Tweet Roll
- Some great volunteering abroad tips from UP alum Abbie Mood! ht.ly/2wYz6
- Cool photos! via @MatadorNetwork ht.ly/2wHnW
- Interesting article. Can anyone trace their family's name changes? ht.ly/2va3z
Ecuador Program Details
Accommodation and Food
You will be staying with a family in Quito where you will receive a private room and 3 meals a day. The families are always very friendly and excited to teach you about the culture of Ecuador! You will receive more detail about your host family prior to departure.
Insurance, Health and Safety
United Planet provides emergency medical insurance for all of its Short Term volunteers. You receive policy information by email prior to departure, and also the emergency number to call if you are treated for any medical issues. Insurance also covers baggage loss up to $500 and trip interruption due to extraordinary circumstances.* Upon sign up you will also receive a full guide to health and safety in your country. We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment a few months out to update your vaccinations, etc. or visiting a travel health clinic. Your doctor can recommend the appropriate vaccinations and travel medicine. Please see the Health and Safety page for more information.
Transportation and Flights
United Planet arranges all airport transfers and will ensure that you arrive safely to your host family. Public transportation to/from your project is cheap and easy with either of Quito’s two trolley lines or by bus. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.
Tips on how to find an inexpensive flight can be found in our Cost Savings 2010 guide.
Start Dates
Programs start each Sunday.
It’s not all about hard work. Soak up some culture and history as well: While you’ll be volunteering on average between 30 and 40 hours a week, we also think it’s important that our volunteers relax. All Short-Term Ecuador Quests include cultural activities (such as Ecuadorean cooking or salsa lessons) and language lessons (8 hours per week of private instruction). Sneak in the sights: Exciting excursions to the see Quito attractions, highland markets, hot springs, and the cloud forest are also included! Please see below to find out which excursions are included in your program. One week stays do not include an excursion outside of Quito.Please see a Sample Itinerary for more information about what a typical week includes.
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What’s Included:
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What’s Not Included:
Optional Excursion:
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1 Week |
10 Days |
2 Wks |
3 Wks |
4 Wks |
5 Wks |
6 Wks |
7 Wks |
8 Wks |
9 Wks |
10 Wks |
11 Wks |
12 Wks |
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Price |
1665 |
1765 |
1865 |
2065 |
2365 |
2665 |
2965 |
3265 |
3565 |
3865 |
4165 |
4465 |
4765 |
*$25 Evaluation Refund
Discounts and Special Family Rates
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Special Family Rates: |
Discounts: |
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Fundraising page
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Scholarships and Grants page
*Evaluation Refund ($25)
Your feedback is very important to us! Upon receiving your online evaluation within one month of the completion of your Quest, you will be refunded $25. Instead of receiving your $25 refund, you may choose to donate that $25 to the Country Fund of your Quest host country. United Planet Country Funds support program development and sustainable development projects in volunteer host communities. Please note that UP will only refund one survey per family.
Optional Spanish Language Immersion Course
Rusty on your Spanish? You can add a one or two week intensive Spanish Language course and practice your conversation skills. Instead of starting work at your assigned project, volunteers spend the first one or two weeks studying Spanish in a language school in Quito.
Includes: 30 hours of group lessons, or 20 hours of individual lessons (depending on Spanish level) per week. There is an additional charge for the Spanish Language Immersion Course on top of the Program Fee:
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1 week Spanish Language Immersion Course: $100
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2 week Spanish Language Immersion Course: $200
