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Ecuador beckons with its hauntingly beautiful Andean highland and its welcoming people. Experience a
journey that will take you from the mountains of the Andes to the world famous Galapagos Islands to experience an environment that can't be found anywhere else on this planet. This peaceful nation, located
directly on the Equator, provides safe travel conditions and a consistently cool climate to spend an unforgettable month.
 Quito and Orientation
We fly directly to the colonial capital city of Quito (9,500 foot
elevation) for a couple days of orientation. We visit Mitad del Mundo, the "middle of the world" (near Inca Empire ruins), and warm up our Spanish with a tour of Quito and a brief Ecuadorian
Spanish course at a language school. Between adventures throughout the trip, we will return to our cozy hotel in Quito to do laundry, communicate with home, and transition between destinations.
 Mindo/Alto Choco: Community Project
During the next several days, our groups will live in a small mountain community. Set in the middle of a rainforest with dramatic views of volcanoes and waterfalls as our backdrop, we will
work with locals to restore a day care center, build homes, and share in meaningful cultural exchange. For relaxation we take a day off and raft the class 3 and 4 Rio Blanco River with a professional guide service.
Yunguilla/Mindo: Homestay Community 
Our small homestay villages are located in the high valleys,
northwest of Quito. For the next week and a half, friendly, hospitable families will open their hearts and homes to us; you will quickly feel a part of the family! As many of the families do not speak English,
your Spanish language skills will improve daily! (The homestay portion of the trip is without a doubt a favorite among participants!) While meals, evenings, and weekends are reserved for homestay
family time, our group gathers daily to work on projects. In the past, we have constructed community gardens, built bridges, and fixed up a daycare facility. Work and play go hand in hand.
 Galapagos Isles: Ecological Paradise
We take a flight from Quito to Guayaquil and the Island of Baltra
. From there it's a short ferry ride to the Island of Santa Cruz and a bus ride to our beautiful accommodations at Casa Anitas. While staying just outside the town of Puerto Ayora, we visit the Charles
Darwin Station for a guided tour about the unique ecological environment of the Galapagos and a close up view of Galapagos turtles. From Santa Cruz Island we take two, full day boat trips to
explore the wildlife of the islands Plazas and Bartolome. These amazing boat excursions with a naturalist guide will afford us the opportunity to explore the uninhabited islands teaming with
seals, iguanas, blue footed boobies, and much more! We also spend time snorkeling the reefs of Santa Cruz and take a surfing lesson! White sand beaches, sunbathing seals and lava rock backdrops await you!
 Otavalo Markets
After a day to regroup, do laundry, and enjoy a good meal in Quito, we travel up the Andean corridor to the bustling community of Otavalo
, host to the largest indigenous artisan marketplace in the world! Otavalo's colorful artisan market is a shopper's paradise and a wonderful opportunity to practice your Spanish bargaining skills.
As the four weeks end, we know the service we have performed was unquestionably needed, and
a perfect way to integrate into the lives and hearts of entire communities. Cultural immersion and language learning are at their best when people are working together for common goals. Few
countries are able to boast of the geographic and cultural diversity that Ecuador holds. Join us for a spectacular journey!
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