Despite being one of the smallest countries in South America, Ecuador claims some of the most diverse geography on the continent. Its location on both the equator and the Pacific coast creates a perfect climate for the lush vegetation of the Amazon Rainforest.

The country is a breathtaking combination of dark green forest, snowcapped Andean peaks, indigenous mountain communities, and spectacular colonial architecture. Ecuador's mystique spills over the coastline into the world-famous Galapagos Islands, where the incredible wildlife has been the inspiration for scientists and artists for generations.

Why volunteer in Ecuador?
Although Ecuador is blessed with plenty of natural wonders, the land suffers from massive deforestation. This destruction has in turn led to soil erosion, mineral depletion, and the loss of animals found nowhere else on earth. Ecuador is also rich in natural oil, and the resulting industry has caused pollution that threatens indigenous plants and animals.

In order to fight these negative environmental trends, our local partners have founded an organization in the Alto Choco region of northern Ecuador. The group manages a nature reserve dedicated to reforestation, botanical gardening, energy alternatives, and educating local communities on conservation. A special project is their Andean Spectacled Bear sanctuary, in which bears are rescued from illegal hunting and trapping and then rehabilitated for release into the wild

Project Location: Alto Choco
Our partner organization is based in the Ecuadorian Choco bioregion, an area considered by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the ten most biologically important zones in the world. The area is home to a wide range of wildlife including the Andean (Spectacled) Bear, the Dwarf Deer, and a striking orange Andean bird called Cock of the Rock. There is also a great variety of plant life, most notably the exotic
orchids that flourish in the lush cloud forests of the region.

Project Location: San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos
Located 620 miles (1,000 km) off Ecuador’s coast, the Galapagos Islands depict nature in its purest form. In fact, these unique biodiverse islands were the inspiration for naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory on how species evolve. Because the archipelago was never connected to the mainland and has been relatively untouched by mankind for several thousand years, many unique species have continued to thrive. Our project is located on the eastern-most Galapagos Island, San Cristóbal, which was formed by two adjoining volcanoes. It features the archipelago’s only freshwater lagoon, surrounded by endemic vegetation and unusual wildlife. San Cristóbal also boasts spectacular white sandy beaches, warm aqua waters, as well as the provincial capital—Puerto Baquerizo Moreno—which contains the main port on the Galapagos chain.