Ecuador Volunteer Project 2010 - 2 Weeks

Dates:
2 weeks: July 1- 15th 2010 & Aug 1-15th

1  month: July 11-Aug 8th & Aug 1- Aug 30th

Trip Cost:
2 weeks - $1200 CAD. Includes 50% meals, accommodations, transportation, tour guide & project manager and jungle rafting expedition. International flights & optional activities not included.

1 month- $1700 CAD. Includes 50% meals, accommodations, transportation, tour guide & project manager and jungle rafting expedition. International flights, gratuities, spending money & optional activities are not included in the tour cost.

Arrival City: Quito, Ecuador

Departure City: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Final joining instructions will be sent 2 weeks before departure.

Click here to download the Booking Form and Waiver

Trip Description

Eco-librium Sustainable Adventures has teamed up with Construct & Conserve (www.constructconserve.com), and the Tangare Foundation to create an opportunity for travelers to take one step beyond just regular travel and tourism. Our goal is to offer you a tour that encompasses adventure, volunteering, and learning. We are offering a unique volunteer tour that will include a volunteer project in the areas of green building and community health. The second half of our project includes an adventure tour that will explore the Andes, Cloud Forest, Amazon and Coast of Ecuador. Tours to choose from include rafting, mountain climbing, hiking, biking, surfing, horseback riding, snorkeling, rock climbing, salsa dancing and a whole lot of fun. Our adventure tours are geared for those who are eager to explore new places with a sense of adrenalin or with just a keen sense of wonder.

Green Building Project:
Volunteers will help construct a school made of bamboo for children living in the rural communities surrounding La Hesperia nature reserve. The vision for this school is to provide basic education to children with an emphasis on sustainability programs. There are two full time Ecuadorian teachers that will run the school during the Ecuadorian school year and visiting international volunteers will help develop and run specialized programs as part of their volunteer projects. We are asking for volunteers with experience in construction and an interest in sustainability to participate in this project.

Community Health Project:
This community health project will be focused on running a preventative health clinic for a population of senior citizens that live in rural Ecuador. A free clinic will be conducted with one on one interviews and assessments. Based on the intake the health care team will work together to create a sustainable treatment plan for the patients. There are local Ecuadorian health care professionals that will be part of our team. We are asking for donations to buy medical supplies that include but are not limited to: wheel chairs, walkers, braces, and basic medical supplies. Health care is not free in Ecuador and many people do not have money to pay for care. Our goal is to provide an affordable and sustainable treatment plan that will focus on maintaining the health of the patients. All health care professionals are welcome on this project.

Conservation Project: Volunteers can participate in conservation activities like; organic farming, monkey monitoring, maintaining the medicinal plant garden, and reforestation.

* If you would like to come on this volunteer project and do not have strengths that will help with these particular projects don’t worry! Come anyways. There are many volunteer activities at the nature reserve that you can help with. Everyone is welcome.

Trip Itinerary - 2 Weeks

*Please note that sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, the trip itinerary can change.

Itinerary

Additional Information

Accommodations:
Shared rooms with shared or private bathrooms, Jungle lodge (mosquito nets provided), and optional camping trip offered during volunteer project. You can book a private room with private bath for an $10.00 US a night.

Types of Transport:
Public bus, private jeep or van, boat, bike & raft

Daily Budget Recommendations:

• $15 -20 US for thrifty spenders. There are 3 course lunches that are delicious and filling available for $2.00 US
• $20-25 US for travelers who like to splurge once in awhile.
• $25-50 US for big time spenders who need to spend a lot of money.
• A 578 ml bottle of beer = $1.00 - $1.50 US
• Surfboard rental = $5.00-$10.00 US
• Surf lesson = $20.00 US
• Bike rental = $10.00 US
• Snorkeling excursion = $45.00 US
• Spanish lessons = $5.00
• Salsa lessons = FREE!

Expectations:
Volunteers at the reserve are representatives of La Hesperia and are expected to act in ways that enhance the station’s relations with local people and outside visitors. All volunteers are expected to follow the rules of Tangaré Foundation and La Hesperia. Drugs are prohibited. If a volunteer violates the rules, Tangaré Foundation maintains the right to ask that volunteer to leave.

Money:
Ecuador’s official currency is the US dollar. If you’re not traveling from the USA, consider bringing a small supply of US dollars with you on your trip in case you have trouble exchanging currency from your home country. Western Unions are in most big cities.

ATMs
ATMs are the easiest way of getting cash, period. They’re found in most cities and even in smaller towns, though they are occasionally out of order. Make sure you have a four-digit PIN; many Ecuadorian ATMs don’t recognize longer ones. Bancos del Pacífico and Bancos del Pichincha have MasterCard/Cirrus ATMs. Bancos de Guayaquil and Bancos La Provisora have Visa/Plus ATMs.

Cash
US dollar bills are the official currency. They are identical to those issued in the USA. Coins of one, five, 10, 25 and 50 cents are identical in shape, size and color as their US equivalents, but bear images of famous Ecuadorians rather than US presidents. Both US and Ecuadorian coins are used in Ecuador. There are no plans to print Ecuadorian versions of US dollar bills. The US$1 ‘Sacajawea’ coin is widely used.

The biggest problem when it comes to cash is finding change. It can be hard to cash a $20 bill even in big cities. No one ever has sueltos (literally ‘loose ones, ’ meaning ‘change’), so change your bills when you can. Forget about changing a $50 or $100 bill outside a bank.

Credit cards
Credit cards are great as backup. Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club are the most widely accepted cards. First-class restaurants, hotels, gift shops and travel agencies almost always accept MasterCard or Visa. Small hotels, restaurants and stores don’t. Even if an establishment has a credit-card sticker in the window, don’t assume that credit cards are accepted. In Ecuador, merchants accepting credit cards will often add between 4% and 10% to the bill. Paying cash is often better value.

About Ecuador:
This country straddles Northern hemispheres. It borders Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is divided into 4 different regions (the Amazon, the highlands (the Andes), the coast and the Galápagos Islands). Ecuador is a multiethnic and multicultural nation, with a population of more than 12.6 million inhabitants. Fourteen indigenous groups live on the Ecuadorian mainland, maintaining their own traditions and ways of life.

Ecuador is considered one of the 17 mega diverse countries in the world. The nation’s drastic geographic and climatic variations have led to evolution of thousands of species of flora and fauna. In Ecuador there are 10% of the worlds plant species, (i.e. 25,000 species of trees), approximately 8 % of the world’s animals and 18% of the planet’s birds (i.e. 1,640 bird species, 4,500 species of butterflies, 350 species of reptiles, 375 species of amphibians, and 1,550 species of mammals, 800 fresh water fish species, and 450 salt water fish species). Ecuador has 46 ecosystems that go from sea level to an altitude of around 6,400 meters in its total area of 256, 370 km². Despite its tiny size, Ecuador is home of rain forest, cloud forest, mountains, islands, deserts, valleys and snow capped volcanoes.

About The Tangaré Foundation:
The Tangaré foundation is an Ecuadorian non-governmental, non-profit organization. It was legally established 26th January 2009 by Ministerial Agreement No. 003 by the Ministry of the Environment, published in the Official Record No. 539 on 3rd March 2009. We initially established partnerships with La Hesperia Biological Station and Reserve and Great Wilderness.

Mission statement
To promote and strengthen an alternative and innovative model of development in Ecuador, with the main emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation in the Tropical Andes and the Choco bio-regions. We aim to help promote economically viable alternatives to current practices that are environmental friendly. This will be achieved through a combination of research, natural resources management and environmental education.

Vision to 2015
Through the Tangaré Foundation and its partners we aim to make a substantial impact in the area by 2015, through continued experimentation and implementation of alternative models of sustainable development, and by continuing to encourage and support all of the initiatives that we have been involved with until this time.

Project Location

La Hesperia is a nature reserve located in the western range of the Andes at an altitude of 1100 – 2040 meters above sea level. With an area of 814 hectares, it is located in the center of the Rio Toachi-Chiriboga IBA (Important Bird Area, declared by Bird Life International and Conservation International) and it is part of two important bioregions: The Tropical Andes and the Chocó Darien – Western Ecuador, considered within the top five biodiversity hotspots on earth. The station works in natural conservation, combating deforestation, protecting existing forest, restoring degraded areas and searching for sustainable activities that enable us to support the reserve and to offer a better way of life for the local community as well as those who work and live at the reserve.

La Hesperia encompasses three types of forest: pre-montane evergreen, low montane and high montane (cloud forest). Within the boundaries of the reserve there are 287 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, and 63 genera of butterflies (several lists available). The vegetation is typical of the cloud forest, which has the highest diversity of epiphyte plants. In the nursery several endangered tree species are reproduced.

Some of the common animals are: White-fronted capuchin monkey, Tayra, Agouti, Paca, Peccary, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Wattled Guan, Pale-mandible Araçari, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, and Lineated Woodpecker. There are also records of some of the Chocó endemic birds like: Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Violet-tailed Sylph, Tucan barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Chocó Toucan and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager.

The work that we do at La Hesperia is extremely important in terms of preserving the biodiversity of the cloud forest and protecting local watersheds. Our work focuses on protecting existing forests through reforestation, monitoring human activity and its impact and conducting environmental education. La Hesperia is also striving to become a model of integrated farming where agricultural practices complement our primary objective of preserving the natural forest. Combining conservation and agriculture will enable us to sustain the reserve and promote economic activities that are environmentally friendly and beneficial for the local inhabitants.

Volunteer Accommodation
Accommodation in the volunteer house is shared rooms (2 - 5 volunteers per room). The house has running water, electricity, public telephone and excellent views of the forest. Bedding (pillow, sheets, and blankets) will be provided but a sleeping bag may be necessary if you are planning to travel to colder parts of the country or camping at the reserve. We offer a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals that includes traditional Ecuadorian food. Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms are available for couples at an extra charge.

FAQS

Do I need malaria medication?

There are no reported cases of malaria in the area, but it is still advisable to plan ahead with regard to medication. Should you wish to visit the coast or if you are going to another reserve, you may want to check with your doctor at home about preventative medication. Be advised that in order for some types of medication to be effective, you must take them a week before entering a malarial zone.

How safe is Ecuador?

In terms of security Ecuador is comparable to any average Latin American country. Of course when tourists are not mindful of their actions or belongings, there is the possibility of theft, but most travelers enjoy a safe and stimulating holiday.

What is the weather like?

The temperature is the same year round—it ranges from 16° to 24° C (61° to 75° F). The year is divided into two seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season runs from December to April. Though it does not rain all day, it is quite humid and usually rains at least once a day. The dry season runs from May until November. During the dry season, it rains infrequently, but it is still moderately humid. Throughout the entire year, the sun usually shines in the morning, and the clouds descend on the forest in the late afternoon.

What kind of food does La Hesperia serve?

The staff prepares fresh food for each meal. Breakfast typically includes bread, jam, fruit juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, yogurt or oatmeal, and hot water and milk. Traditionally lunch is the largest meal of the day. The first course is always soup followed by meat, fish or a legume, salad, and rice, potatoes or pasta. The dinner menu is similar to lunch except dessert is served rather than soup. Evening menus do vary more than lunch and may include fajitas, lasagne, tacos, or pizza. All food is safe to eat because the staff cooks with purified water and disinfects all vegetables. Alternative meals for those with special dietary restrictions can be made upon request.

What kind of clothing should I bring?

Work at the station often involves manual labor; therefore it is best to bring clothing that you do not mind getting dirty and that you may want to leave behind. Clothing that does not require special washing procedures is best. Also, due to the humid conditions at the station, lightweight, quick-drying clothing is recommended. The following is a list of necessary clothing items:

What other kinds of supplies will I need?

The following is a list of items that will help you feel more at home during your stay at the reserve.

What kind of luggage should I bring?

Since you will be arriving on a bus from Quito and perhaps traveling on the weekends, a backpack is the easiest and most convenient luggage. Suitcases are not recommended!

What is the work schedule at the station?

Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. The morning work session begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m. Lunch is then served at 12:30 p.m. Volunteers have time to relax after lunch until the afternoon work session, which runs from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers have free time until dinner, which is served at 7:00 p.m. When there is a hike, a La Hesperia staff member guides a group hike within the reserve and a pack-lunch is provided.

What do volunteers do in their free time?

There are a number of hiking trails that volunteers can use to explore the reserve, or they can stroll through the self-guided medicinal and orchid gardens. There is also a tranquil meditation garden where they can relax. In the evenings, volunteers often gather at the lodge to socialize around a campfire built in a stone fire pit. They also set up weekly card tournaments, play board games, and read books from the book exchange at the lodge. There is a futball (soccer field) located on the reserve so the employees of the reserve and the volunteers play football—the rivalry has grown, so the games can get pretty intense. Also, if there is enough interest, La Hesperia staff can arrange for a group salsa lesson taught by a member of the La Esperie community. The staff also offers informative talks on topics of volunteers’ choosing. When the reserve’s coffee and cacao plants produce fruit, volunteers can make their own organic coffee and chocolate. In La Esperie there is a small store volunteers can visit to purchase snacks, drinks, and cigarettes. Free time at La Hesperia provides an opportunity to get away from the demands of modern life and use your imagination.

Which vaccinations are required to enter Ecuador?

Ecuador does not currently require tourists to have up-to-date vaccinations to enter the country. However, because of the nature of the work and the environment, we recommend that you consider getting the following vaccinations: tetanus, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid. Consult your doctor or a travel clinic to discuss these and any other vaccinations. If you do receive any of these immunizations, remember to bring your certificate because it may be required if you are planning to visit the rainforest or other countries in South America..

Booking Information

Click here to download the Booking Form and Waiver

Resources and Links

• Pre-departure checklist
• Safety considerations
• Eco-philosophies
• Payment Options

Any other questions email: info@eco-libriumadventures.com or call Kate at (705)849-4048

Donations for school supplies, medical supplies, and costs for building material are welcome. Please contact us for donation information.