Ecuador Projects
Conservation Volunteer Ecuador
Would you like to immerse yourself in a stunning natural preserve and volunteer your time helping protect it? Do you have a passion for conservation and want to travel to Ecuador? Then IFRE’s Ecuador conservation volunteer program is your dream come true!
This unique project is located at the Los Cedros Biological Preserve in the Andean cloud forest of Ecuador. A remote and spectacular destination, this17,000 acre preserve is home to an astounding array of wildlife including 240 species of birds, 900 species of moths, three
types of monkeys, the rare spectacled bear, and an incredible five species of felines including Jaguarundi, Margay, Oncilla, Puma and Jaguar!
At this Ecuador conservation volunteer project, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in this incredible natural setting while helping conserve and protect the important and varied flora and fauna that make their home in the preserve. You will work doing trail maintenance and development, participating in active scientific research projects, feeding chickens, cultivating the vegetable patch, picking oranges, cutting down bananas, and helping transport supplies to the remote project location.
Your time at the project will have a tremendous impact on the fragile and unique ecosystems of the Los Cedros Biological Preserve. You will have the chance to live and work in a pristine natural setting and actively contribute to conserving it.
Do you want to stay amidst natural splendor while contributing to the survival of several endangered species? Then contact IFRE today to learn more about helping the planet and volunteering in Ecuador.
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Volunteer Responsibilities & Impact
The duties at this project are extremely varied from day to day, and change based on what’s going on in the reserve at the time. Some of your activities might include:
- Trail maintenance and development
- Checking the integrity of the reserve’s borders
- Assisting with research project work
- Developing new projects
- Maintaining the facilities
- Feeding the chickens, cultivating the vegetable patches, picking oranges, and cutting down bananas
- Purchasing and transporting additional food and other supplies to the reserve from Quito
Your time volunteering in Ecuador will give you a chance to reconnect with nature and work hard each day helping to preserve this beautiful, unique place in the world.
Skills and Qualifications:
Anyone who loves the planet and is up for working in tropical and remote conditions is welcome to join this exciting volunteer conservation project. The preserve is deep in the forests of Ecuador and after you arrive there won’t be towns nearby for you to visit recreationally, so you will have to bring everything you need and supply your own source of entertainment.
If you have a background in scientific research, ecology, or similar fields, we encourage you to be proactive and start your own projects at the reserve. This isn’t required, however, and we welcome volunteers over the age of 18 from a variety of backgrounds to join this unique Ecuador volunteer project.
Staying in the Andean cloud forest of Ecuador to help save endangered animals is an amazing experience and you’re sure to have lots of fun immersing yourself in this natural setting.
Your schedule at the Los Cedros Biological Preserve is going to be extremely varied from one day to another, so you shouldn’t expect a daily routine that stays the same throughout your time volunteering. One day you may be forging a trail in the morning and working in the vegetable patch in the afternoon, and another night you may be out late doing research on nocturnal species. To give you a rough idea of what to expect, though, we have provided a sample schedule here.
First Day: On your first day of thevolunteering in Ecuador conservation program, you will be brought to the Los Cedros Biological Preserve deep in the cloud forests of the Andes mountains. You’ll get settled in and meet the dedicated team of conservationists you’ll be working with.
Weekdays: Your work with conservation begins on the second day, and atypical volunteer day is as follows:
6.00 to 7.30 AM: Enjoy a healthy breakfast with your fellow volunteers.
7.45 AM: Your daily and duties and schedule will vary considerably, but you’ll spend your days helping to maintain the preserve and joining in on active scientific research projects being carried out.
12.00 PM: Lunch is another great chance to bond with fellow volunteers. Meals all have to be grown on the preserve or brought in from a local organic market.
3.00 PM: In the afternoon after you wrap up your work for the day, you’ll be free to relax and enjoy the beautiful splendor all around you.
6.45 PM: Dinner and the chance to share stories about your day with project staff and other international volunteers concludes your day.
Conservation Volunteer Ecuador :Dates and Fees
IFRE programs begin every Monday year-round. If you have travel constraints, you can still start your chosen program on any day of the year.
Our Fees
Since 2006, IFRE has been the most trusted and respected volunteer abroad organization in the world, and also the most affordable. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality volunteer programs at the lowest fees, which make it possible for everyone, especially students, to volunteer internationally and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
We believe in 100% transparency. Rest assured, we never use middlemen. Your one-time registration fee of $299 covers our administrative costs. The low weekly fee is paid in the host country directly to your host family and project (via country coordinator), and includes housing, food, and minor expenses. IFRE is a non-profit organization, so your program fees are tax deductible.
Volunteer Program Fees (US$)
| Weeks | Conservation |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $345 |
| 2 Weeks | $590 |
| 3 Weeks | $835 |
| 4 Weeks | $1,080 |
| 5 Weeks | $1,325 |
| 6 Weeks | $1,570 |
| 7 Weeks | $1,815 |
| 8 Weeks | $2,060 |
| 9 Weeks | $2,305 |
| 10 Weeks | $2,550 |
| 11 Weeks | $2,795 |
| 12 Weeks | $3,040 |
Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years)
Program Fees Cover:
- Accommodation (host family)
- Food (only breakfast and dinnery)
- Program Orientation
- In-country support
- Personalized project
- Pre-departure information
- Certificate of completion
- Fundraising ideas and letters
- Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude:
- Visas
- Airfare
- Airfare Galapagos
- Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
- Daily transportation
- Airport return transfer
- Food (if you are volunteering on the Galapagos Islands); Please allot $60-$70 a week to cover the cost of your meals
The volunteering programs in Ecuador fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for the additional expenses, which would typically be around $30 a day for room and meals at a hoste
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Accommodation and Meal
Given the remote location of the preserve, you will stay at the project site itself. You can expect a simple, basic room which you may or may not share with fellow volunteers. All the rooms have stunning, jaw-dropping views, and you will be truly immersed in nature. Expect eco-friendly amenities like composting toilets.
During the week you’ll have meals prepared for you by the kitchen staff, and on weekends you’ll have access to the kitchen to prepare food for yourself. All the ingredients are grown at the preserve or brought in from a local, organic market.
Learn more about your housing and food at IFRE’s Ecuador volunteer conservation project.
Free Time and Weekend Exploration
Because of how remote and undeveloped the area around the reserve is, volunteers at this project will need to enjoy spending time in nature and being content to entertain themselves. Beautiful views, diverse wildlife, and a network of fascinating trails will offer nature lovers plenty to do during their evenings and weekends off. Quito, the capital city, is a couple of day’s journey away, so is a bit difficult to reach for a day trip.
Safety and in Country Support
Your safety is our number one concern at IFRE. We go out of our way to make sure you are well taken care of throughout your entire trip volunteering in Ecuador. We have carefully selected safe projects and locations and back you up with a stellar in-country team that has years of experience working with volunteers and will be available to you at all times.
Read more about IFRE’s focus on safety and our in-country team.
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Conservation Volunteer Ecuador : Details You Should Know
There’s a lot of planning that goes into a volunteer trip abroad, and with IFRE you can rest easy knowing we take care of a lot of the details for you. Here are a few we think you should know about before traveling with us:
Arrival and departure
You will fly into Quito International Airport for our conservation volunteering program in Ecuador. As soon as you book your flight, send your itinerary to our in-country coordinator so they can set up your airport pickup. We’ll send an airport representative to be there waiting for you, and you’ll see them holding a sign with your name on it.
We advise you to arrive in Ecuador one day before the start of your projectto relax and prepare.The trek to the preserve is quite an adventure, so rest up and get ready for the journey.
We do not offer departure transfer services, but the local project staff will be happy to advise you on how to set this all up once you complete your volunteering in Ecuador.
Visa
You will need to apply for a tourist visa to in Ecuador, and the requirements for this will vary based on your home country.If you a citizen of Canada, the USA or any European country (excluding France) then you only need a passport with a validity of at least 6 months to be allowed entry for 90 days.
The easiest way to apply for an Ecuadorian tourist visa is by paying a visit to the Embassy of Ecuador located in your home country. You will have to fill out a visa application form and you must bring your passport along with a couple of photos for submission.
Some nationalities may be able to obtain a travel visa to Ecuador upon arrival at the Quito International Airport. If want to continue working on our Ecuador conservation volunteer projects after the expiration of your visa, you have the option to extend your visa by visiting the office of Immigration Department in Quito. Check with our in-country coordinator if you need advice regarding this matter.
You can learn more about Ecuador’s visa requirements and policies here
Vaccination
Getting up to date on routine and required vaccinations is the best way to ensure you are safe and healthy during your time abroad.
Shingles, influenza, meningitis, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), hepatitis B, yellow fever, pneumonia, rabies, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), hepatitis A, polio, typhoid, and chickenpox are the vaccinations recommended for you when planning to volunteer in Ecuador.
However, you must visit your local doctor and ask them for proper advice before getting vaccinated.You can learn more about vaccinations for Ecuador here
For further readings:
Safety tips for your volunteer abroad trip
Why Conservation Volunteer Ecuador?
This conservation project is an amazing chance to get back into nature and enjoy the amazing scenery and wildlife that the Andean cloud forest offers.
Promote biodiversity and responsible tourism
Your active involvement in our Ecuador conservation volunteer project will help promote the preservation of the unique and delicate ecosystem in a safe and sustainable manner. Rather than damaging the natural environment during your travels, you will be directly making a positive impact on its conservation.
Work on your personal growth
Your work at this project will greatly benefit your personal growth. It will give you a chance to break out of your daily routine comfort zone. You will travel to another part of the world and work hard, developing new skills, and learning to live and work with people from all over the world, allowing you to grow as a person as a result.
You get to experience new environments and new culture
Los Cedros Biological Preserve is home to both wet tropical and cloud forest ecosystems, and a dizzying array of plant and animal life you will likely not encounter anywhere else in the world. In your help transporting supplies to this remote Ecuador volunteer project location, you will also encounter local and indigenous Ecuadorian people and be exposed to a new culture and way of life.
Your actions will have a direct impact on the environment
This project is extremely hands-on and living and working in the preserve you will get to see your hard work and efforts having an impact right there on the ground. You will be actively restoring the habitat, contributing to scientific research, and living in an environmentally sustainable way.
Learn teamwork through conservation volunteering
Another key skill you’ll develop while working in ourvolunteer opportunities in Ecuador for conservation is teamwork. Making your project a success will involve working closely with a diverse range of people, both locals and other volunteers, many of whom you might otherwise have never interacted with. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Explore our other projects in Ecuador!
In addition to our conservation project, we also have a variety of other amazing and impactful volunteer programs available in Ecuador you might be interested in. You can
work with conservation on the Galapagos and much more.
If you are traveling with a group, we offer a variety of group programs for high school and college students and families.
Other Conservation Opportunities Worldwide
In order to preserve the planet and the amazing biospheres therein, IFRE arranges conservation projects in many different countries, the most popular of which are listed below:
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