Ecuador – Environmental Sustainability Projects
Work about 1 hour outside of Quito in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Volunteers will assist in forest research and support environmental education initiatives in the local community, such as improving awareness of biodiversity and conservation methods. Conservation work may also include planting local species of trees, working in an organic garden, fixing the trails at the organic farm and working in the small factories of cheese and jam. Volunteers will stay with a host family at the community.
Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Requirements: At least 18 years old, basic Spanish
Wildlife Conservation Quest
Work to protect Ecuador’s Amazonian flora and fauna. Volunteers will help improve the lives of animals that have suffered maltreatment and have been victims of trafficking. Volunteers will work alongside other volunteers at the Animal Rescue Center, and will have the opportunity to house and properly feed the animals that are living there. After work, volunteers can venture into town and join in cultural activities, or simply stay at the cabin and enjoy a relaxing evening.
Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks; 3 weeks highly recommended
Requirements: At least 18 years old, basic Spanish
Quest Fees and Details
United Planet Quests are designed to be immersive, authentic, comprehensive and provide you everything you’ll need to succeed. The program elements allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. Most importantly, we partner with the community to ensure your experience will be important, relevant and helpful to the community you serve.
- Lodging at a local homestay or onsite volunteer house (environmental projects)
- Two home-cooked meals per day
- 6 hours of private Spanish lessons
- Cultural activities and excursions
- Online pre-departure training with our Boston staff
- In-country airport transportation
- Emergency medical and travel insurance
- 24/7 in-country support and supervision
- A United Planet t-shirt
United Planet provides emergency travel and medical insurance for all volunteers. All Ecuador staff members participate in extensive health and safety training, and are available at all times by 24-hour phone line. Upon enrollment, you will receive a full emergency contact list. In addition, we register all of our volunteers with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment or visiting a travel health clinic a few months out to update your vaccinations. Read more about health and safety.
Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from Ecuador. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in Ecuador and will ensure that you arrive safely at your host house. Public transportation to and from your project is cheap and easy with either of Quito’s two trolley lines or by bus. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.
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| $1985 | $2165 | $2335 | $2695 | $3035 | $3365 | $3695 | $4035 | $4375 | $4725 | $5045 | $5395 | $5685 |
About Our Quest Fee
We want you to succeed. That means having in place the support our volunteers need. We don’t just drop you in country and hope for the best. We provide training before you leave … language exposure … 24/7 in-country support … support for your host family … accommodations, meals and airport transportation … activities and excursions. The whole idea is to make the experience successful and productive for you and the host community, and we have found that these things are crucial. Remember that we are a non-profit, mission-driven organization – we wouldn’t spend money on something that wasn’t important.
Have questions? We’re here for you. We’d love to help.