



El Terreno
Why choose El Terreno?
El Terreno is an Ecuadorian organization, based in Bolivar—one of Ecuador's smallest, poorest, and most ecologically diverse provinces. Communities in this province suffer from low education, health, economic and living standards, with hundreds of families relying primarily on conventional agriculture and livestock. In line with this, the organization aims to create opportunities for locals to ...
El Terreno is an Ecuadorian organization, based in Bolivar—one of Ecuador's smallest, poorest, and most ecologically diverse provinces. Communities in this province suffer from low education, health, economic and living standards, with hundreds of families relying primarily on conventional agriculture and livestock. In line with this, the organization aims to create opportunities for locals to learn and practice sustainable methods of developing and improving their economy while preserving their heritage. They bring together local Ecuadorians and other tourists across the globe to collaborate towards ecosystem regeneration, promote indigenous culture, propose employment opportunities, and provide a wide range of eco and community tourism experiences. El Terreno offers a variety of pr...
El Terreno Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Time well used
January 01, 2026by: Florian Walk - GermanyI think that the work of Joshua, Sebastian, Cristian and all the other important people (maintenance, cooking, Neiser) is a great chance for the region to improve in so many ways. I felt part of the team from day one, and tried my best to make a difference. I think there's much to say about the programs, the house, the surrounding nature and the local people. But the most important thing to me was that this organisation brings out the best in the people they work with. Maybe it's a vibe, maybe it's structure, and maybe it's just the patience I experienced there every day. Adding to the greater good in society and improving the lives of so many, El Terreno simply rocks.

Una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida !
January 01, 2026by: Sofia Duque - ColombiaProgram: Architecture & Sustainable Construction Internship - Ecuador
Quería hacer parte de un proyecto que usaba materiales naturales para una arquitectura social y sostenible. Definitivamente una experiencia genial tanto en el aspecto humano como profesional, lo recomiendo al 100%.

From Concept To Construction
January 01, 2026by: Eryn Peskett - United KingdomProgram: Architecture & Sustainable Construction Internship - Ecuador
This internship was a highly valuable and rewarding experience. It allowed me to step beyond the digital, academic side of my studies and gain hands-on experience through building and working on site. Being able to see ideas translated into physical reality gave me a much deeper understanding of the design and construction process. Working in a new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop practical skills, adaptability, and confidence. The experience also gave me insight into collaborative, community-driven work and reinforced my interest in hands-on, impact-focused projects. Beyond the professional growth, I also formed strong, lasting friendships and bonds with the people I worked alongside, which made the experience even more meaningful. Overall, the internship was both personally and professionally enriching, and it has strongly influenced how I view my future work and career direction.

El Terreno Programs
Browse programs you might like

Join this hands-on internship and help low-income Indigenous communities revive ancestral building techniques to create sustainable housing for a...

Join this hands-on internship and help low-income Indigenous communities access clean drinking water through education and infrastructure project...

Help low-income Indigenous communities transition from deforestation and agrochemical use toward sustainable, regenerative farming. THE CHALLENG...

Research key development needs of low-income indigenous communities, and propose integrated solutions that also preserve their culture. THE CHA...

Dive into a hands-on, personalized internship focusing on gender equality, especially in education and sexual health, within low-income Indigenou...

Join this hands-on, personalized internship and help provide low-income Indigenous communities with greater opportunities through teaching Englis...
Media Gallery
Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff

Cristian Daniel Vargas Altamirano
Interviewed in 2023
Cristen is a mechatronics engineer with experience developing industrial projects from electrical designs for hospitals and public schools to robots, ...

Cristian Daniel Vargas Altamirano
Interviewed in 2023
What inspired you to travel abroad?
El Terreno, in Bolivar's province in Ecuador, is the poorest province in the country and the last province in every statistic. It has the worst economy, education, technology, environmental policies, social development, etc.

Sebastián Araya
Interviewed in 2023
Originally from Guaranda, Sebastián is a Zamorano agricultural school (Honduras) graduate. He has participated in agricultural & development projects ...

Sebastián Araya
Interviewed in 2023
What inspired you to travel abroad?
The main thing that inspired me to work with El Terreno is to be of service. This means in service to the interns, the communities we work with, and the natural world. Here we work on ecological issues, using community principles and values.

Lucía Carolina Mayorga Naranjo
Interviewed in 2023
Lucía began teaching English 15 years ago in the Central area of Ecuador. Now Lucia is supporting an important project called "El Terreno" in the comm...

Lucía Carolina Mayorga Naranjo
Interviewed in 2023
What inspired you to travel abroad?
First of all, the impact of being a teacher on the lives of students inspired me. The best reason to be a teacher was that I wanted to have a positive, inspiring impact on children's lives. I achieved this by being kind, caring, empathic, passionate, and funny.
Ready to Learn More?
El Terreno is an Ecuadorian organization, based in Bolivar—one of Ecuador's smallest, poorest, and most ecologically diverse provinces. Communities in this province suffer from low education, health, economic and living standards, with hundreds of families relying primarily on conventional agriculture and livestock. In line with this, the organization aims to create opportunities for locals to learn and practice sustainable methods of developing and improving their economy while preserving their heritage. They bring together local Ecuadorians and other tourists across the globe to collaborate towards ecosystem regeneration, promote indigenous culture, propose employment opportunities, and provide a wide range of eco and community tourism experiences. El Terreno offers a variety of pr...

El Terreno

El Terreno
Ready to Learn More?
El Terreno is an Ecuadorian organization, based in Bolivar—one of Ecuador's smallest, poorest, and most ecologically diverse provinces. Communities in this province suffer from low education, health, economic and living standards, with hundreds of families relying primarily on conventional agriculture and livestock. In line with this, the organization aims to create opportunities for locals to learn and practice sustainable methods of developing and improving their economy while preserving their heritage. They bring together local Ecuadorians and other tourists across the globe to collaborate towards ecosystem regeneration, promote indigenous culture, propose employment opportunities, and provide a wide range of eco and community tourism experiences. El Terreno offers a variety of pr...
Awards
Check out awards and recognitions El Terreno has received




