Travel Comm. - Ecuador Voluntary work

80_ecuador-volunteer-work
Sample package

Ecuador (Volunteer Work)

DAY 1 : CANADA - QUITO

Flight towards Quito

Meet with your tour leader and your bus driver and transfer to your hotel. 

Welcome cocktail. 

Dinner at your own charge 

Overnight in hotel in Quito
  

DAY 2 : QUITO - OTAVALO

Breakfast at hotel 

In the morning, take some time to discover Quito, its historical center and its colonial center dating from the XVIe century. It is classified World Heritage by UNESCO and is considered the most important in Latin America. 

Then, travel by the Panamerican road towards Otavalo region, situated in the Andes.  

Make a stop at San Pablo Lake, dominated by the Imbabura volcano. 

Arrival in a native community and setting up in your host families. 

Take some time to get acquainted with your hosts. 

Typical dinner. 

In the evening, welcome a musical and legends group.  

Overnight in families.
  

DAY 3 : OTAVALO – QUITO

Breakfast 

This morning, you will get up early with your families and then, you will visit the cattle market as well as the famous Otavalo market, one of the most colourful in Latin America. It is best known in the country for its textiles and its wide variety of handcrafts.

Agricultural activities and activities with the families from the hosting community. 

In the afternoon, back to Quito. 

Dinner and overnight in hotel in Quito.
  

DAY 4 : QUITO – ZUMBAHUA - QUILOTOA – CHUGCHILAN

Breakfast at hotel 

In the morning, departure following the volcanoes path towards the native village of Zumbahua. It is stituated in the bottom of a valley surrounded by the mountains. Here you will find the local market, everybody comes here to get their weekly goods, it has nothing to do with the tourist markets. People get down there with their llamas that will carry their goods to get back to their “cabañas” perched on the top of the mountain. 

Then, continuation towards the splendid Lake Quilotoa.  

Typical native lunch or pic-nic. 

Possibility of taking a walk around the lake and/or do some volunteer work such as learn more about the naive painting from this region. 

Then, continue your way to Chugchilan. 

Dinner and overnight in a typical countryside hostel.
   

DAY 5 : CHUGCHILAN – COTOPAXI

Breakfast 

If possible, meeting with a native farmers community. 

Then, travel your way to the Cotopaxi volcano region until you arrive to a eco-touristic hacienda that is located at the foot of the volcano. 

Typical lunch in Latacunga or elsewhere. 

Evening around a bond fire. 

Dinner and overnight at the hacienda.
  

DAY 6 : COTOPAXI – BAÑOS

Breakfast 

Presentation of the hacienda and its agricultural work organization. 

Then, excursion to Cotopaxi National Park (Ecuador’s 2nd summit - 5900 m) and possible ascension to its hut, located at about 4500m à 4800m.  

Pic-nic close to a water spring. 

Continuation towards the charming little town of Baños. 

OPTION : Hot springs.  

Dinner and overnight in a small hotel
  

DAY 7 : BAÑOS – AMAZON

Breakfast 

In the morning, travel towards the Amazon until Puyo (Entry of the Amazon) or Misahualli region located by the Napo River. 

Lunch in an ecological hacienda located in the heart of a botanical park with an orchids garden. 

Tour the hacienda and learn more about its horticultural and agricultural plantations. 

Then, continuation towards Misahualli until you arrive in a Quichua native community. 

Possibility to swin in the Napo river and meet with a “shaman” (community doctor), learn about their customs and traditions (medicinal plants, how they make the chichi, handcrafts, ceremonies, etc.) 

Dinner and overnight in the community.
  

DAY 8 : AMAZON

Breakfast 

Excursion by foot and in a dugout canoe through the deep Amazon forest up until a camp site or a native community living by a small river and discover their flora, medicinal plants, birds, smalls animals, etc. 

Lunch en route 

In the afternoon, volunteer work and dinner preparation.  

Dinner and overnight in the community.
  

DAY 9 : AMAZON

Breakfast 

Learn how to use the blowpipe, how to wash gold and walk in the forest before returning to the community. 

Lunch 

Swim and take part in the agricultural, handcraft, educational  and construction work. 

Dinner and farewell party with a band and native dancers. 

Overnight in the community.
  

DAY 10 : AMAZON - QUITO

Breakfast 

Last swim in the Napo river. 

Back to Quito. 

Lunch en route in the village of Baeza.  

Cocktail, farewell dinner and overnight in hotel in Quito.
  

DAY 11: QUITO / CANADA

Breakfast (might not be included according to your flight schedule) 

Early transfer to Quito airport. 

Flight back home