler in the highlands of the central Andean region.
Natural Resources: Ecuador is a rich land with abundant natural resources. Petroleum, fish, timber, and hydropower are among the country's main natural resources.

Economic Overview: Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources which have accounted for 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of central government budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the late 1990's Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Since then, Ecuador has benefited from higher world petroleum prices. However, the government has made little progress on economic reforms necessary to reduce Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crisis.

Sights: Insular Region: Galápagos Islands. Highlands: Quito (middle of the World), Otavalo (the most popular Indian market), Baños, Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, Mindo and Cuenca. Coast: Parque Nacional Machalilla, Salina, Atacames, Guayaquil, Montañita and Manta. Amazon Region (Misahualli, Lago Agrio, Coca) and Refugio De Vida Silvestre.