Volunteer Locations: Puerto López

Puerto López is one of the more established cities along the Ruta del Sol (along the Pacific Ocean) in Ecuador. It is popular mainly for its close proximity to Isla de la Plata and the Parque Machalilla, the park is known by the domestic and international ecologists as the small Galápagos Islands due to its similar flora, fauna, landscapes and islands.

Puerto López itself is a great destination. It's a small town (around 10,000 people) with a numerous variety of beaches, ecological places and hospitable people that offer to the visitors a pleasurable and comfortable sojourn.

In Puerto Lopez and its surroundings, Travel to Teach works with 25 schools. Apart from teaching English, volunteers can collaborate with the local teachers teaching math, sports, music, art, run workshops and many other extra curricular activities. Volunteers can also teach in our orphanages, centers for children workers, children's hostels, and schools for adults.

Photo Gallery: Puerto Lopez Summer 2007

Local Food

Being close to the sea, Puerto Lopez is a great place to eat fish and seafood. The specialty of the region is "Corviche caliente" (dough made of flour and banana, stuffed with salty fish), a local delicacy served hot. In Puerto Lopez, you can eat ceviche to your heart's content.

Puerto Lopez's seaside street is packed with juice stalls. You should be able to get fresh juice or a juice mixed with milk for $1.

Weather

The coastal lowlands climate is usually very warm with temperatures averaging 25 degrees C (76 F) to 31 C (90 F) during the year. The rainy season (December to May) is warm and very humid. The dry season is less humid but still a little muggy. Due to Ecuador's close proximity to the equator (it sits on the Equator), rather than rotating through four seasons, most of Ecuador experiences oscillating wet and dry periods.

Activities

Volunteers have the opportunity to try water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, water ski, fishing, whale watching, ecological excursions and much more.
You can also visit the Machalilla National Park.

Puerto Lopez has some restaurants along the long beach selling fabulous seafood, these restaurants also make nice places to relax.
You can also use the swimming pool at Manta Raya Lodge located some 2.5 kilometers from the town.

Photo Gallery: Volunteering in Puerto Lopez

Accommodation

Travel to Teach has accommodation in Puerto Rico, a small community located 15 minutes from Puerto Lopez and 8 minutes from Salango where Travel to Teach participants will be volunteering.

In this location volunteers will be surrounded by a lot of nature. There are many unique beaches, and volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in water sports, view historical and cultural places and much much more.

Volunteers will stay with host families where they have the opportunity to experience Ecuadorian daily life. Volunteers will have a private and single room and will share all facilities such as kitchen, refrigerator and bathroom.