>>> FREE TIME ACTIVITIES <<<
With your time off, you can take a walk along the beautiful local trails in the surrounding communities, down to the river, or jump in a taxi to savour the spectacular cloud-covered sunset. There are regular buses into town if you’d like to go shopping, try local food, or learn about Guaranda’s Carnaval — the best known in the country.
For a day’s outing, don’t miss hiking up to Chimborazo’s refuge and enjoying a hot chocolate at over 5,000m above sea level. Alternatively, take a tour around the salt mines and micro-businesses of the renowned village of Salinas de Guaranda. If you prefer warmer climates, within an hour you can drop down to sea level and go hiking in protected virgin forests, searching for pristine rivers, tropical birds, and immense waterfalls.
If you have more time — either during weekends or before and after your internship — you can also explore Ecuador’s incredible diversity, from the Amazon rainforest to the Galápagos Islands. Guaranda really has it all (minus the tourist traps!).
>>> GETTING TO US <<<
Guaranda is equal distance between the two international airports, Quito and Guayaquil
Bus travel is cheap and generally safe, $7 for a 5 hour journey
10 minutes by bus you reach the nearest town with some food & vegetables
30 minutes by bus you arrive in Guaranda with supermarkets and the large weekly market
>>> CLIMATE <<<
We are at almost 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level and the average temperature is 13°C (55°F). Below is a list of typical weather patterns throughout the year, though climate change is definitely throwing these off, so be ready for anything!
- Summer (Jun - Sep): hot sunny days (leading to water shortages), colder cloudless nights and often a strong wind; temperatures ranging from 7-20°C degrees (45-70°F)
- Winter (Feb - Apr): Often dry mornings and heavy rain in the afternoon. Less day/night temperature variation and no wind; temperatures ranging from 10-15°C degrees (50-60°F degrees)
- Spring/Autumn (May, Oct - Jan): Somewhere between summer and winter!
Due to the high altitude, the sun feels cooler but will burn you more easily - so be prepared with a hat and sunscreen. The temperature is cool at night and Ecuadorian houses have no insulation/central heating, we have blankets and hot water bottles to help keep you cosy. Fortunately, there are no mosquitos at this elevation!
