Adventure Holiday in Ecuador

Day 1: Arrival and pick up from the Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport (Airport Code UIO) in Quito Ecuador. Transfer to host family home, and rest.
Day 2: Orientation. This entails about 2-4 hours of lecture. Topics covered at orientation will include Ecuadorian culture, history, customs, politics, geography, and necessary health precautions, and various other topics, such as the diversity of Ecuadorian life. Afternoon is free for exploring Ecuadorian life and getting to know the community.
Day 3-5: Ecuador Volunteers and Interns leave for project early in the morning after breakfast. Introductions held with project staff.
Day 6-7: International volunteers and interns continue with their work abroad.
Day 8: Free to explore Quito on your own or hang out with host family.

Day 9-12: Ecuador Adventure Tours
Day 9: Mindo and Otavalo
Morning:  International volunteers and overseas interns leave Quito for Mindo. Mindo is a cloud forest reserve, an archaeological site and an ecological paradise. Overseas volunteers and interns will hike into the rainforest to watch different species of birds and butterflies.
Afternoon: Volunteers abroad in Ecuador and the interns will hike further into the forest to watch the magnificent and breathtaking waterfalls of Mindo before driving on to Otavalo for the night.

Morning: International volunteers and interns will visit the amazing and breathtaking volcano crater at Quicocha which houses a crater lake surrounded by Andean forest; interact with the Otavala Indians famous for their arts and wool production then drive up to Peguche and visit and Indian music workshop with lunch at Peguche.
Afternoon: Overseas volunteers visit the Peguche waterfall a sacred place for the locals then proceed to visit with a weaver at Agato village. Volunteers abroad and interns will also visit the Plaza de Ponchos and the famous Otavalo market where they can bargain for beautiful local garments and handicrafts. Later in the afternoon, volunteers and intern will visit the natural Papallacta hot springs, sit in the warm pools, swim or relax under the warm tropical sun. Dinner and overnight at Papallacta.

The highest active volcano in the world situated at the centre of the Cotopaxi National Park makes the national park one of the most visited national parks in Ecuador. Its main attractions are the permanent snowcaps at the top of the volcanoes surrounded by a plethora of wildlife such as condors, deer, hummingbirds, gazelles and foxes. The Cotopaxi National Park offers overseas volunteers and interns beautiful scenery and lots of activities such as mountaineering, hiking, and bird watching.

Ba?os, nestled between the river Pastazo and the Tungurahua volcano is at the centre of Ecuador. At Ba?os volunteers abroad and interns overseas are free to tour the town on their own or participate in one three-hour sporting activity of their choice from among horseback riding, white water rafting, mountain biking, hiking, scooter riding or they can simply tour the town on their own. In the afternoon Ecuador volunteers and interns will drive back to Quito.

Day 13: Ecuador Adventure Holidays Program evaluation in the morning, afternoon is free.
Day 14: Program Ends at 10 AM. Farewell to host family country staff.   Ecuador volunteers and interns abroad who have signed up for extra placement transfer to project placement.