Overview
Explore South America

GVI have merged 3 of the most popular programs in South America to create an explorer package, ideal for those wanting to combine conservation and community work. The trip is 14 weeks in total; 5 of which will be spent working on a research expedition in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest. Volunteers will spend another 5 weeks in Otavalo teaching local Andean communities. One more month will be spent in Peru working in the “pueblos jovenes” or “young towns” surrounding the colonial city of Arequipa.

This combination trip allows you to enjoy a mixture of different projects and countries and offers you the opportunity to explore the region in-between your time on each program. You will arrange the travel/flights from one location to the next, allowing you more flexibility and the option to build these worthwhile programs into your travel itinerary.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

I loved getting to live in the rainforest and go hiking everyday and seeing whatever came along that day. I loved the bonding happening between the people there. I loved being surrounded by wildlife. I also loved teaching the kids.

Ashley Sacco, 2008

What Difference Does This Project Make?

GVI is making a difference in Ecuador’s Amazon by supporting the Yachana Foundation and local efforts to preserve the rainforest and its extraordinary diversity of plants and animals. These efforts include promoting sustainable economic and agricultural alternatives for its inhabitants, many of whom are from poor, indigenous communities. On the teaching projects in Peru and Ecuador our aims are first and foremost in education and pay particular attention to improving the standards of literacy and education of the children of each community.

Highlights

Enjoying the intensive in-camp training to gain basic knowledge of the environment; spending nights out and experiencing the sights and sounds of the tropical rainforest, setting photo-trapping equipment; enjoying wildlife observation from the river; experiencing nocturnal frog and mammal surveys; exploring different parts of the Amazon; working with the local community and learning how to navigate in the forest. Being immersed in the indigenous culture of Ecuador and Peru and contributing towards the education of children who without these projects may go without. Living with a local host family and practicing Spanish. Exploring these fascinating countries with the optional side trips.

Location

When in the Amazon you will be based on 1,800 hectares of (mainly) primary rainforest on lands neighbouring the tiny village of Mondaña, located on the Napo River between the cities of Tena and Coca, in the eastern part of Ecuador. In Peru, volunteers are based in Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city. In Ecuador, Otavalo is our base town, located two hours north of the Capital Quito.

Field Conditions

The expedition base camp is located adjacent to the Napo River in a cleared area within the rainforest. It contains a dormitory-style residence that has cooking facilities, showers and toilets, and provides expedition members with all the basic conditions for sleeping, eating, working and relaxing.
Volunteers live with local families both in Arequipa and Otavalo in accommodation that is basic yet comfortable. This gives you a more enriched cultural experience and the valuable opportunity to practice your Spanish! You will have your own private room, hot water and three meals a day will be provided when you are with the family.