Work on a diverse set of community service projects alongside locals in Quito and the Amazon Rainforest and unwind in the spectacular Galapagos Islands. This teen community service program in Ecuador and the Galapagos uses a service-learning framework tailored for high school students, where our staff provide guidance and reflection on the impact of the work we do throughout the program and promote the value of empathy and cultural sensitivity.
When not volunteering, explore Quito – the first city to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where you’ll straddle the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time. You’ll be one of the privileged travelers to visit the Galapagos Islands where we explore the home of Darwin’s theory of evolution and observe many endemic species of animals, including the giant land tortoise. Not to mention the breathtaking views of the dense rainforest & rushing waterfalls in Baños. This program will also awaken your sense of adventure as we whitewater raft and snorkel past stingrays, sea lions, sea stars, and more in crystal blue waters!
Program Highlights:
- Work on a sustainable community project with MEDLIFE.
- Snorkel in the Galapagos Islands & sunbathe with the marine iguanas at Tortuga Bay.
- Learn about life in the Amazon Rainforest.
- Whitewater raft the Pastaza River.
- Straddle the Equator at La Mitad del Mundo - Center of the World.
- Help in the reforestation of the giant tortoise natural habitat.
- Visit Otavalo Market -one of the largest indigenous markets in Latin America.
- Learn about the Quechua people on your way to hike Cotopaxi – “The Neck of the moon”