Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador

Volunteer in Ecuador

Embark on a cultural journey with A Broader View Volunteers, our top-rated non-profit charity organization. Independent travelers experience a wide array of volunteer opportunities spread across Ecuador, with a majority situated in Quito and the enchanting Galapagos Islands. With over 30 program volunteer options to choose from, you can make a lasting impact in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Make a genuine difference in communities often grappling with poverty and lack of health care. All of A Broader View's volunteer programs are carefully curated, ensuring that your efforts contribute meaningfully to those in need. A Broader View Volunteers has worked with thousands of travelers from all ages; students, teachers, and families, creating tailor-made service trips for indiviudals and small groups.

If you're considering a trip to Ecuador, get ready to be amazed by the breathtaking scenery that this small but diverse country has to offer. With four distinct regions - the Amazon, the Highlands, the Coast, and the Galápagos Islands - there's something for everyone. But while Ecuador has a thriving tourism industry, it's important to remember that millions of its citizens live below the poverty line, particularly children. That's why volunteering in Ecuador can be such a rewarding experience.

There are a variety of volunteer projects available throughout the country, from day care centers and elderly welfare programs in Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil, to community development projects in the Amazon and Coast regions. If you're looking to make a difference in the Galapagos Islands, there are also conservation, teaching, and child care programs available, as well as language immersion lessons.

17 years and over. With parents if under

17 years and over.
W/ parents if under

24/7 local staff in country

24/7 local staff
in country

Tax deductible and fundraising options

Tax deductible and
fundraising options

Accommodations safe & friendliness

Accommodations safe & friendliness

Spanish Lessons available if needed

Spanish Lessons
available if needed

Work Schedule 4-8 hours a day

Work Schedule
4-8 hours a day

Airport Transfers included abroad

Airport or Bus Station
Transfers Included

Programs start at any day

Programs start
at any day

Language Requirements

No Language
Requirements

Available for Special Groups

Available for Special
Groups as well

Overview

  • Project Length: From 1 week to 12 weeks (Quito - Cuenca - Guayaquil). From 2 to 4 weeks (Galapagos)
  • Arrival Airport: Quito (UIO) and Cuenca (CUE) or bus station, Guayaquil (GYE)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 4 to 8 hours per day
  • Requirements: Police Check/Clearance report
  • Optional: Spanish Immersion Lesson
  • Age Limits: Minimum 17yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 16 yrs if traveling with parents.
  • Airlines: Latam, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Country Info

Ecuador Introduction

Are you ready to help people in need, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and culture of a new country and have the experience of a lifetime? With poverty, disease and a lack of skilled providers putting a strain on important services such as health and childcare in developing countries across the globe, there are many corners of the world which rely on the help of volunteer travelers like yourself.

Volunteer in Ecuador with A Broader View Volunteers a top rated non-profit charity organization, which works tirelessly to support our wonderful volunteers and serve the local communities where our volunteer programs are located. Placements in Ecuador are based in the Colonial city of Quito, Galapagos, the amazons and the coastal areas.  Program placements are tailored to the volunteers different interests and skill sets, but still allow volunteers time to explore the  Andean local culture and activities during their free time.

The type of programs in Ecuador vary widely, offering everything from education to health care. Volunteers can choose between 27 options in Quito. International volunteer help is not only appreciated by the local community, it is severely needed by the millions of Ecuadorians living below the poverty line.  With thousands of children living and working on the streets, as is so often the case in developing countries like Ecuador, our volunteer programs are designed to support the needs of local teens and children in desperate need of assistance.

Many of our volunteer abroad programs cater to underprivileged women and children’s care, education and health requirements. Our extensive range of social programs in Quito, Ecuador includes: medical, premed/prenurse internships, teaching in primary and secondary schools and volunteering in orphanages and day care centers and many more programs. To help you settle into your placement, we also provide the opportunity to combine all of our programs with Spanish Immersion Lessons during your time in Ecuador.

Volunteering in Ecuador is an incredibly rewarding experience.  We welcome volunteers of all ages and from all backgrounds to join us.   Whether you’re seeking volunteer abroad programs for college students or voluntary work for over 60s, as a trusted non-profit organization which prioritizes the safety of our volunteers, we are the go-to for volunteers across the globe. We also offer customized programs with flexible arrival dates to best suit the needs of the remarkable volunteers we depend on to help us make the world a better place.

If you’d like to volunteer, Ecuador is just one of the countries we’ve taken under our wing, supplying a steady flow of volunteers and providing year-round financial support to local projects in Quito.  Wherever you decide to volunteer, A Broader View give you the opportunity to participate in meaningful community service work, learn a foreign language, make lifelong friends and discover that one person really can make a difference. Your search for the best volunteer abroad programs ends here – volunteer in Ecuador with us and gain A Broader View of the world.

Coordinator

Mateo Laura Ruby Laura German Coordinator Ecuador Quito Jorge Coordinator Ecuador cuenca Fernando Coordinator Ecuador Andrea Coordinator Ecuador

Welcome to Ecuador (Bienvenidos a Ecuador!). Our Names are Laura, German, Ruby, Oswaldo, Fernando and Jorge and we are your ABV coordinators while you are staying in Ecuador. Our country has one big city, Quito. You will be working in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca or Galapagos Island. We will be ready for support 24/7 in case you need to contact me urgently. We will introduce you to your volunteer location and staff.

You are most welcome to seek our assistance and don’t hesitate to ask us questions while in the country.

Weather

The climate in Quito is characterized by a constant temperature year-round. From June till September you will experience less rain, more sunshine, and less humidity. This makes this period the perfect time to travel to Quito.

What's the best time to go to Ecuador? Here are some annual weather facts we collected from our historical climate data:

  • Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in February, March, April, and October.
  • On average, the warmest month is January.
  • On average, the coolest month is July.
  • April is the wettest month. This month should be avoided if you don't like too much rain.
  • July is the driest month.

temperature Ecuador Quito

City: Quito | Population: 2270000 | Languages: Spanish
Currency: US Dollar (US$) | Time zone: UTC−06:00

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Quito-North

PreMedical / PreNurse

Go Abroad Ecuador, this is a non-profit medical institution whose mission is to improve health, education and welfare of children and low income people in Quito; through training, low-cost health programs and promotion of socio economic assistance to help solve the problems of the neediest.

Volunteers have the chance to rotate in the different areas of the program: 2 weeks each: General Medicine, Rehabilitation, Odontology, Clinical Laboratory, Gynecology, Permanent First Aid Course.  The main role is to observe, listen and learn from the professionals.There are enough doctors and nurses to perform the medical practices, therefore the main role is to out shadow them.

Volunteers could assist doctors or nurses after a week of observation. This program requires volunteers, between 18 to 60 years old with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish or you can take Spanish Lessons Immersion Lessons while in country.

First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is optional, an extra unique cost of $50

  • Medical assistance at the Health Center general tasks depending on the Station where you will be working and also depending on your interests.
  • Volunteers will have the chance to choose the station depending on interests, experience, availability and also depending on the language skills.

Required:

  • Only allowed uniform: 2 to 4 White scrubs required and a lab white coat, white comfortable shoes or white sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, gloves, mask, cleaning wipes, blue & red pens (to use and donate).
  • Add US$180 Hospital fee paid with your program cost.
    Internships: Extra US$100 for doctor supervision and paper work.
  • Certificate at the end of the program issued by the Medical Foundation

PreMedical / Nurse Internship

Volunteering in Ecuador, this is a unique health care internship program in the north of Quito which provides free services to the poor patients with more than 300 beds available for hospitalization. First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is “optional”, an extra unique cost of $50 paid in country to the coordinator.

  • Wide range of medical services: Hospitalization, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, physiotherapy, pathology, dentistry, emergency, orthopedics, neonatology, surgery, obstetrics.
  • You will rotate in the different areas each 2 weeks.
  • Weekly monitoring, Work supervised by nurses and doctors.
  • Certificate at the end of the program issued by the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador, in Spanish and English translation.
  • Medical assistance at the Health Center general tasks depending on the Station where you will be working and also depending on your interests.
  • Volunteers will have the chance to choose the station depending on interests, experience, availability and also depending on the language skills.

Volunteers could assist doctors or nurses after a week of observation. This program requires volunteers, between 18 to 60 years old with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish or you can take Spanish Lessons Immersion Lessons while in country.

First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is optional, an extra unique cost of $50

  • Medical assistance at the Health Center general tasks depending on the Station where you will be working and also depending on your interests.
  • Volunteers will have the chance to choose the station depending on interests, experience, availability and also depending on the language skills.

Required:

  • 3 to 5 White scrubs required, white comfortable shoes or white sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, gloves, mask, cleaning wipes, blue and red pens   (to use and donate).
  • Add US$180 Hospital fee paid with your program cost.
  • And Extra US$100 for doctor supervision and paper work.

Orphanage / School

Go Overseas Ecuador, this orphanage, located about an hour outside of the city, provides a safe place for local children who have suffered violence, physical and psychological or other risk to their lives.  Created to have a family environment, with emphasis on education, the children are provided with a positive outlook on the lives.

The objectives of the foundation::

  • Strengthening family ties within the home system. - A house or apartment where 30 children living accompanied by an “aunt or mother”. A space where is created a favorable environment to develop and grow the deepest feelings of the human being: love, solidarity, truth, justice and equity.
  • Education.- the orphanage believes that education is a basic and fundamental element for achieving the objectives for this reason the orphanage creates a basic school of 7 grades, which is attended by children from the home and children of families living in the neighborhood of orphanage; the approximate number is 130 to 140 students. The principal aim of the school is to develop the intellectual abilities of children.

Productive technical training. This line ensures young persons to discover their spiritual physical-intellectual-psychological qualities and can freely and responsibly decide their productive contribution to society, that’s why the orphanage has implemented some laboratories such as agriculture, bakery, making uniforms, carpentry, etc.

Volunteer will help organize recreational activities, support the kids with homework help, encourage and teach the importance of hygiene, daily life skills and doing their daily chores at the home. There is a large garden that the children use to plant their own vegetables. This has proven to be very successful with the children and youth because they take pride in what they have planted and are always eager to learn how to improve them.

Project Notes:

  • Transportation: by bus from the host family is 50 min US$1.50 or by cab from the host family is US$20 round trip (40min).
  • Optional on-site accommodations may be available at the orphanage
  • Spanish speaking volunteers are preferred.
  • US$100 per month donation for the project site added to your program fees.

Day Care Center

Gapyear in Ecuador, this project has been in the works since 1949 for children who have been orphaned, abandoned, or whose families are unable to care for them. The family approach in this Children's Village is based on the three following principles: each child needs a mother, they grow up naturally with brothers and sisters, and they live in their own house within a supportive village environment.

The center has a great response to the social development needs of society's most vulnerable children and young people. This center establishes facilities and programs that aim to strengthen families and prevent the abandonment of children. In Quito, the program  has 7 Social Centers that work as a kindergarten for small children whose parents are working and have no other place to leave their kids. The center gives attention towards the children, family, women and community.

The center hosts more than 80 children from ages 8 months to 4 years old. There are five groups of children and their daily activities depend on age. Volunteers at the day care center can help by creating recreational activities for the children, playing with them, organizing games, making didactic material, helping with feeding and cleaning the children.

Volunteers who work here are going to work with kids who form strong bonds very quickly because they are already so vulnerable, they become attached to those they spend their days with. The children will miss you and feel sad if you do not take this volunteer position seriously by not showing up to work. It is very important that before you leave, you tell them with anticipation when you are leaving.  The volunteer position will contain lots of laughter and joy, but it is important that you are responsible, show respect and have confidence in fulfilling your duties as a volunteer here. 

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length: 1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: September-July
  • Daily work: 8:00am to 1:00pm
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: basic Spanish Knowledge
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents or permission of parents

Welfare / Elderly Care

Volunteer in Ecuador, fundación Abuelitos was originally founded in the year 2001. Its main goal is to promote, support and realize efficient attention to senior citizens. The foundation creates concrete actions that will promote the importance of an active, worthy, healthy, participative and productive old age.

In Ecuador, the great number of senior citizens is evident on the streets. One can see that many are beggars or how they are living in a very poor economic situation. There are more than one million elderly people in Ecuador that live without social aid and suffer from abandonment of their families and society in general. The program offers services to this class of people in areas such as: physical aid/therapy, personal growth, recreation and occupational therapies, medical attention, education and various workshops, among others, that enable the elderly to greatly improve their quality of life.

Volunteers will be able to assist in all the activities planned by the foundation. It all depends on your experience, effort, interests and the capacity of your love and care for the elderly. In general, the day starts with some physical activity and a short human development workshop before sharing breakfast. Then the activities begin. For example, dancing, theater, narratives, chorus lessons and activities in the bakery and handcraft workshops. At the end of the activities, they share lunch together.

There is an average of about 100 senior citizens per day that visit the foundation between the ages of 60 -75 years old. Your help is greatly appreciated in anyway.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length: 1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: Year round
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 6 hours per day
  • Daily work: 10:00am to 16:00pm
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: Basic Spanish Knowledge or Spanish Immersion Available
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents or permission of parents

Hippotherapy / Horses

Volunteer in Ecuador, this project was created in 1995 with the main objective to offer rehabilitation and integrate recreational programs through therapies with horses for children, youth, and adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Riding therapy or equine-assisted therapy and canine-assisted therapy with dogs is recognized worldwide as an effective method for physical, mental and/or emotional rehabilitation. It transmits to the patient a sense of balance, coordination, orientation and rhythm.

The movement of the horses back is used therapeutically.  Equine-assisted therapy uses horses as therapeutic instruments and prepares the patient for other physiotherapeutic functions, but offers huge psychological benefits.

Volunteers will handle the horses during therapy sessions 3 or 4 people are necessary. Volunteers are more than welcome to help with feeding of the horses, preparing them for each therapy session, cleaning the horses afterwards and other general tasks during the therapy sessions.  In addition, the volunteer can also help with horse-back riding lessons for the general public and in the administrative area, as well as garden maintenance. It is also possible to participate in the canine-assisted therapies.

Required:  
US$100 Hippotherapy fee paid with your program cost (from 1 to 12 weeks program).

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length:  1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: Year round
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 6 hours per day
  • Daily work: 8:00am to 12:00pm approx children rehabilitation and from 12:00pm to 14:00pm approx horse care and feeding
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: Intermediate Spanish Knowledge or Language Immersion Available
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents or permission of parents

Hospital Health

Volunteer in Ecuador, the hospital was founded in 1973. This public hospital offers the best service and technology of all public hospitals in Quito. It provides services for all areas of health to people who don´t have any medical insurance.

The hospital has over 240 beds available and more than 10,500 patients are treated every year. The hospital has 4 basic specialties and 29 subspecialties like Cardiology, Neurology, Pulmonology, etc.

The hospital invites almost all medical students from Quito, and around the country to practice medicine here. Volunteers have the chance to do so as well by rotating through the different areas of the hospital such as emergency room, pediatrics, surgery and more.  The main role is to observe, listen and learn from the professionals.  There are more than enough doctors and nurses to perform the medical practices and the volunteer can shadow and assist, gaining valuable hands on experience that a regular classroom or lecture hall cannot teach.  

This is a great chance to improve your skills, build your resume by learn about medicine in a developing nation and improve your Spanish. We recommend our language immersion option for those less than proficient in Spanish (be able to talk 8 hours a day in Spanish with the local staff). However, translator are available (extra $40 per day/5hours) to help you get acclimated into the project.

Required:

  • 2-3 White scrubs required (can buy in the hospital US$35-40), white comfortable shoes or white sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, gloves, mask, cleaning blue & red pens.
  • US$180 Hospital fee paid with your program cost (1 to 12 weeks program). This will help buy supplies for the hospital.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length:  1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: Year round
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 6 hours per day
  • Daily work: 8:00am to 14:00pm  approx
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: Intermediate Spanish Knowledge or Language Immersion Available
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents or permission of parents

Kindergarten

Volunteer in Ecuador, this is a public kindergarten that offers education, nutrition, health and affection to 220 children from 4 to 6 years old distributed within 8 classrooms. Most of children come from poor families. It is located inside of the Itchimbía Park in Quito’s central area. The most important skill needed to work with these children is patience.

The volunteers have the chance to work with the teachers as an assistant during the classes.  On Thursdays and Fridays they will assist the English Teacher and on Monday and Wednesday (this can change each semester), they can assist the Music Teacher, or another subject.  Other activities may also include the creation of didactic material, help during meal time, and recreational activities with the children.

Working with these children is a fulfilling position.  Many of the children make strong bonds with those they work with very quickly, so it is important that you do not take them for granted and take full responsibility for your actions, words, and work ethic.  It is advised that you also tell the children how long you will be working with them and when you will be leaving in anticipation so that they do not get let down when you leave.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length:  1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 4 hours per day, can combine with other program
  • Daily work: 8:00am to 12:00pm
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: intermediate Spanish Knowledge
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents

Street Kids / Day Care

Volunteer in Ecuador, this day care centre was founded in April of 2006 to improve children’s quality of life of those who work at the waste dump yard.  They work there each day recycling what they can. Years ago, the children would spend their time with their parents at the waste centre in the harsh elements of weather, not to mention the uncleanliness, making the children very prone to getting sick. Now with the help of many volunteers, the children are healthier, clean, and safely being cared for in this centre.

The centre also acts as a medical dispensary for the children and parents at no extra cost.  

The center hosts more than 40 children from ages 8 months to 4 years old. There are three groups of children and their daily activities depend on their age. Volunteers at the day care center are able to help by creating various recreational activities for the children, playing with them, organizing games, creating didactic material, helping during meal times and teaching the children about personal hygiene.

This project enables the children to learn how to live according to their own culture and religion, while also being active members of the community. The center helps children to recognize and express their individual abilities, interests and talents. They ensure that each child receives the education, skills and training they need to be successful and contributing members of society.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length:  1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: Year round but Closed July -August
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 5-6 hours per day
  • Daily work: 8:00am to 14:00pm approx
  • Weekends: free to sight see, travel
  • Requirements: intermediate Spanish Knowledge
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 years *IF traveling with parents

Language & Cultural Immersion

Volunteer in Ecuador, The super quality of its services and the professional and extensive experience of its teachers provide the right combination for a unique language learning program. Our mission is to promote the outstanding natural and cultural diversity of Ecuador to the international community through teaching Spanish.

Over the years, we have built up a team of talented and experienced tutors who offer the perfect Spanish learning experience that suits your individual needs.

Our schools in Quito  offers a varied fun extracurricular activities, such as tropical dancing, cooking or cocktail lessons, movies, soccer games, as well as lectures about the culture, history and idiomatic expressions of our country, and many others. Out of town trips to other cities, towns and national parks are organized during the weekends.

Overview

  • Program length: from 1 week to 4 weeks
  • Program dates: year round
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid

English Teaching

Volunteer in Ecuador, our School is an institution that was previously hosted by the International Foundation Lyceum, which offers a bachelor of science through a dynamic curriculum. The school is based on a sustainable criteria through a team of teachers all committed to meeting institutional goals, sense of community, and care of the environment that promote diverse problem solving skills.

The institution takes hold as the main educational center of the parish Zámbiza, forming leaders, innovators, and creative graduates based on a quality education that promotes the formation of youth in achieving academic skills, a framed care of nature that allows social and economic development of the nation.  More than 150 young people attend this institution founded in 2003, all young people who come from the same parish.

At the high school you can help by teaching English to all grades. You will aid the English teachers and any suggestions or ideas you have are welcome. It is important that you are committed and responsible.  These youth are very affectionate, sensitive and vulnerable, becoming attached to those close them quickly.  It is important that you take your work serious, show up on time, each day, and tell the youth with anticipation when you will be leaving.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length:  2 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: September – June Open (July - August Closed)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 4-6 hours per day
  • Daily work: 7:00am to 1:00pm
  • Weekends: free to sightseeing, travel in country
  • Requirements: intermediate Spanish Knowledge (or take Spanish Immersion Lessons)
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old

Dental / PreDental

Volunteer in Ecuador, this is a public hospital that offers the best instrumentation and technology of all public hospitals in Quito. The hospital specializes in providing dental health care services. Within the hospital is the general dental area with two different patient assistance rooms and has there dentists. In the near future, the hospital will be expanding the number of patient rooms in order to serve many more people.

The patients that receive the services provided by the hospital have very low incomes and cannot afford to go to private clinics, or more expensive dentists. They come from both far and away in order to get the appropriate attention they need. The services given by the is free, as well as all medications and materials a patient may need after being seen. Normally, the hospital sees anywhere between 50 - 100 patients each day, Monday through Friday.


The following services are provided to patients: general dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, and maxilofacial consultations and surgery.

The work of a volunteer involves: writing down medical history, assisting the dentist when necessary during a patient visit, assistance and observation for maxilofacial consultations, and aiding with medicine and supplies. Any volunteer in this position will gain valuable experience in this area of health care.

Required:
US$180 Hospital fee paid with your program cost (1 to 12 weeks program). This will help buy supplies for the hospital.

Overview

  • Arrival to Airport: Quito (UIO) Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Project Length: 1 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project Period: Year round
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 6 hours per day
  • Daily work schedule: 8:00am to 13:00pm
  • Weekends: free to sightseeing, travel
  • Requirements: Intermediate Spanish Knowledge
  • Age Limits: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Cuenca

Animal Rescue Center

Volunteer Ecuador Cuenca - Animal Rescue Center

Volunteer with this nonprofit conservation and zoological organization located just outside of Cuenca. The organization focuses on educational outreach, rescue and release projects and research programs to promote the conservation of Ecuadorian biodiversity.

The center is home to over 1400 animal species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles. Some of the animals include frogs, owls, condors, macaw, toucan, peacocks, puma, wolf, llama, monkeys, snakes and turtles. The center operates a large zoo in a lovely natural setting, located in the hills above Cuenca. The center provides rescue and release program when possible, all supported by visitor donations and international volunteer support. Volunteer hours from 8am – 2pm daily.

Objectives and volunteer role

  • Monitoring of diet and behavior practices of various mammals, bird species, and reptiles
  • Meal preparation and animal feeding
  • Raise public awareness on wildlife care for greater society to understand their role and the value of conservation of wild species.
  • Clean cages, cage and grounds maintenance
  • Provide support to the veterinary medicine needs (medical records/vaccinations)
  • Engage local community through providing informative programs and volunteer opportunities
  • Coordinate and conduct conservational education programs at the local secondary school

DURING YOUR FREE TIME: Volunteers are free to visit and see places or do shopping during their free time. Explore Cuenca local markets or local museums and cultural tours. Ecuador offers unparalleled natural beauty, active volcanoes, rainforests, and a wide range of national parks and eco-tourism. In addition, optional Spanish lessons or dance classes can be arranged locally.

Language & Cultural Immersion

Language & Cultural Immersion

Volunteer in Ecuador Cuenca, The quality of its services and the professional and extensive experience of its teachers provide the right combination for a unique language learning program. Our mission is to promote the outstanding natural and cultural diversity of Ecuador to the international community through teaching Spanish.

Over the years, we have built up a team of talented and experienced tutors who offer the perfect Spanish learning experience that suits your individual needs.

Our school in Cuenca  offers a varied fun extracurricular activities, such as tropical dancing, cooking or cocktail lessons, movies, soccer games, as well as lectures about the culture, history and idiomatic expressions of our country, and many others. Out of town trips to other cities, towns and national parks are organized during the weekends. (extra $$)

Overview

  • Program length: from 1 week to 4 weeks
  • Program dates: year round
  • Arrival city: Cuenca
  • Accommodation: Local host family or volunteer house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines to Quito: Lan Ecuador, American, United, delta, Avianca, Taca. Local flights to Cuenca or Bus from Quito-Cuenca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid

Cat & Dog Shelter Center (Conservation / Enviromental)

Cat & Dog Shelter Center (Conservation / Enviromental)

Volunteer in Cuenca, Ecuador.   In most large communities throughout Ecuador, the number of stray dogs and cats can be overwhelming. Stray dogs live on the streets, some are lost, while others have been turned away from their homes. Chaotic urban arrangement and overpopulation only exasperates the already enormous population of stray dogs.

Volunteer at a veterinarian clinic and animal rescue refuge center located in Cuenca. This refugee has extended grounds and a large kennel and pen areas, and home to over 150 animals.  The center offers locals low cost treatment for animals; it also houses and feeds hundreds of stray dogs and cats. Many dogs are brought to the center and are sickly and in need a lot of TLC.  The aim of the center is to rehabilitate the animals, make them healthy and ready for adoption. 

This program is recommended for animal lovers and those interested in the veterinary field.  Veterinary students are welcome, and animal welfare internships are available. Most animals at the refuge are dogs. All help is welcome at the refugee since animal welfare programs in Ecuador are extremely limited.

Volunteer tasks vary:

  • Feeding the animals
  • Bathing animals
  • Assisting with medical treatment (trained volunteers will perform minor surgeries)
  • Walking dogs and providing physical play activities with them
  • Upkeep and grounds maintenance needs

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Cuenca Center

Spanish Immersion Lessons

Spanish Immersion Lessons

Learning a new language has never been easier or more fun! Our language immersion program is a wonderful opportunity to take Spanish lessons and volunteer in a local community project. Become fully immersed in the language and culture by living with a local Ecuadorian family, sharing meals with them and taking daily Spanish lessons. With daily interactions with the locals, you will be amazed how quickly you can learn Spanish. Our language immersion program can be combined with any of our Cuenca based volunteer projects: teaching, medical, orphanage support, pre-medical. Spanish lessons are provided by licensed instructors. Focus will be on pronunciation, grammar, and conversation/dialogue.

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 4 weeks
  • Project dates: Year-round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Cuenca (CUE) or Cuenca bus station 
  • Accommodations: Host family with 3 meals per day
  • Spanish lessons: 15 hours of language instruction per week
Spanish Immersion Lessons

Inclusions

  • Program starts and ends in Cuenca
  • Airport meet and greet in Cuenca. Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Morning/afternoon volunteer work: 5 days per week, 20 hours 
  • Certificate of completion
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

Flights to Ecuador. Visa/Vaccinations. Departure taxes. Daily transportation. Travel medical insurance. Laundry and internet.

Elderly Care Center

Elderly Care Center

With an established presence in Cuenca for over 30 years, this senior care center provides support services to over 3000 elderly locals per week. The center provides a variety of medical, physical and psychological care services. The staff organizes different activities and oversee all aspects of the their lives. After a comprehensive assessment, each senior is provided guidance in areas of social work, psychology, nutrition, and physiotherapy. Once a plan is formed, the program integrates people into activities of: therapeutic gymnastics, aquatic therapy, memory workshops for people with and without Alzheimer's problems, music, art, dance, yoga, photography, computers, crafts and nutrition.

The organization also works with the older people’s families. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there is a small extra activity called “Almorzando juntos” = “Eating together”. This is an opportunity for the seniors and their loved ones to gather, cook, laugh and talk and enjoy special time together.

Volunteers tasks:

  • Help in the areas of therapeutic gymnastics, aquatic therapy, memory workshops.
  • Going with the team for home health visits.
  • Cooking in the cooking workshop or in “have a lunch together”.
  • Cleaning: sweeping, mopping, food preparation
  • Reconstruction of green areas: plant trees and plants, paint worn walls.
  • Participation in extracurricular activities such as walks, concerts, events.
  • Support those with mobility issues, wheelchair assistance
Elderly Care Center

Schedule: From 8am to 1pm (lunch) 2pm to 5pm. Monday to Friday.

This program is ideal for people interested (and/or licensed) to work with elderly care patients. We welcome professional therapists, geriatrician, social workers, nutritionist, physiotherapist, English teachers, music, art, dance, yoga instructors.

Donations: Finger paints, modeling clay & other art supplies for projects. Antibacterial gel, liquid hand soap, personal hygiene for adults.

Women Shelter Center (Empowerment)

Women Shelter Center (Empowerment)

Volunteer with a local grassroots organization in Cuenca Ecuador which offers ambulatory care and temporary shelter to women and children escaping a life of abuse. This women’s shelter and the rural refuge house provides services to 45-60 women and children on a yearly basis. Help make an impact by volunteering for women's empowerment and women's right in Cuenca by spending your time supporting women and girls in need, you can help them towards a better future.

According to the National Survey on Family Interactions and Violence Against Women, in Ecuador:

  • 6 out of 10 women have experienced some kind of violence.
  • 1 out of 4 women has experienced sexual violence
  • 9 out of 10 divorced women experienced some kind of violence 

Volunteer tasks:  Volunteers work with the women, more so with the children.

  • Helping with housekeeping
  • Helping with meal preparation
  • Helping with a cooking manual
  • Offering English workshops
  • Playing with the children, organizing games/
  • Shadow different areas of helping areas of therapy

Donations: Multi-vitamins for women and children. Lightly used clothing for adolescents and woman, biodegradable shampoo and soap. Cream for woman and children (babies).Coloring books & crayons.

Disable Teen Care Center

Volunteer with youth and teens with special needs. This is an afternoon projects focused on teens with challenges such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and intellectual disability. The goal is for no disabled person to be denied comprehensive attention. Since a lot of people with these challenges tend to be homebound, it is important to engage them in cognitive and social skill and help to integrate them now into work, education, culture, the arts, and sports.

For many years, people with disabilities in Ecuador faced a life of complete abandonment and exclusion. Often many of these people lived in extreme poverty. It was only after a country wide study (2009-2011)

initiated to discover how many physically challenged people there were in the country in order to provide them with comprehensive assistance. This program serves and helps young adults and teenagers with physical and intellectual disability to find their skills and develop them. It offers persons with disabilities training in health, hygiene, therapy, nutrition, and disability rights.

Volunteers tasks very:

  • Assist with music, crafts, computer workshop, and theater activities
  • Help those with mobility issues to move around and have meals
  • Beautification projects like painting and gardening
  • Help teens eat their meals
  • Clean up after meals
  • Assist with therapy support, talking with the kids, spending quality time with them 

Donations: Art supplies: acrylic paints, markers, non-perishable foods (jelly, cookies, etc.), coloring books, music instruments, paint for workshop walls, decorative vinyl, canvases of different sizes

 

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Galapagos Islands

Conservation / Animal Welfare Galapagos

Volunteer Ecuador Cuenca - Animal Rescue Center

Volunteer in Ecuador, this project is based on Isabela Island, the largest of the islands of the Galapagos. Here volunteers have the opportunity to support the conservation efforts and land turtle support projects on Isabela Island. Current research is focused on ensuring that ecosystem restoration proceeds towards a more pristine condition – this requires ensuring that any introduced plant species do not out-compete the native vegetation.

Volunteer work is about 3-5 hours per day, 5 days a week. Volunteers will help in light construction tasks, reforestation efforts and help with eradication of non native plants. Much of the work is outside working in the Galapaguera greenhouse. This program lets you do a little bit of everything pertaining to providing support of sustainable conservation efforts on the Island. This is a great opportunity to discover the wonders and wild life of the Galapagos by offering hands on contributions to their sustainability. Expect to get your hands dirty and work different schedules based on the project needs. This project begins and ends in Quito.

*Volunteers are responsible for the R/T intra-island ferry costs between Santa Cruz / Isabela. Approximately US$90 payable locally in cash. Bring new US$ dollars in low denominations US$10-20)

Overview

  • Project length: 2, 3 or 4 week placements
  • Arrival Airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 3-5 hours per day
  • Requirements: Basic Spanish, US$90 for island ferry costs
  • Age Limits: Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 yrs if traveling with parents.

Inclusions

  • Airport meet and greet in Quito
  • 2 night accommodation/meals in Quito
  • Orientation, project briefing in Quito
  • Airline ticket Quito to Baltra
  • Entrance fee (US$100) Galapagos NP
  • Ingala ID card
  • Meet and greet on Baltra
  • 1 night accommodation/meals in Santa Cruz
  • Transfer to the dock in Santa Cruz
  • Meet and greet on Isabela
  • Orientation, project briefing in Isabela
  • Host family accommodation and 3 meals a day
  • Volunteer project placement 15-20 hour per week
  • Transfer to the dock in Isabela at the end of the program
  • Dock reception in Santa Cruz
  • 1 night accommodation/meals in Santa Cruz
  • Airline ticket Galapagos to Quito
  • Airport reception in Quito
  • Final overnight/meals in Quito
  • Departure transfer to Quito

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa is needed (Check www.visahq.com if you need). Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance (US$53). Laundry and Internet (US$10 - US$15). Boat tickets from Isabela to Santa Cruz to Isabela (US$90 round trip)

Child Care Galapagos

Volunteer in Ecuador, at a community day care/nursery school center on Santa Cruz Island.   There are about 35 children daily from 2 years to 5 years old. The program provides an integral aid in the education of the children on this island.  Many of the children at this center come from families of immigrants who have gone to Galapagos looking for a better future for their families and kids.  The project hours are 8:00am - 12:00am Monday to Friday.

Volunteer tasks including changing diapers, upkeep duties at the facility, recreational and educational needs for the older children. This is a fast paced, active program with a lot of daily activity.  This is a great opportunity to volunteer in the Galapagos while still having time each day to explore the local community and share time with your host family.

Overview

  • Project Length: 4 weeks
  • Arrival Airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8 hours per day
  • Requirements: Basic Spanish or Language Immersion
  • Age Limits: Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 yrs if traveling with parents.

Program Schedule

  • Airport meet and greet in Quito
  • 2 night accommodation/meals in Quito
  • Orientation, project briefing in Quito
  • Airline ticket Quito to Galapagos
  • Entrance fee ($100) Galapagos NP
  • Ingala ID card
  • Meet and greet on San Cruz
  • Host family accommodation and 3 meals a day
  • Volunteer project placement 20 hour per week
  • Transfer to airport at end of program
  • Airline ticket Galapagos to Quito
  • Airport reception in Quito
  • Final overnight/meals in Quito
  • Departure transfer to Quito

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Teaching English Galapagos

Volunteer in Ecuador, have the opportunity to teach conversational English at a public school in Santa Cruz. The school has over 650 children from 4 years to 14 years old, in the areas of pre-school up to primary 7th grade. Volunteers will help in areas of English lessons, recreation and also developmental needs of the children. Classes are held Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.

Opportunities also available in a multilingual education facility that was created in order to give educational services to the children from the islands, especially for those that have migrated from the indigenous communities with their families. School has 30 pre-school students and 100 children in basic education. Ages 4yrs to 11 years old.

Program Vacations (Closed): February 9th to April 16th (approx.)

Overview

  • Project length: 2 weeks or 4 weeks
  • Arrival Airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8 hours per day
  • Requirements: Basic Spanish
  • Age Limits: Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 yrs if traveling with parents.

Program Schedule

  • Airport meet and greet in Quito
  • 2 night accommodation/meals in Quito
  • Orientation, project briefing in Quito
  • Airline ticket Quito to Galapagos
  • Entrance fee ($100) Galapagos NP
  • Ingala ID card
  • Meet and greet on San Cruz
  • Host family accommodation and 3 meals a day
  • Volunteer project placement 35-40 hour per week
  • Transfer to airport at end of program
  • Airline ticket Galapagos to Quito
  • Airport reception in Quito
  • Final overnight/meals in Quito
  • Departure transfer to Quito

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet. Donation: US$40 per month paid in the ABV account.

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Guayaquil South

Conservation Whales, Dolphins & Bird Watch

Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation (Year-Round)

Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation (Year-Round)

The bottlenose dolphin is one of the most conspicuous species in the inner estuary of the Gulf of Guayaquil. However, the species is experiencing a population decline due to the increase of human activities including fisheries, maritime traffic and habitat degradation by pollution in all forms. Several small dolphin communities inhabiting the estuarine environment have been studied for more than 20 years. Volunteers participating in this program will help to take photographs of the dolphins for individual identification, take skin samples for genetics and collect data on distribution and behavior. This information will help to design the best management strategies for bottlenose dolphin conservation. 

Volunteers also will have opportunities for birdwatching of mangrove forest. Volunteers also will interact with local inhabitants including fishers and tourism operators to understand their relationship with the environment of which they depend on. 

The program can include three days of Spanish classes and training in Guayaquil and translation to el Morro by bus for daily trips onboard small boats within the estuary during a three full-day fieldwork period. (Add the Spanish Immersion Program)

Humpback whale breeding season (Only July-September)

Humpback whale breeding season (Only July-September)

Every year during the austral winter humpback whales come to the coast of Ecuador for giving birth their calves. This is one of seven southern stocks that have their feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. An important whale watching industry has developed along the coast of Ecuador with more than 50,000 people take whale watching trips.

Using whale watching boats as research platform, volunteers will join scientists of the Whale Museum to take valuable data on whale distribution, abundance, and behavior. Photographs of the ventral side of the flukes allow identifying every whale individually thanks to natural marks based on their coloration patterns and scars.

Volunteers will help to take data, process photographs and help comparison with a catalog containing more than 2000 different individuals.  

The program includes three days of Spanish classes and training in Guayaquil and translation to Salinas by bus for daily trips onboard whale watching boats during a three full-day fieldwork period.

Costal & Marine Birds Monitoring & Conservation (Year-Round) 

Costal & Marine Birds Monitoring & Conservation (Year-Round)

Ecuador is famous for its avian diversity. Scientists of the Salinas Whale Museum maintain monitoring programs for both coastal and marine birds. Join researchers at Ecuasal salt ponds, an artificial wetland where more than a hundred and thirty species of coastal birds, resident and migratory, found refuge for resting and feeding. Monthly censuses have been conducted for more than 30 years. Volunteers also will join the program Sea-watch to monitor marine birds from the top of a cliff at La Chocolatera, the westernmost part of Ecuador into the Pacific Ocean.   

The program includes three days of Spanish classes and training in Guayaquil and translation to Salinas by bus and then to Ecuasal and La Chocolatera for daily trips during a three full-day fieldwork period.

Overview:

  • Project Length: From 1 week to 4 weeks
  • Arrival Airport: Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • Arrival Days only: Saturday and Sunday
  • Airport Transfers included (Airport Code: GYE)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 4 to 8 hours per day
  • Requirements: Police Check/Clearance report
  • Option: Spanish Immersion Lesson 15 hrs a week (Check immersion add-on)
  • 5 days a week in Guayaquil and 2 days in Salinas per week
  • Transportation, Meals and accommodation included
  • Weekly Donation to the park included.
  • Age Limits: Minimum 17 yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 16 yrs if traveling with parents.
  • Airlines: Latam, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca 
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Not included:

  • Flights to Guayaquil. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation in Guayaquil. Food in restaurants in Guayaquil. Outdoors activities. Travel & Health Insurance. Internet, Laundry.

Recommended:

  • Light clothes (November-May) and rain/wind jacket (June-October)
  • Sun blocker, sun glasses
  • Cap/hat, leather gloves, boots
  • Backpack for camera, snacks, water bottle, first aid kit

Language & Cultural Immersion

Cultural Immersion

Gap Year in Ecuador, if you ever wanted to learn Spanish why not consider a Language Immersion program. This is a wonderful opportunity to take Spanish lessons and also volunteer in a local community project. By living with a local Ecuadorian family, having daily Spanish lessons and interacting with locals you will be amazed how quickly you can learn.

Language Immersion classes can be combined with any of the Guayaquil based volunteer project: teaching, medical, orphanage support, pre-medical. Lessons are provided by licensed instructors. Focus will be on pronunciation, grammar, and conversation/dialogue.

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 4 weeks, you can add more weeks once in country
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Guayaquil (GYE)
  • Accommodations: Living with a host family and 3 meals a day

Inclusions

  • Program starts and ends in Guayaquil
  • Airport meet and greet in Guayaquil. Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Morning or afternoon Spanish lessons, 5 days a week for 15 hours (45min each)
  • Morning or afternoon Volunteer work, 5 days a week for 15-20 hours
  • Certificate of completion
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights toGuayaquil. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador Quito

Therapy Center

This institution was born in December 1984 with the authorization of the Ministry of social well-being; the institution focuses its work in the areas of: Physical therapies, technical help, occupational therapy, language therapy, medical services, and protection of the rights in benefit of the disabled persons.

Basic in Spanish is required for all healthcare placement. This project can be combined with our Medical Language Immersion.

Required:

  • 2-3 White scrubs required, white comfortable shoes or white sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, gloves, mask, cleaning blue & red pens.
  • US$100 Hospital fee paid with your program cost (1 to 6 weeks program). This will help buy supplies for the hospital.
  • US$200 Hospital Fee paid with your program cost (7 to 12 weeks Program)

Physical Therapy

The institution treats different medical conditions by using different physical and mechanic tools previous to a medical evaluation.

Services

  • Cinesitherapy
  • Thermotherapy
  • Criotherapy
  • Electrotherapy
  • Fototherapy
  • Therapeutic pool
  • Hidrotherapy, among others

Occupational Therapy

Through this therapy, it is possible to achieve the functional improvement of the shoulders; wrist and hand so that the patient can develop the everyday activities such as getting dressed, feed himself, etc.

Services

  • Training for the everyday activities
  • Vocational training
  • Movement exercises, strength recovery, relaxing techniques, early stimulation

Language Therapy

This therapy improves the language Development so that the patient can express needs and emotions; also, the auditive perception of the patient is improved.

Services

  • Sounds
  • Comprehension, expressions
  • Help with the homework
  • Language and communication therapy
  • Hearing problems

Orthopedics

Help is given to the patients who use any orthopedic tool

Medical attention

Besides the services in the area of therapies, this center offers the following medical services:

  • General Medicine
  • Trauma
  • Urology
  • Audiology
  • Dental care unit
  • Psychology
  • Psychological pedagogy

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid www.cdc.gov

Inclusion

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.  Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are  8am-12pm and 2pm-6pm
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation.
    Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Language & Cultural Immersion

Volunteer in Ecuador, if you ever wanted to learn Spanish why not consider a Language Immersion program. This is a wonderful opportunity to take Spanish lessons and also volunteer in a local community project. By living with a local Ecuadorian family, having daily Spanish lessons and interacting with locals you will be amazed how quickly you can learn.

Language Immersion classes can be combined with any of the Quito based volunteer project: teaching, medical, orphanage support, pre-medical. Lessons are provided by licensed instructors. Focus will be on pronunciation, grammar, and conversation/dialogue.

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 4 weeks
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)

Inclusions

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.  Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Morning or afternoon Spanish lessons, 5 days a week for 20 hours (45min each)
  • Morning or afternoon Volunteer work, 5 days a week for 20 hours
  • Certificate of completion from Spanish school
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Premed / Pre Nurse

Volunteer in Ecuador, undergraduate students (medical/nursing/public health) are welcome to join our health related project in Quito. This local facility provides services to impoverished families/children. The center's mission is to provide medical attention to both children and adults with all types of acute illnesses, chronic diseases and rehabilitation therapies for children with special needs. There is a day care center for babies and toddlers, rehabilitation services for children with Down's, cerebral palsy and other disabilities, as well as health checks and treatment.

Volunteers assist administrative needs, engage the children in rehabilitation games, physical therapy support, language instruction, early stimulation techniques and support the medical staff with general medicine checkups.

  • Proficiency in Spanish is required for all healthcare placement.
  • This project can be combined with our Language and Cultural Immersion.

Required:

  • 2-3 White scrubs required (can buy in the hospital US$35-40), white comfortable shoes or white sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, gloves, mask, cleaning blue & red pens.
  • US$100 Hospital fee paid with your program cost (1 to 6 weeks program). This will help buy supplies for the hospital.
  • US$200 Hospital Fee paid with your program cost (7 to 12 weeks Program)

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)

Inclusions

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito. Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are 8am-12pm and 2pm-6pm
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Medical / Nursing

A Broader View Volunteers thrives on the efforts of our volunteers. All of whom contribute to the current needs and ongoing health initiatives. Whether you're assisting a new mother in the hospital, giving health education to teenagers, observing surgery, your experience allows you to better understand the Ecuadorian healthcare system as well as contribute to the improvement of health conditions in the capital city of Quito.

We partner with local centers of health such as hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care and specialized care centers, such as rehabilitation and therapy centers throughout Quito. To maximize your contribution, ABV will tailor your experience based on current needs, your interests, Spanish levels, training, and amount of time that you spend with us on-site in Quito Ecuador.

Volunteers are needed in an under-funded government run health center located in a south Quito neighborhood which serves 150-200 patients per day. The health center needs volunteers with experience and medical knowledge (licensed healthcare professionals) but nursing/medical students are most welcome to apply.

Nurse and Medical Opportunities Include:

  • Assist doctors with physical exams and patient check ups
  • Administer vaccinations
  • Assisting with minor surgeries
  • Taking vital signs, checking height, weight and blood pressure
  • Mainly general medicine needs with focus on maternity/OBGYN
  • Hospital fee of $100 (1-6 weeks) $200 (7-12 week placements)

Spanish proficiency is recommended, but not required by ABV Volunteers. However, volunteers traveling to Quito will find having Spanish comprehension will enhance interactions with medical staff, patients, and their host families. This program is suitable for licensed doctors and nurses, physician assistants, EMT trained volunteers as well as currently enrolled medical and nurse students.

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: LaTam, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca, Copa
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.  Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are  8am-12pm and 2pm-6pm
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Visas and/or entry-exit fees. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Teaching English

Volunteer in Ecuador interested in teaching can help in a local pre-school and kindergarten school. The school has over 150 students daily who are 4-5 years old. Volunteers lead English lessons, and help the teacher with other lessons. Play time and arts and crafts and games can be introduced as well.

  • This program can also be combined with the Language and Cultural Immersion program.
  • Program Vacations (Closed): February 2nd to 15th (approx.)

Overview

  • Project length: From 2 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: March to December. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito. Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 25-30 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are  7:30am - 12:30pm
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Orphanage Support

Volunteer in Ecuador, Focuses care and attention to children up to 4 months old, the children receive stimulation as a method of learning where they can develop all the senses, games, songs and learn to have independence. The children are provided care while their parents, mostly single mothers can work. This is a very upbeat project with many small children eager for attention!

Nursery and day care center has about 90 children that attend on a daily basis. Volunteers will help with feeding, playing with the toddlers, putting kids down for naps, helping staff with meal preparation, and other necessary chores.  

  • This project can be combined with our Language and Cultural Immersion.

Overview

  • Project length: From 1 week to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito. Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are  7:30am - 5:00pm with break for lunch
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Visas and/or entry-exit fees. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Teaching

Volunteer in Ecuador, this School is an institution of social help located in Quito’s old town and working in benefit of its students during 129 years. It gives educational services to 382 kids from kinder garden to 2nd year of high school. The schedule is from Monday to Friday since 07:15 AM to 13:30 PM

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

  • Volunteers can help by taking care of the children.
  • Volunteers give their help in the Areas of English, Music, Arts, among other areas depending on the volunteer’s skills.
  • Volunteers can help in the area of Psychology.
  • Volunteers can help at the Dental Care Center.
  • Volunteers can give their assistance in the area of Social Work.
  • Volunteers can help by preparing didactic material as well as by organizing didactic activities for the children.

This program can also be combined with the Language and Cultural Immersion program. Program Vacations (Closed): February 2nd to 15th (approx.)

Overview

  • Project length: From 2 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Project dates: March to December. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.
  • Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 25-30 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are  7:15am – 13:30pm, program con be combined with other programs
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Welfare Shelter

Volunteering in Ecuador, this institution of social help located in Quito’s old town and working in benefit of the poorest persons of the city of Quito, this institution offers a service of immediate assistance according to the basic needs of the beggars of the city (feeding, clothes and bath), most of the persons who are in this institution have been abandoned by their family and they are persons who have suffered of problems of alcoholism or drug addiction. The schedule is from Monday to Friday since 08:00am to 13:30pm.

Activities

Computer Class, Help in the area of social work, give support in the area of Psychology, give support in the workshops with the purpose of providing an occupation, Organizing recreational activities, to talk with them, and help with the meals.

Overview

  • Project length: From 2 weeks to 12 weeks
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 5-6 hours per day
  • Requirements: Basic Spanish or Spanish Immersion Lessons
  • Age Limits: Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers.
  • Minimum Age: 12 to 17 yrs if traveling with parents
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid https://www.cdc.gov/

Inclusions

  • Accommodation: Host Families
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
  • Arrival: Airport meet and greet by ABV Staff
  • Orientation: Project Overview and Quito Orientation
  • Support: Pre-trip written guide, In-country ABV staff available 24/7
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Community Development (Amazon)

Volunteer in Ecuador this is a community located in eastern Ecuador in Napo province. The community is inhabited by 40 aboriginal families, each with an average of 8 members, with an approximate population of 350 inhabitants.

The population is engaged in agriculture especially seeding of coffee, cacao, banana, corn, cassava. The coffee and cocoa are traded in areas near the community, while cassava, green bananas and corn are for domestic consumption. The community has an ecological reserve of 1,300 hectares. They have electricity and piped water. Families are also working on making handicrafts using native materials in the region such as seeds, straw hat ribbon, string, etc.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

In the community there is a public school which receives up to 80 children from 5 to 13 years old. It is a school that has 4 classrooms and teachers have three levels from first to sixth grade. The school receives food rations to feed the children. The school has a school cafeteria, the same that was built with the help of volunteers. In addition to its recreational activities they have a soccer field and a volleyball court.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

  • Teaching English, the work of the volunteers is to teach English.
  • Teaching Computers, the school has 7 computers; volunteers can teach the children how to use the computers.
  • School support, The school has one director and 3 teachers. One teacher is in charge of teaching 6 grades, therefore they need assistance to complete the academic program.
  • Educational programs. This is the reason why the presence of volunteers has been really valuable for reinforcing the knowledge in homework.

COMMUNITY WORK

To help with farm work, accompanied by each of the families that make up the community, participating in activities such as cleaning trails, nursery preparation, sowing, harvesting and construction. It is necessary to be open and be willing to participate in the activities that the community needs. In the community there is a cacao and wooden trees green house, also, the volunteers by sowing, harvesting and recollecting the fruits in the communitarian area.

NOTE: There can be unavoidable changes to projects caused by weather, conservation priorities, materials supply or ongoing projects that have progressed more quickly/slowly than originally planned. Please accept changes – we are sure that you will enjoy the replacement projects just as much!

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

  • Teaching English, the work of the volunteers is to teach English.
  • School support, The school has one director and 3 teachers. One teacher is in charge of teaching 6 grades, therefore they need assistance to complete the academic program.
  • Educational programs. This is the reason why the presence of volunteers has been really valuable to reinforce the knowledge.
  • Cultivate traditional crops and reforest as well.

Volunteers experience full cultural immersion by living within the community in traditional rustic cabins (for groups of volunteers), or they can live with a local host family (for individual volunteers). Volunteers will be staying in two shared cabins: one for 8 people, the other for 10 people. Cabins are traditionally built using local materials, i.e., wood, straw, cane-bamboo, etc. This is an extreme program, be physically and mentally prepared for hard conditions and weather.

Overview

  • Project length: From 2 weeks to 4 weeks
  • Project dates: March to December. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Language requirement: Good Spanish level (able to talk to locals just in Spanish)
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.
  • Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Bus ticket included to/from the Amazon community (6 hours form Quito)
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 30-40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are 8:15am – 16:30pm, program con be combined with other programs in the location.
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Community Development (Coastal)

This program is an area located in the southern zone of the province of Manabí, containing a population of approximately 5,000 habitants. It is in a dry tropical forest, with mostly primary vegetation. The plants from the Cactaceae (cactus) family standout, like the candelabra and the mulatto.  There is also the lignum vitae, or ‘wood of life’, locust trees, and madero negro, a tropical hardwood.  All of these plants have a great commercial and medicinal value.

You can combine volunteering in the Education/teaching, Construction, Community development and conservation programs, this program is for proactive volunteers, self motivated and that can overcome any task.

Education

The community counts with two schools and a Day Care Center      

  • To help by teaching English to the children at the school.
  • To collaborate in the area of Sports.
  • To support to the teacher in the areas of Drawing and Painting
  • To give support at the Day Care Center by taking care of the children.
  • To help by elaborating didactic material

Community development

The volunteers who contribute with this project can also give their support in the development of the community by carrying out different activities for the well being of the community.

  • To give support to the people from the community by teaching English to the members of the host families in order to increase their ability to receive tourists in the future.
  • To develop the concept of eco-tourism as an alternative in order to generate economic resources.
  • To contribute with the community in the elaboration of signaling to promote the tourism.

Construction

The volunteers who contribute with this project can also give their support in the area of construction by carrying out different activities.    

  • To help by repairing and painting the classrooms and the school desks.
  • To help by painting murals at the local schools with messages related to the protection of the environment.
  • To help by building and maintaining recreational games for the school.
  • To help by building facilities at the school and at the community.

Conservation

The volunteers who contribute with this project can also give their support in the area of conservation by carrying out different activities.

  • To work at a native plants nursery.
  • To work in the conservation of native species.
  • To organize recycling campaigns with the population of the community, specifically with the children.
  • To monitor the whales in order to contribute by collecting data.

Overview

  • Project length: From 2 weeks to 4 weeks
  • Project dates: March to December. Choose any date to arrive.
  • Arrival airport: Quito (UIO)
  • Accommodation: Local host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Language requirement: Good Spanish level (able to talk to locals just in Spanish)
  • Airlines: Lan Ecuador, American, United, Delta, Avianca, Taca
  • Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov

Program Schedule

  • Program starts and ends in Quito
  • Airport meet and greet in Quito.
  • Afternoon city tour and orientation
  • Monday to Friday volunteering. 30-40 hours per week
  • Weekends free to sightseeing
  • Typical shift work hours are 8:15am – 16:30pm, program con be combined with other programs.
  • Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Not included:

  • Flights to Quito. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet

Reviews & Multimedia

Reviews

The Santos-Gibboney family of 5, from Apex North Carolina, volunteered in Quito Ecuador for one week. The family was able to work in different projects including the day care center, the health care program, and the elderly care project. Thank you for your support!

ABV Volunteer - The Santos Family
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The Santos Family

Nationality: USA

Group: 5

This trip was incredible and I don’t regret coming for a second. Our trip was a month long and I think that is a perfect amount of time for first time travelers. Changing sheets, cleaning the bed frames, and washing patients will most likely take up all your time.

ABV Volunteer - Jackson
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Jackson

Nationality: USA

Age: 24

I could spend my mornings with tortoises or sea lions and my afternoons helping out at a local dive shop. My volunteering was exhausting but extremely rewarding. I will never forget getting to feed baby Galapagos tortoises or getting to hang out with sea lions on the many pristine beaches.

ABV Volunteer - Clare


Clare

Nationality: USA

Age: 21

Prices for Ecuador

Program Fees

Since A Broader View Volunteers is a 501c(3) charitable organization, You can fundraise (optional) for the expenses of the trip after you get confirmed in our programs. Prices are per person and in US dollars (US$).

Quito and Cuenca
Length of programProgram Fee $USD
1 week $895
2 weeks $1050
3 weeks $1340
4 weeks $1340
5 weeks $1570
6 weeks $1570
7 weeks $1860
8 weeks $1860
9 weeks $1920
10 weeks $2030
11 weeks $2180
12 weeks $2330

Special Programs
Country / weeks1234
Ecuador - Galapagos Islands - $2135 $2375 $2585
Ecuador Guayaquil - Conservation w/out Spanish Lessons $990 $1490 $1990 $2490
Language Immersion
Country / weeks1234
Ecuador (Quito & Cuenca) $1065 $1340 $1615 $1990
Ecuador Guayaquil + Conservation $1150 $1800 $2450 $3100

Inclusions

  • Accommodation: Host family
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
  • Arrival: Airport meet and greet by ABV Staff
  • Orientation: Project Overview and Quito Orientation
  • Support: Pre-trip written guide, In-country ABV staff available 24/7
  • Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer

Extra costs: Flights to Ecuador. Entry Visa (if applicable). Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance (approx. us$60). Laundry and Internet (us$10 and us$15).

Meals & Food

Volunteers are provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner at their accommodation during the week and weekends. Breakfast typically consists of toast, fruit, eggs, cereal accompanied with milk, tea or coffee. Dinner usually includes meat (cow, chicken), potato, rice, vegetables, spaghetti and a variety of western food. Volunteers can be away from their accommodation mid-day so they take a lunch bag or they go back home. We recommend budgeting between US$5 and US$10 per day to purchase lunch if you don't return to the host family, let the host family know if you change the lunch plans. If you have specific dietary requirements, our local teams and home-stays can customize to you but be flexible as well.

Start Dates

Most of our programs run year round, you can start any volunteer/internship program on any day. When you apply you will lets know your start and end dates. Our programs run year round and have volunteers arriving almost every day from many different countries.

Since our programs sometimes depend on the local holiday calendar, there are brief occasions when normal programs work is suspended. For example, schools/daycares often close for long winter/summer vacations. During these times, we arrange for alternative work programs that are similar in substance to our ongoing programs, but address the short-term, direct needs of the local communities.

If you would like to arrange your start and end dates around the local holidays, please call us at 1.866.423.3258 or email us at [email protected].

Money Matters

A Broader View Volunteers work tirelessly year round to support our volunteers, and also to serve the local communities where ABV projects are based. As a tax-exempt 501 c(3) organization A Broader View receive 100% of our funding from volunteer contributions. Through your program fee contribution our non-profit charity organization can operate beneficial humanitarian aid programs which are successful and continuous supported year round.

Local, professional full-time coordinators, placement logistics, airport pick up and departure transportation, arrival orientation, food & local accommodations, are a major part of providing a safe, meaningful volunteer experience. When you join A Broader View, you will receive pre-trip visa and vaccination support, assistance with flights, fundraising planning, through our interactive online volunteer portal. Our local partners not only benefit from volunteers valuable contributions at the project, they benefit financially with year-round monetary support from A Broader View. In the last decade A Broader View has donated over 4.5 million dollars in international aid.

By joining A Broader View you are not only helping to make a difference during your own trip, your impact will last even after you go home.

Extras

Tour and weekend trips

Once in the country, our local coordinator can help you find the most reliable and safe tour agencies for weekend trips, you can pay in cash or in most locations with a credit card. These tours are not part of the ABV fees.

Cotopaxi Volcano Excursion from Quito

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this 8-hour day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

Quito City Tour Including Teleférico and Mitad del Mundo

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this 9-hour trip visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south. This Quito city trip includes entrance fees at select attractions, a guide, and round-trip hotel transport.

Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip from Quito

Discover the amazingly diverse wildlife and scenic beauty of the cloud forests of Mindo during this 8-hour day trip from Quito. This unique ecological area is known for having one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere on earth, including numerous exotic species of birds along with a wealth of fun attractions. During your excursion you'll first stop by Quito's 'Middle of the World' monument on the equator before proceeding to Mindo, where you can choose from among a range of optional activities (at your own expense) including a waterfall hike, a visit to a chocolate factory, an orchid garden tour, a bird-watching trip with a local expert and much more.

National Park of Cotopaxi Day Trip from Quito

Combine the best of Ecuador on this one-day National Park of Cotopaxi Day Trip from Quito. Spend a full day with a local guide as you experience the nature, markets, and history of this breathtaking country. Enjoy the stunning scenery, check out Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s famed active volcano, and stop at the Limpiopungo Lagoon before heading back to Quito.

Quilotoa Day Trip from Quito

Journey to the majestic Quilotoa lagoon, exploring local Andean communities on the way, during this 10-hour day trip from Quito. Discover Ecuador like a local as you visit a range of indigenous communities en route to this famous lagoon. Depending on the day you might visit a local market or sit down and chat with a local Andean family. Then enjoy a 2-hour hiking trek to Quilotoa, eventually reaching the stunning body of water inside the crater of this now-dormant volcano. Your trip also includes a guide, lunch and round-trip transport from Quito.

Festivals and Festivities

Easter Week in Ecuador

As in many predominantly Catholic countries, Easter is one of the largest public holidays in the country. Eye-catching fanfare spans the week leading up to Easter Sunday. This week is called Semana Santa, Spanish for “Holy Week.” The date of Easter and its related celebrations depends on when the vernal equinox takes place. Easter Week occurs sometime between March and April.

Palm Sunday, which happens a week before Easter, compels Ecuadorians across the country to parade down the street with palm fronds, making their way to mass. If you’re in Quito, stop by the Plaza de San Francisco to see a ceremonial blessing of the palms. Traditional dances and hymns fill the streets, and nearly everyone carries a palm frond.

This week even has its own soup, a dish called fanesca. Salt cod is one of the main ingredients. It’s stewed along with a hodgepodge of other traditional ingredients.

Holy (Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday

According to Catholic tradition, Holy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper. On Holy Thursday, Ecuadorians visit graveyards with offerings for departed loved ones. These offerings usually consist of bread that is baked especially for the occasion.

In the evening the churches of Quito open their doors, with the glow of the candle-lit altars reaching the streets. Visitors to Quito should make sure to walk around the historic district on the evening of Holy Thursday.

Good Friday is a solemn holiday, and Ecuadorians take to the streets to perform dramatic tributes to the crucifixion of Christ. Quito has an especially massive parade on Good Friday. Visitors are usually taken aback by the purple, pointed hoods worn by a large number of participants. These hoods are traditionally worn as a sign of penitence, a custom that dates back to the middle ages.

Ecuador’s loveliest masses take place on Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday masses take place in the evening, in anticipations of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is an intensely religious celebration for Ecuadorians. Easter masses take place all day and carry on into the evening.

Carnival

Ecuadorians celebrate Carnival in an effort to eat and drink enough to stay satiated throughout the fasting period of Lent. The exact date varies from year to year. It takes place either in February or March, on the weekend closest to the New Moon.

Carnival in Ecuador has its own distinct traditions. Throwing water balloons is one of the most common activities. Strangers (including visitors) are fair game, so wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet!

Independence Day and Simón Bolívar’s Birthday

On May 24th, 1822, General Antonio José Sucre defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Pichincha. On May 24th, military parades commemorate the decisive battle, which took place just outside Quito.

Ecuadorians also celebrate the birthday of Venezuelan Simón Bolívar to commemorate his role in the liberation of South America from Spanish rule. This holiday is celebrated on July 24th.

All Saints’ Day and All Soul’s Day

On All Souls’ Day, Ecuadorians visit the graves of loved ones with offerings of baked goods, a continuation of the Andean tradition of leaving food for the departed. The souls of the dead are said to return to the earth for 24 hours during the first days of November. Ecuadorian tradition dictates you risk the spirits’ displeasure if you don’t have a snack ready for them. These holidays are celebrated on November 1st and 2nd.

Do note that you may find food left on graves. Ecuador’s poor are welcome to take the food that is left on graves, but visitors are not.

Christmas and New Year’s

On Christmas Eve, Ecuadorians celebrate a special mass called the Misa de Gallo, or “Rooster Mass.” On December 25th, Ecuadorians go all out with citywide Christmas pageants. This is the day of the Paseo del Niño children’s parade. Children dress up as different characters from the Christmas nativity and march down the street with statues of the baby Jesus. These statues typically have a special place in the family home.

How may we help you?!

How may we help you?!

Our staff has extensive travel and volunteer abroad experience. We have the answers to all your questions about volunteering with ABV. We can customize any of our programs to your needs and dates.

Call/chat with our team members:

(1) 215 780 1845 [email protected]

Language Immersion:
No

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* Price in US dollars
Toll Free: US/CA (1) 866-423-3258