Travel to Teach: Volunteer in Ecuador

* Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Teach
* Frequently Asked Questions on Teaching
* Frequently Asked Questions on Traveling and Packing
* Frequently Asked Questions on Ecuadorian Culture

Frequently asked questions about Travel to Teach

Why should people pay to do volunteer work?
As we state throughout this web site, we are altogether independent and hence have no external funding. Our purpose is to enable people to have this kind of experience without paying a fortune.

Travel to Teach volunteering is conceived as something between traveling and volunteer work, leaving a lot of time for activities and traveling while the volunteer comes in contact with and contributes to society by working.

Why are you so much cheaper than all the others?
The mission of Travel to Teach is to provide valuable work opportunities and chances to come into contact with the host nation's true culture, all at a cost that can be overcome by most people.

We are an international agency but our head quarters are based in Thailand and thus do not have western "overhead costs". We are cheaper than most agencies, but in any way that we can think of, we believe that we have very good arrangements in place and offer a very personal approach.

Why don't you include food in your fees?
The price of food in Ecuador depends on what you choose to eat. If you eat local you can get by on 60 US cents per meal. If you want Western food, you would have to pay about 3-4 USD per meal.
Therefore, costs are very difficult to calculate. We have found that our participants have very different preferences regarding their food, so we leave it up to them to make their own decisions.

Read more about this on our T2T Costs page.

Can I get a room for myself? If you want to live under any other conditions than the ones we provide as standard, it can always be arranged and we can agree on the costs.

Laundry
There are many different ways in which to do your laundry, at different levels of service. If you don't want to do it yourself you can expect an expense of around 2 USD.

FAQ on Teaching

Knowledge

If you are a native English speaker or you have a strong knowledge of English, then let us tell you that you are a valuable resource in English language classroom in teaching students from elementary to secondary degree and adults.

You do not need to be an expert or professional in teaching English to take part in and enjoy our teaching placements. You will need eagerness to share your time and contribute to the development of the minds and futures of the Ecuadorian people. Most of our schools and high schools welcome volunteers who want to get involved in teaching English and other aspects of school life.

Frequently asked questions on traveling and packing

How to get here

Air
Ecuador has two international airports (Mariscal Sucre in Quito and Simon Bolivar in Guayaquil). You should fly into The Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. There are many airlines that fly directly to Quito. Upon your arrival you will be collected by one of our representatives.

Bus
If you coming from Peru (south of Ecuador) or Colombia (north of Ecuador), there are a large range of buses throughout these countries. You can choose from large and comfortable buses to small mini vans, their costs are quite cheap. There are also similar services throughout Ecuador. The are lot of bus companies who have their own stations around Quito so the one that you will arrive in depends on which company you use.

What to bring

Bring a little bit of everything. The clothes you must bring to wear within our teaching program is casual: good jeans, khakis and t-shirts are sufficient. We recommend comfortable dress. One formal set of clothes is necessary as invitations to formal events (marriages, family parties, and alike) within your host family, school or local friends usually occur.

Depending on where you volunteer, you must bring different clothes. In Quito, you will need sweaters, a jacket, good walking shoes, and other warm clothes.
In Puerto Lopez or the Galapagos, you will need long trousers/pants/ and shorts, t-shirts, good walking shoes and other cool clothes. If you are planning to go to the beach a bathing suit, sandals and sun block.

What Do I need to bring to teach?

The schools we work with are generally short of material. You can bring some pictures of your city to show to the students, CD music from your country, some English books, educational poster or any material as pencils, color pencils, crayons, white sheets, flash cards, little things for giving to the students.

Additionally, one of the main observations from former volunteers is the lack of creativity in the current curriculum that would usually aid teaching and help maintain the children's interest. Any reading books (children's stories, comics in Spanish etc), creative materials, and other exercises you can bring.
Please note that you are not obliged to bring additional materials. Your participation is our main concern and any additional help with materials is a bonus.

Medicine

It depends of your health condition. For this reason, before traveling we strongly recommend you consult your own physician, public health clinic and/or travel clinic, as this is where you will receive individual attention and probably find the most detailed information. In addition to your local resources, in Ecuador there are a number of sources available that offer current information on required or recommended immunizations.

Frequently asked questions on Ecuadorian Culture

Culture in Ecuador

Ecuador is a multiethnic and multi cultural nation. It is one of the most cultural and environmental diverse countries in the world. Ecuador has two main cultures, the Hispanic and the Indian cultures.

In Ecuador there are more than 14 indigenous groups that live on the mainland, maintaining their own traditions and ways of life. The principle indigenous groups of the highlands are the Otavalos, Quichuas, Cañaris and Saraguros. At the north of the country live the Awa. On the Pacific coast live the Chachis, Cayapas, Tsáchilas and Huancavilcas.

What are the languages spoken in Ecuador?

The official language of Ecuador is Spanish, but there are also other indigenous languages such as Quichua Shimi, Awapit, Cha´palachi, Tsafiqui, Paicoca, A´ingae, Huaotirio, Shuar-chichan, and Záparo.

What are the religions practiced in Ecuador?

The predominant religion is Catholicism but many communities still preserve their ancient beliefs of worship of the earth, the mountains, and the sun.

Ecuadorian Food

Ecuador recipes and food are more and more gaining recognition worldwide. Ecuador’s traditional gastronomy is renowned for its variety and delicious taste. Typical specialties include meat, chicken, fish, potatoes, corn and vegetables. There is a great variety of fruits and juices.

The most important dishes in the different regions are:

Andes: Fritada, Llapingachos, Fanesca, churrasco, locro, etc.
Coast: Ceviche, Encebollado, Guatita, Arroz con Menestra, etc.
Amazon and The Galápagos: Most of their food is very similar to the Coast of Ecuador with the exception that in the jungle a lot of native animals are consumed inlcuding guanta, armadillo, monkeys and especially lots of fish.

What about immigration?

The provinces with the greatest number of immigrants are Pichincha and Guayas. Migration abroad has also grown in recent years due to the economic crisis. There are communities of Ecuadorians in the USA, Spain, and Italy.

What are the main tourist attraction and destination of Ecuador?

The Galapagos Islands, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi in the Andean region, the Ecuadorian Coast, Guayaquil and the Sunshine Route (Ruta del Sol), the Amazon region, and the colonial churches of Quito and Cuenca are all highlight destinations. There are hundred of places that will leave you in awe.

What kind of activities can you do in Ecuador?

Ecuador has many tourist destinations where you can participate in a variety of activities. You can practice mountain biking, climbing, rafting, or scuba diving, as well as visiting archaeological sites, museums, or theaters.

Ecuador is one of the most biodiversity countries in the world, so there are unique places where you will find the most incredible flora and fauna, from tiny hummingbirds to huge humpback whales.

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