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Conservation Volunteer Ecuador!
Are you passionate about conservation and want to immerse yourself in a remote wilderness? Has Ecuador been calling your name? Join this life changing conservation volunteer opportunity in Ecuador!
Join Global Crossroads in the Andean cloud forest of Ecuador in the Los Cedros Biological Preserve, a 17,000-acre natural wonder full of animals like pumas, jaguars, monkeys, and the rare spectacled bear.
In order to conserve and study this fragile and remote wilderness,
scientists and conservationists are carrying out field research projects in the reserve. They are also exploring ways to live sustainably and create a low impact on the environment.
As an Ecuador conservation volunteer, you can join these dedicated professionals in their important efforts and do your part to help protect this unique part of the world. Do trail maintenance, participate in scientific research, work in the organic garden, and more to help support this exciting project.
Volunteer Responsibilities & Impacts
During your conservation volunteer program in Ecuador, you will be involved in a wide variety of activities. Be prepared to pitch in where your help is needed, be flexible, and be ready to work outdoors for long periods, really immersing yourself in nature. Here are some of the duties you can expect:
- Trail maintenance and development
- Checking the integrity of the reserve's borders
- Assisting with whatever research project(s) is going on when you arrive
- We encourage you to develop your own projects!
- Maintaining the facilities as needed
- Feeding the chickens, cultivating our vegetable patches, picking oranges, and cutting down bananas
- Helping out with the task of keeping our remote station stocked with supplies, which involves traveling to a local organic market, or Quito, a day’s travel.
Work at the Los Cedros reserve as a conservation volunteer in Ecuador can be both hardworking and relaxing. You’ll have periods of rest when you can enjoy the serene nature around you, and other periods of hard work in varying outdoor conditions.
One thing is for sure; you will definitely break a sweat and work hard for your appetite! Yet, you will also be given time to relax, chat, read, eat, hike, drink tea, swing in hammocks, admire the views, and enjoy a well-earned sense of accomplishment from the day's labors.
Join and make a huge impact in studying and preserving a beautiful and unique wilderness in the Andean cloud forest. Gain valuable experience working in the conservation field!
Skills and Qualifications
No prior experience is needed to join this exciting conservation project, although we do require a love and passion for the environment. You should be 18 years of age, and flexible, as many different tasks will be assigned to you. You shouldn’t mind getting dirty and be open to living in rustic, remote conditions.
Volunteers able to commit to a longer period of time at the conservation volunteer opportunity in Ecuador are particularly valuable since they will get to know the reserve better during this time, developing their own initiatives. That being said, short-term volunteers are also a necessary source of energy, ideas, and labor.
This project requires a minimum two-week commitment, although a month is preferred. Most people who volunteer here end up wanting to stay longer as they enjoy their work so much and it is such a magical place in the world.
Every day as an Ecuador conservation volunteer will be an exciting adventure in the wilderness. You’ll wake up to spectacular views and get involved in different projects and activities from day to day, all in the interest of conserving the beautiful habitats found in the preserve.
You’re probably curious what a typical day volunteering might look like though, so we’ve prepared a sample schedule for you here:
- First Day: On your first day of volunteering in Ecuador in conservation program, our in-country coordinator will escort you to the project site. It is a remote location in the Andean cloud forest and is a day’s travel from Quito.
You will be introduced to the scientists and other volunteers at the project, and finally experience the serene natural setting you’ve been waiting for. - Orientation: You’ll learn all about the project, your schedule, safety protocol, and what to expect as a volunteer.
- Weekdays: A typical volunteer day will vary greatly at this project, but it might look something like this:
- 7.00 to 7.30 AM: Join your fellow volunteers and the local project staff at breakfast, and get ready for an exciting day of volunteering. All of the food comes from a local organic garden or is grown at the project site!
- 7.45 AM: Begin your day’s activity, which could be clearing a trail, working on a scientific research project, or tending the garden. Help save the planet and experience pristine nature!
- 12.00 PM: Lunch at our conservation volunteer program in Ecuador is the perfect time to make friends from around the world, and to chat about all the exciting things going on in the reserve.
- 3.00 PM: After your service work is done for the day, you are free to relax or explore the natural surroundings. There is no WiFi and no nearby town, so any entertainment you’ll need you’ll have to pack in when you come. There are many trails available to hike and explore.
- 6.45 PM: Dinner is usually self-preparation from available food in a shared kitchen, and this is another great time to bond with your fellow volunteers.
Conservation Volunteer Ecuador: Dates and Fees
Dates: Volunteer in Ecuador
All volunteer programs in Ecuador start every Monday of each month. However, if there is travel constrains, you can start any project on any day.
Fees: Volunteer in Ecuador
Global Crossroad is committed to offering the most affordable and highest quality Ecuador volunteer trips. We strive to keep our costs low. The humanitarian side of the business is our passion.
Global Crossroad's volunteer opportunity in Ecuador application and registration fee cost US $299. The application fee covers the cost of advertising, program promotion, and office expenses (rent, utilities, and staff salaries in USA office).
In addition to the application fee, you are required to pay a weekly program fee. You will pay your weekly fee directly to your host family and project. This way, the fees that you pay will benefit those who rightfully deserve them, and not for company profit.
| Duration | Conservation |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $345 |
| 2 Weeks | $590 |
| 3 Weeks | $835 |
| 4 Weeks | $1,080 |
| 5 Weeks | $1,325 |
| 6 Weeks | $1,570 |
| 7 Weeks | $1,815 |
| 8 Weeks | $2,060 |
| 9 Weeks | $2,305 |
| 10 Weeks | $2,550 |
| 11 Weeks | $2,795 |
| 12 Weeks | $3,040 |
Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years)»
How your fee is allocated?
Program fees cover:
- Accommodation (volunteer house or host family)
- Food (local food 3 times a day)
- Program Orientation
- In-country support
- Personalized project
- Pre-departure information
- Certificate of completion
- Fundraising ideas and letters
- Discount for returning volunteers
Program fees exclude:
- Visas
- Airfare
- Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
- Daily transportation
- Airport return transfer
The volunteering programs in Ecuador fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for the additional expenses, which would typically be around $30 a day for room and meals at a hostel.
Accommodation and Meal
At Global Crossroad’s Ecuador conservation volunteering program, you’ll be staying at the remote project site in the 17,000 acre Los Cedros Biological Preserve. You can expect a basic room that you may not or may not share with fellow volunteers, and spectacular views.
You’ll be immersed in nature with no town nearby, so anything you’ll need, bring it with you. Get used to the simple life, as you’ll be without wifi, and using earth friendly amenities such as composting toilets.
Three healthy local meals will be provided to you at the Ecuador conservation volunteer program site, and some meals may be self-preparation with provided food in a shared kitchen. All the food is grown at the reserve or brought in from a local organic market, nearly a day’s travel away.
Learn more about your accommodation and meal plans in Ecuador.
Free Time and Weekend Exploration
At this unique project, you’ll have one day off a week with no planned activities, though you can expect a fair amount of rest and time in nature throughout the experience. There are numerous hiking trails, and since you’ll be in the Andean cloud forest with a plethora of wildlife viewing opportunities and jaw-dropping views, you should get out and explore.
Learn more about your free time and weekend exploration in Ecuador.
Safety and In Country Support
Your safety while volunteering in Ecuador in conservation program is our top priority. We carefully plan every aspect of your trip to make sure it is safe and satisfying. From pre-trip planning to a dedicated team on the ground in Ecuador, we’ve got you covered when it comes to safety.
Learn more about our safety and in-country support in Ecuador.
Conservation Volunteer Ecuador: FAQs
Arrival and departure
You’ll fly into Quito International Airport for our Conservation volunteering opportunity in Ecuador. Just inform our coordinator of your flight plans, and we’ll set up your airport pickup for you. We suggest arriving the day before your volunteer project starts and resting up for the day’s journey from Quito to the remote project location.
If you miss your flight or experience a delay, just let us know and we’ll make the adjustments. Someone will be waiting for you when you land, and they’ll take you safely to your overnight accommodations.
After you complete your time in Ecuador, you’ll need to book your own departure transport. Speak with the local project staff and they can help you out with this.
Visa
You’ll need a tourist visa to volunteer in conservation program in Ecuador. If you’re from the US, you can obtain your visa upon arrival at the airport. Be sure to research the requirements for your home country.
You can apply for a 30-90 day single-entry tourist visa at your local Ecuadorian embassy, or save yourself a trip and apply online:.
If you’d like to extend your time in Ecuador, you’ll need to visit the Immigration Office in Quito and apply for an extra 90 days.
You can learn more about Ecuador’s visa requirements and policies here:
Vaccination
Before you travel abroad, be sure to meet with your doctor and get up to date on your vaccines. This will help protect you and ensure a safer and healthier volunteer adventure.
Vaccinations for meningitis, polio, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), yellow fever, hepatitis A, influenza, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), pneumonia, shingles, chickenpox, rabies, and typhoid are necessary for our Conservation Ecuador volunteer program.
You can check out this website to learn more about the above-mentioned vaccinations.
Why Conservation Volunteer Ecuador?
Gain practical experience in the conservation field
If you are pursuing a career in the conservation field, considering it, or just want to get involved as a citizen scientist, this is a great chance to really make a difference on the ground level at an exciting conservation project. You’ll work with experienced scientists and conservationists and learn valuable professional skills.
Immerse yourself in nature
Leave the modern world behind and immerse yourself in the mystical wonder of the Andean cloud forest. Wake up to beautiful views, hike dense jungle trails, work with your hands, and live as close to nature as you possibly can. Find peace and purpose volunteering in Ecuador conservation.
Travel to an exciting new place
Ecuador is an exciting and often overlooked travel destination. The remote reserve you’ll be staying on is a unique place unlike anywhere you’ve ever been, and you’re going to experience it up close and personal as you study and protect this beautiful land.
Make friends from around the world
Not only will you encounter talented and dedicated scientists devoting their lives to conserving the natural world at this project, you will meet international volunteers from all over the world that care just as much about the planet as you do. Forge friendships and experience new cultures through your fellow volunteers!
Contact Global Crossroads today to get started volunteering in Ecuador conservation!
Other Volunteer Opportunities In Ecuador
No matter your passion or interests, we offer a variety of life-changing, volunteer programs in Ecuador, such as
Teaching English,
Orphanage,
Street Children,
Conservation Galapagos and much more.
For more information on our exciting programs in Ecuador, contact us today.