



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
Chochos
June 10, 2026by: Anna Heck - BelgiumProgram: Anthropology & International Development Internship
Thank you for this experience and for welcoming me in Atandahua. I will never forget this time. During my stay, I had the opportunity to work closely with local families on the chocho production project, learning about the agricultural processes, challenges, and traditions that are such an important part of the community. It was inspiring to see the dedication and resilience of the farmers and to contribute, even in a small way, to a project that supports local livelihoods. Beyond the work itself, what made this experience truly special was the kindness and generosity of the people I met. Living and working alongside the community allowed me to better understand their culture, values, and daily life. I am grateful for every conversation, every shared meal, and every lesson learned. The friendships, memories, and experiences I gained in Atandahua will stay with me forever, and I will always look back on this time with gratitude and appreciation.

Social Entrepreneurship at El Terreno
May 24, 2026by: Elise Nam - United StatesProgram: Agroecology & Community Farming Internship in Ecuador
I absolutely loved my stay at El Terreno. I had the opportunity to apply my passion of social entrepreneurship to craft a project with the incredible support of the El Terreno staff and mentors. I am so grateful for El Terreno as it has shaped my life trajectory and pushed me to become a better individual both personally and professionally!
Law & Community Economic Development
May 24, 2026by: Luke McDermott - United StatesProgram: Law & Community Governance
El Terreno is a wonderful experience to learn about social, economic, and cultural realities, allowing participants to engage in deeply meaningful work that contributes to sustainable solutions and creates a lasting positive impact on our world.

El Terreno Programs
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El Terreno
9.63
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El Terreno
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El Terreno
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Research key development needs of low-income indigenous communities, and propose integrated solutions that also preserve their culture. THE CHA...

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

El Terreno
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Dive into this hands-on, personalized internship and gain experience while helping low-income, indigenous communities live healthier lives throug...
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




