Ecuador
Andean Service Adventure
Explore the Andean region of Ecuador, immersing yourself in local culture through a family homestay and meaningful community-initiated service projects. Complete the experience with exciting adventure activities in the lush cloud forests of Mindo!
Trip Details
Departures and Availability
Session 1
July 15, 2025 July 26, 2025 OpenFocus
Language Immersion, Spanish Immersion
Grades
Entering 9th – Graduating 12th
Average Group Size
18 Students, 2 Staff
Days
12
Service Hours
30 Hours
Tuition
$4,395
Daily Activities at a Glance
Discover the exciting adventures and impactful moments awaiting each day on this itinerary!
- Group flight arrival in Quito
- Transfer via private bus to our comfortable group accommodation
- Safety briefing, snacks, and settle into bed
- Group orientation and language activities
- Visit Plaza de Independencia and El Panecillo for stunning city views
- Ride the Quito Teleferico gondola for epic mountain vistas
- Visit Mitad del Mundo (the equator) and enjoy a special organic lunch in Calacali with a local chef
- Evening group reflection, homestay orientation, and role-playing with language practice
- Hike around Lago Cuicocha’s crater lake and learn about its geological and cultural history
- Meet homestay families in Cotacachi (2 students per household)
- Engage in community service projects with local schools and indigenous partners (e.g., construction, maintenance, and interaction with children)
- Participate in language exchange and cultural immersion activities
- Enjoy a Pambamesa lunch with community members to celebrate the week’s work
- Adventure activities include visiting Otavalo’s artisan market, a local tannery workshop, organic jam-making, jewelry workshops, and a visit to an alpaca farm
- Explore the Cloud Forest region with zip lining, a visit to a hummingbird center, and inner tubing down the river
- Reflect on the journey and enjoy closing group activities in this lush, diverse environment
- Return to Quito for a final celebratory dinner
- Depart from Quito, bringing back memories and stories to share
- ¡Adios, Ecuador!
Highlights of the Trip
A Day in the Life
Experience authentic daily life by staying with local families, practicing your Spanish, and engaging in cultural exchanges.
Giving Back
Work alongside indigenous communities on service projects, from school maintenance to interacting with local children.
Cloudforest Adrenaline
Soar through the treetops on a zip line, float down rivers, and discover the beauty of Ecuador’s vibrant cloud forest.
Artisan Exploration
Visit the famous artisan market and participate in leather, jam, and jewelry-making workshops with local craftsmen.
Gallery
Accommodations
Quito
Our Quito accommodations are just outside the bustling Simon Bolivar neighborhood near Quito’s Centro Historico. The locally owned and operated hostel-style hotel was specifically selected for its comfort and group-coherent space. Students are in shared bunk-style rooms, and the hotel has hot water and home-cooked breakfasts.
Cotacachi Homestays
Global Works has longstanding relationships with the communities where we place students and complete our service projects. All homes where students are housed are within walking distance of one another and close to the project work site. Homes are humble in nature, typically constructed of concrete blocks; they are clean and inviting. Students will have a private room within the home and the room is shared between two Global Works students. All homes have bathrooms complete with a flush toilet and a shower. Meals are prepared by the homestay families and families are trained in proper food preparation and food handling.
Mindo
Our cloud forest accommodations in Mindo provide a unique setting for the closing days of our program. We stay in a locally owned and operated jungle lodge that is centrally located to our various excursions. Students stay in comfortable bunk-style rooms surrounded by a peaceful jungle environment.
Enroll in a Teen Summer Trip With Global Works Today
Through our service trips for students, we cultivate unique adventures and inspiring experiences that will stick with our travelers long after the summer is over.
