Days 1-2
Welcome to Ecuador! You will meet the group in Miami Florida before departing for Quito. The first couple of days we will have an opportunity to meet other students and become acquainted with our new surroundings. The first night we will spend in a hostel in Quito, the visually splendid city sitting at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Surrounded by forested mountains and volcanoes at 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in Latin America. Despite the fact that it's only 15 miles south of the equator, Quito's elevation gives it a wonderful spring-like climate year-round. After a hearty breakfast on our second day, we'll meet local guides and set out for a tour of the Imbabura area, known as the "Province of the Lakes". Along the way you may catch a glimpse of one of Ecuador's most picturesque, snowcapped volcanoes, El Cayambe, El Cotopaxi, or El Antisana. We'll explore Laguna Cuicocha or "Lake of the Guinea Pigs" nestled at 10,072 feet above sea level. This pristine lake fills the ancient, but active, crater of Cotacachi Volcano, and features two islets at its center. According to ancient belief, Cotacachi was the mother of the Imbayas, a Pre-Inca tribe. We'll visit the town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather goods. After lunch you will visit a native Kichwa community, Carabuela that specializes in ancient handicrafts sold at the Otavalo market. A hands-on demonstration reveals how textiles are made from scratch including wool carding, natural dyes, and back-strap weaving. Late afternoon, we'll travel to the Agato Community to meet community members and receive a briefing about the upcoming service project.Days 3-7
Over the course of the next four days we will be assisting the local community in a number of ways. Our group will hire a foreman from the village who will provide us with the necessary tools and instruction that we'll need to successfully complete our projects. This year we will be focusing our efforts in a number of areas, assisting an indigenous Kichwa community located just outside of Otavalo on the flanks of Imbabura Volcano. The community's livelihood is mainly agriculture and native handicrafts including textiles and jewelry, which are sold and traded at the market in Otavalo. During the next four days, you will work directly with members of this colorful community helping them create a botanical garden with native plants such as Polylepis, Aliso, and Arrayán. You may also be asked to help the community with other tasks such as preparing the fields for the next harvest, and teaching English in the afternoon. Since the needs of the community vary, you may help out with additional community tasks during the service project. The Community service project may also include building a library in the community's Casa Comunal (community centerbuilding). An incredibly fulfilling venture, by the time our summer service work is complete, we'll have made quite a dramatic impact on this special community. While in the community, we'll have the opportunity to interact with the kids and locals when we eat our lunches, as well as play soccer with the students during their free time. Each day will begin with a wonderful and filling breakfast prepared by a local family followed by a morning walk to the village. Upon arriving at the village we'll engage in service work until our lunchtime break. After lunch, we'll work until the late afternoon when we return for a delicious traditional local meal.Days 8-9
After a hearty breakfast, get your blood pumping with a hike to Refugio Jose Rivas, a lodge at 16,100 feet above sea level from where Cotopaxi mountain climbers embark on their overnight summit bids. Optional ascent past the Refugio for an up-close look at Cotopaxi's glacier cap. After a hot cup of tea, slide down loose volcanic scree and mount your bikes for an exciting 3,000-foot descent on the flanks of Cotopaxi. After lunch at 12,139 feet, continue your descent along single track from Lake Limpiopungo. We'll then travel southeast to the cloud forest town of Baños (6,000ft.), which is located in a lush green valley on the slopes of Volcán Tungurahua. Here we'll take the evening to relax and soak in the natural thermal baths heated by the volcano.Day 10
After an early rise and breakfast, we'll embark on an exhilarating descent into the Amazon Basin. Surrounded by the towering walls of the Rio Pastaza Canyon, you'll pass the spectacular Manta de la Novia and Pailón del Diablo waterfalls. A short hike allows you an up-close look and a chance to get sprayed by the powerful Pailon del Diablo. The dramatic rise in temperature and change in ecosystem is proof of your arrival into the tropical lowlands. Afternoon transfer to Tena, Ecuador's capital of whitewater adventure sports.Day 11
Today will be a fantastic introduction to the rivers of Ecuador. The exhilarating, Class III whitewater of the Upper Napo River is one of the main tributaries feeding the Amazon River from the Andes mountains. Before we get into the boats, our guides will give us a comprehensive safety briefing and train each crew in the paddling techniques needed to navigate our way down the river. Once on the river we can expect both the action of thrilling whitewater and the tranquility of drifting silently through tropical rainforests.Days 12-14
This morning we'll meet with members of the Rio Blanco community and embark on the exciting journey to this remote jungle community. The trip includes a 20-minute canoe ride across the Jatunyacu river and a two-hour trek through the forest. Upon arrival in the community enjoy an authentic lunch and an orientation to this humble and friendly community. Activities for the next three days include planting plantains, yuccas, and medicinal plants, teaching English, trail making, as well as other current community projects. We will be staying in this village over the course of these three days assisting with these projects, meeting members of the community and to helping prepare meals. During our time here, we'll also meet and work with growers of cacao (a small evergreen plant used for making chocolate and a vital part of the local village economy), participate in shamanic healing ceremonies and learn about the indigenous cooperative structure and how it prepares world-class chocolate bars made from rainforest cacao. It is truly an authentic experience and our efforts will be appreciated for years to come.Day 15
Following our second community service portion of this trip we will depart the upper Amazon basin and embark on a journey back to Quito that will take you from the tropical lowlands (1,251 ft.) over the Cordillera Oriental (eastern highlands) to the base of the Andean highlands. After lunch in the town of Baeza, we'll continue ascending into the unique páramo ecosystem and stop for a much welcomed soak in the hot springs of Papallacta, perched at over 10,000 feet above sea level.Days 16-21
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is the perfect way to end our Ecuadorian summer. It would be a real shame to travel all the way down to this South American country and miss out on one of the world's great natural jewels. Located in the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles (1000 kilometers) off the West Coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a cluster of over sixty islands and islets. In 1959, the Ecuadorian Government declared the Galapagos Islands a protected area at the same time the Charles Darwin Foundation was founded. On September 8th, 1978, UNESCO declared the islands a Natural Heritage Site. Our early morning flight from Quito to the Galapagos Islands will take us to the port town of Baltra. After deplaning, we will immediately transfer to San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost island in the Galapagos and ranked among the older group of islands. This island is also where Charles Darwin first went ashore in September 1835. Upon arrival, we will join our Galapagos Naturalist Guide and transfer to a local beach-front restaurant for lunch. After a kayak briefing, set out in our 16-foot, sit-on-top sea kayaks. Teeming with wildlife, we will explore the rocky coastline. Be prepared to get a little wet, as playful sea lions are sure to give us a splash! Observe Frigate birds and Brown Pelicans soar overhead or Blue- footed Boobies dive like torpedoes into the ocean at 60 miles per hour. On the shore, Sally lightfoot crabs scavenge on the wave- washed lava. Maneuver your two-person kayak along the rocky coast exploring small caves and bays that motorized vessels cannot. We will continue northwest until we reach the turquoise-blue waters of Las Tijeretas Bay. After a paddle around Las Tijeretas, we will make our way back to the beach and relax. The slow pace of the kayaks gliding over the water and the freedom to navigate on our own makes this afternoon in Galapagos a special experience, and a great way to begin our visit to the Islands. Later this afternoon, we will transfer to our private campsite in the highlands of San Cristobal, which boasts spectacular views of the coastline and over 120 acres of open space. We will enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner, campfire, and sunset off the coast. Our Galapagos Naturalist Guide will brief us about our community service project and the surrounding community of La Soledad. We will begin our community service with the reforestation of native plants and eradication of invasive species in conjunction with the Charles Darwin Research Station. We will break from our reforestation project the following day Island and collect fruit such as oranges, avocados, lemons, guayaba, guava, and mandarina, which will be donated to the INNFA (Instituto Nacional del Niño y la Familia), a charity organization dedicated to supporting the islands needy children. After completion of the community service project, we will meet with children from the local elementary school and explain our reforestation project and why it is important to protect the environment in the Galapagos. After an early rise and breakfast, we will board a motor boat and depart for Floreana Island, the first island to host a permanent settlement of Ecuadorians in 1832. Floreana has the most intriguing human history with visitors including pirates, prisoners, and whalers. Today a resident human population of 100 habitants accompanies the local wildlife. After breakfast on the boat, we will snorkel at Champion's Bay. We will keep our eyes pealed for, rays, sea turtles, Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and countless tropical fish. After our afternoon of snorkeling we will head to Puerto Velasco Ibarra and transfer inland to the humid zone, which is home to the Medium Tree Finch, endemic to Floreana Island. After a swim at Playa Negra, we will board our boat and continue northwest to Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago and perhaps the most biologically and geologically diverse. After checking in at our hotel in Puerto Villamil, our Naturalist Guide will lead a discussion about today's sightings. We will be sure to get a good night's rest as we will meet our local surf experts for a day of surf instruction and riding waves. After a day of surfing we will transfer to the highlands of Isabela to hike up Volcan Sierra Negra, the island's most active volcano, which last erupted on October 22, 2006. Sierra Negra rises to an elevation of nearly 4,890 feet above sea level and is located on the southeast corner of Isabela. The crater's steaming fumaroles and charcoal-black landscape are a testament to its recent eruption and ongoing volcanic activity. The Volcan Sierra Negra is one of the world's largest. Its caldera spans 6 miles in diameter. After our morning hike we can spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach, surfing, or snorkeling with sea lions at Concha del Perla, located near our hotel. Before we depart, we will transfer to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island where we will see wild Galapagos Tortoises. These gigantic creatures weigh up to 500 pounds and are scattered all over the highlands.Day 22
Our final evening will conclude with a final farewell banquet at a local restaurant near our hotel. It is a great opportunity to share some stories, award our infamous paper plate awards and bring closure to a wonderful summer. We will be traveling back to Miami on our group flight eventually connecting to our final destination.
Please Note: This is a sample day to day itinerary based on service projects we have done in past years. Our service projects are put together carefully each year working with the local communities to find projects that will provide the greatest assistance for those in need. In order to be sure we are working on projects that will be both meaningful and substantive, the exact projects for each year are decided in late spring. Due to the dynamic nature of the needs of the communities, last minute changes are always possible, but they will be replaced with comparable ones.
