from 786€

Great 4.4rating (78)

Conservation and Eco Tourism Assistant

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Explore Ecuador, one of the most amazing and diverse countries in the world
  • Boost your CV with international volunteer experience
  • Grow as a person by improving your intercultural skills
  • Improve your Spanish skills by practicing on a daily basis
  • Visit amazing places throughout a country that is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and historic sites

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Maintaining hiking trails, working in the organic garden, helping in agroforestry, supporting eco-tourism projects. The Cloud Forest is amazing work place!

This volunteer project will take place at an eco lodge in the northwestern Andes Mountains of Ecuador. It is beautifully situated in the middle of the cloud forest at an altitude of almost 1,900 meters. The area is a global "hotspot" of biodiversity. Over 1500 different plant species, including ...

About the program

This volunteer project will take place at an eco lodge in the northwestern Andes Mountains of Ecuador. It is beautifully situated in the middle of the cloud forest at an altitude of almost 1,900 meters. The area is a global "hotspot" of biodiversity. Over 1500 different plant species, including orchids, bromeliads and other wonderful plants can be found here. In addition, more than 390 exotic animal species live in this area, including the endangered Andean spectacled bear.

The lodge was established 40 years ago as an agricultural cooperation with the intention of providing farming families with no income alternatives with a place to grow crops and raise livestock. Over time, however, it became clear that the remote cloud forest is poorly suited for these purposes and that it is far more valuable to the inhabitants and the environment to keep the forest intact. Therefore, the cooperation today is committed to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In addition, it strives to regenerate large parts of the forest with indigenous trees.

In the meantime, eco-tourism has also become an important source of income. This allows sustainable protection of the cloud forest and informs visitors about the sensitive ecosystem.

As one of the few projects in this area, this volunteer program plays an important role in intensifying environmental protection and eco-tourism, and to make visitors aware of the special features and the need for nature conservation. The communities in the surroundings also benefit from the project and the volunteers who work for the well-being and education of the locals, especially children.

The volunteers not only share the small wonders of the cloud forest with the locals, but are also welcomed by the great hospitality, the lively music, and their enthusiasm for nature. You will work directly with the locals, which provides you ample opportunities to get to know Ecuador in its original state, off the beaten track, to improve your Spanish language skills and gain insider knowledge about the cloud forest and local communities.


Typical day

The volunteer project at the eco-lodge dates back to the year 2000 and welcomes both individual volunteers and groups. The help of volunteers is an important part of maintaining and sustainably protecting the huge protected area that the Lodge operates. At the same time, eco-tourism is a sustainable ...

Typical day

The volunteer project at the eco-lodge dates back to the year 2000 and welcomes both individual volunteers and groups. The help of volunteers is an important part of maintaining and sustainably protecting the huge protected area that the Lodge operates. At the same time, eco-tourism is a sustainable and alternative source of income for the lodge, which is very important for the preservation of the cloud forest. The lodge is very committed to animal and environmental protection. On the other hand, eco-tourism is a very labor-intensive business and the lodge is grateful for every volunteer who wants to get involved. Your tasks are primarily in the outdoor area.

Here is a list of possible activities that may come to you:
• Maintaining the amazing hiking trails through the jungle
• Maintaining the facilities of the lodge and guest houses
• Agricultural projects: cultivation of coffee and sugar. Production of "panela" (sugar) in the traditional way
• General Maintenance: There is always something to do around the lodge. Buildings need be repaired, extensions must be built or facilities redesigned.

Usually you work from Monday to Friday, about 5-8 hours daily. Please keep in mind that working hours always depend on workload, weather conditions and unplanned situations. Flexibility is needed!


Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.


Free-time activities

You can spend the weekends relaxing, swimming in the river, doing sports, hiking, enjoying the outdoors or participating in activities with the local community. 

For longer trips (e.g. weekend) we recommend a visit to Quito, the country's capital. With its rich pre-Columbian history, Quito was ...

Free-time activities

You can spend the weekends relaxing, swimming in the river, doing sports, hiking, enjoying the outdoors or participating in activities with the local community. 

For longer trips (e.g. weekend) we recommend a visit to Quito, the country's capital. With its rich pre-Columbian history, Quito was founded on the ruins of an Inca city, and nowadays offers everything a modern traveler may need. Quito remains one of the best preserved historic city centers in Latin America and UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. This huge city stretches over a fabulous Andean valley surrounded by volcanic peaks. Among its streets, you can find 40 churches and chapels, 16 convents and monasteries with their respective cloisters, 17 squares, 12 convent and refractory courtyards, 12 museums and innumerable beautiful patios.

On a day-trip you can also visit the "Middle of the World", the place with the line that divides the planet earth in the northern and southern hemisphere. An amazing place and a Must See!

Further north is Otavalo, the largest indigenous market in the world. To the south, you can visit Latacunga and the Cotopaxi National Park, with the very high volcano of the same name. Further southeast the cities of Ambato and Baños are worth a visit, with the spectacular view of the Tungurahua volcano, which can be climbed to the top. 
Especially Baños is real fun place to visit due to countless of sports and adrenaline activities.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak Spanish (basic level)

Education Requirements

at High School level

Required Documents

CV and Volunteer Questionnaire

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  • Shared room in Volunteer House
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Advice from our experienced staff
  • On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
  • Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
  • Your placement in the volunteer project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Packing list
  • Country handbook
  • Intercultural guide
  • Orientation upon arrival
  • On-site volunteer coordinator
  • 24/7 emergency number
  • Advice on travel insurance
  • Certificate of participation

Accommodation

You will be staying either at the lodge at the heart of the cloud forest at a height of 6,200 feet, or in the volunteer house down the valley. Where you stay depends on your working area. On both cases you live in bedrooms shared by either two, four or eight people. Please note that some of the dorms might be mixed gender. At the lodge there is limited electricity but at the valley it is 24/7.

Food & Beverages

The volunteer program includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. Special diatry requirements can be taken care of.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Mariscal Sucre International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ecuador. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ecuador provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Ecuador you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ecuador. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year. The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningfull volunteer project.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 786€
3 weeks 960€
4 weeks 1,135€
5 weeks 1,310€
6 weeks 1,484€
7 weeks 1,659€
8 weeks 1,833€
9 weeks 2,008€
10 weeks 2,182€
11 weeks 2,357€
12 weeks 2,532€
24 weeks (max. stay) 4,627€
Average fees 292€/week

Program fees

292€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

South America Inside

Great 4.4 rating (78 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2003

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Marion

Spoken languages: German, Spanish, English

About the project

South America Inside promotes intercultural, linguistic and educational exchanges. Its volunteer programs are addressed to students, professionals and retirees.

Meet your organization

South America Inside is an intercultural management agency, founded back in 2003, which specializes in the promotion of programs abroad, language travel and educational programs throughout Latin America.

Since 2007, to enrich the experience of our global-minded clients and to provide them with even more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding their program offerings throughout South and Central America.

Working together with some of the best language schools in Latin America, South America Inside provides high quality language courses in almost every Latin American country.

Thanks to a professional team of motivated and friendly staff, South America Inside has been very successful over the past several years and have been able to establish an outstanding network of what we call "Insider Contacts." To enrich the experience of their clients and to provide them with more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding our program offerings throughout Central and South America, in addition to our well-established Chilean programs.

Volunteer Work

Do you dream of staying abroad while doing something positive? Are you looking for a unique experience that will leave a mark on your life? Then a Volunteer Work program in South America or Central America is perfect for you!

With South America Inside you can combine an adventure abroad with social commitment, and create lasting memories in Latin America. Support the protection of endangered species; help a local community construct new homes; give new hope to impoverished children.

The possibilities to lend a hand are diverse, as there are the many places where help is needed. We have classified our volunteer projects in different areas so you can easily find the one (or more!) projects that best match your needs and interests.

Why with us

There are many persuasive reasons that speak in favor of South America Inside when it comes to selecting your perfect provider of language, study and volunteer travel abroad. Following, we have prepared a short summary so that you can get us to know a little better.

Our Insider benefits at a glance:

  Regional Experience
Over one decade (established in 2003) of dedication to language, work and study travel programs in Latin America. Thanks to our long standing work and life experience in the South American continent, we know this region really well. Therefore, we can help and inform you in a professional and competent way.

  Multifaceted Offers
Over time we have developed new programs to offer a wide array of work abroad opportunities to our clients. We have been pioneers in launching new exchange programs, as we have been the first in offering Work & Travel/Working Holiday and Farm Stays in Chile and successfully introduced these programs into the market back in 2005. Since 2012, we are the only agency to offer this type of program in Costa Rica.

  Insider Advice
Despite living in the modern era of the internet, we know that reliable and competent advice is still an important criterion for most of us. At South America Inside, you will find the benefits of an internet provider and an independent travel agency. We will be glad to pass on our extensive knowledge and regional experience.!

  Location
It is difficult to run programs when there is nobody “on the ground” to evaluate existing options and search for new opportunities. So, we are located in Chile, on location, and we know everything that is going on first hand. We know what it is like to live as a foreigner in South America and will be happy to assist you in making your stay unforgettable!

  Independence
South America Inside is an independent provider of language courses, internships, volunteer work, Farm Stays and Work & Travel programs in Latin America. We neither depend financially nor structurally on any other company, language school, association or organization. Therefore, we are able to give personalized information in accordance to your needs and availability.

•  Multilingual Team

Our team is multilingual and international! We speak fluent English, Spanish and German, as well as some French and Portuguese. With our customers, we can communicate in their native language and we avoid misunderstandings with local partners by communicating in Spanish with them. You can be sure that there will be an English-speaking contact person for you before, during, and after your stay.

  Customer Service
Excellent customer service is one of the most important goals for South America Inside, and this is evident with the positive feedback we regularly receive from our many happy clients. Emails are answered within 48 business hours and every client is treated with the same friendliness and expertise.

  Gapless and Accurate Information flow
With South America Inside you will have one and the same contact person before, during and after your trip. With that said, we guarantee a gapless and accurate information flow and you will always be very well informed.

  Approved Program Places
Many of our program places, especially in the area of internships and volunteer work, are designed in the way that they will be recognized by most universities, colleges or academies.

78 reviews · rating4.4

lyne bourbonnais rating3.8

2024 at Eco Farm Worker

j'ai bien aimé mon expérience à Antigua qui est une superbe ville facile à visiter. Vivre dans une famille, y prendre les repas est une très belle incursion dans la vie guatémaltèque. et quoi de mieux pour l'immersion en langue espagnole! eco farm: bien qu'au départ je n'ai pas bien saisi ...
GERALDINE QUIRKE rating3.2

2024 at Work in a National Park

When I scheduled volunteer time the indication was that there was a limited number of volunteers based on the projects/work to be done. As more and more volunteers arrived i realized that we were more valued for the money we paid than for the limited amount of work to be done. Also, I felt that ...
Floriana D. rating5

2023 at Local Wildlife Helper

Hey there, I love my experience, it is amazing !!! Tomorrow I am going to visit and I am working, it's going very well ! Thank you for everything!! ...
Ich bin gut auf der Osterinsel angekommen. Wurde von dem Projektleiter am Flughafen abgeholt. Er hatte sogar eine Kollegin mit, die deutsch spricht, sollte ich mit spanisch nicht so gut umgehen können. Echt toll! Die Unterkunft ist gut und ordentlich und groß, sie liegt am Ende der Ortschaft, ...
Emilie Hasni rating4.2

2023 at Help Save Sea Turtles

Magnifique expérience avec les tortues et avec les autres volontaires aussi. Le cadre est magnifique, les couchers de soleil et les balades dans la nature autour du lieu du volontariat sont superbes. Petite info : si tu veux avoir internet, le seul réseau qui fonctionne est Kolbi. Nous on a ...
Laurence M. rating5

2023 at Wildlife Rescue Assistant

The country is magnifique and at this moment all the people who I’ve met are nice. The projet and his place is very cool and the family home stay too! Everything is OK thank you for ...

Location


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