GoAbroad
VerifiedProvider
4.7 / 5Overall Rating
12Reviews
2005Year established

Program Overview

Spend a week getting to know the beautiful city of Quito, Ecuador! Partake in a week of touring and Spanish lessons. Travel highlights include a visit to the Equator and a salsa dance lesson.

Volunteer work will take place in Puyo, where volunteers will be working at an animal shelter that has rescued injured wild animals. As a volunteer on this project, you will be involved in several hands-on tasks, such as helping to maintain the animals shelter as well as preparing fruit meals for the animals.

Ready to dive deeper into this program?

Jump to the full breakdown of dates, costs, eligibility, and more.

See program details

Program Highlights

Take a trip to the Equator and enjoy a free salsa dance lesson!
Tour the Ecuadorian city of Quito!
Provide care to rescued wild animals in need.
Take a week of Spanish lessons.
Help to maintain the wild animal rescue shelter through various volunteer tasks.

What's Included

Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Some Meals / Partial Meal Plan
Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
Pre-Departure Orientation
Cultural Training / Program / Orientation

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Puyo, Ecuador
  • Quito, Ecuador

Available Terms / Availability

  • Years Offered
  • Year Round

Eligible Nationalities

  • All Nationalities

Education Levels & Language

  • Education
  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Application Procedures

  • Online Application

Age Requirement

18+

Duration

  • 1-2 Weeks
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
  • 1-3 Months
  • After College
  • Career Break / Mid-Career
  • During College
  • During High School
  • Post High School

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

4.7
12 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
8
4
4
3
0
2
0
1
0

Top categories

Volunteer Placement
4.8
Health & Safety
4.8
Program Administration
4.5
Community Engagement
4.3
Day to Day Life
4.3
Living Situation
4.3

Participated in this program? Share your experience now.

Review this Program

Showing 1-12 of 12 reviews

Manny KongFebruary 2026

Meaningful Moments and Memorable Adventures Abroad

Planting trees in a local school, we get to do something meaningful. And we played ball games with students, even if we don't speak the same language, but we played well. Also participate in birthday party for a lady, played bingo with local senior citizens. It was very warm and nice.<br>Aside from these, we have seen so many special animals, spectacular scenery.

celineDecember 2023

I wish them the very best

Yana Cocha has fulfilled every thing I ever wanted from my volunteer experience with wildlife. I wish them the very best and hope goeco continues to help their great rescue mission with help from volunteers the best possible way you can.

MarianaAugust 2021

Great experience

The most memorable experience i am taking home from the sanctuary is the release of the scooter monkeys & turtles. It's such an overwhelming experience.. To know that the teams work along w the monkeys will, to return to a place they once called home.

CocoAugust 2021

Amazing experience

The wildlife Sanctuary was an amazing experience and not only did I get to connect with amazing volunteers from around the world, I also got to connect with amazing animals. everything was so hands on and personal, and the experience has definitely changed me.

MarquezDecember 2020

The most memorable experience

The most memorable experience i am taking home from Yanacocha is the release of the scooter monkeys & turtles. It’s such an overwhelming experience..To know that the teams work along w the monkeys will, to return to a place they once called home. Make volunteers more aware of the living situations. That way they can bring more stuff they would need. Also, making them aware if they are vegan/ vegetarian.. to bring protein supplements/powder because they won’t get the nutritional value they would normally get

Francesca CostaFebruary 2020

It was all memorable

I couldn’t have imagined how amazing this trip was. I was first of all I wasn’t so keen on doing time in Quito before the animal centre but I am so glad I did. What an incredible city witch amazing activities organised by Go Eco. It was all memorable.

Jenny GalliardDecember 2019

Wonderful animals and an amazing team

I was volunteering for a month in the Wild Animal Rescue Shelter and it was amazing. Releasing a Sloth in the wild, helping hand feeding babies owl, helping taking care of all the wonderful animals with an amazing team was just an incredible experience.

Natali DoeblerAugust 2019

amazing place!

The animal rescue center in Puyo is an amazing place! The people there are so friendly and you can see the impact one has on the life of the animals! My most memorable experience was taking care of the monkeys on the monkey island! Loved it every time!

Rebecca MossMay 2019

A complete dream!

Getting to volunteer with the animals and work with people just as passionate and enthusiastic as I was was a complete dream! I will always remember my time here very fondly and hope to return in the future!The week of Spanish lessons at the beginning of the volunteer programme was not necessary for the placement. I don’t think that this should be mandatory.

Lisa FeiertagnApril 2019

Thank you!

I did expect to pet more animals in the wildlife sanctuary.. but I didn’t and that’s means it’s a REAL sanctuary that cares about the animals and their natural habitat. I learned so much and I’m going back really soon for sure!!! The accommodation in Quito, it’s party outside of the hostel 24/7 so no sleep at all! Anything else was one of the best trips I’ve ever done and probably changed my life forever! Thank you!! <3

Nili CaineAugust 2018

Fun experience!

During the orientation week we had a day in the market that was published as part of the Spanish course, however we still had to pay extra money for it. It wasn't much, but it would have been nice to know in advanced. Other than that, it was a very nice and fun experience!

Zsuzsa SchlierAugust 2018

Amazing

The beauty of the region was astonishing. It is a place where I would like to return someday. It was an amazing experience overall. I have met great people, the local staff was very friendly. I enjoyed working at the animal shelter, I recommend it for every animal lover. I also learned a lot and I am sure that this experience will impact my future choices.

Inquire

Inquire about this program

Have a question? Send us a message and the program team will get back to you.

Step 1 of 4Timing

How long do you want to travel?

Recognitions & Awards

Awards and accreditations earned by this provider

Top Rated Provider Volunteer Abroad 2025
Innovative Volunteer Abroad Program
GoAbroad Innovation Awards 2024 Finalist - Intern Abroad Program
Top Rated Provider 2023 - Notable Mention
Innovation in Sustainability Finalist 2022
Innovation in Sustainability 2021 Finalist
Innovative New Program Volunteer Abroad 2020 Finalist
2019 Notable Mentions
GoAbroad Innovative New Program - Volunteer Abroad
GoAbroad Top Rated Organization 2017 (Notable Mention)
Global Youth Travel Awards 2018
GoAbroad Top Volunteer Abroad Organization 2018
World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation

Related Programs

Browse programs you might like

wildlife volunteering
GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization logo

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

4.76

41 reviews

GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 20...

GoEco Giant Tortoise and Sea Turtle Conservation in the Galápagos
GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization logo

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

5

3 reviews

Giant Tortoise and Sea Turtle Conservation in the Galápagos

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is an iconic animal, and native to the region. It often grows to over 6 feet long and can weigh up to 800 pounds, an...

GoEco - Rainforest Monkey Sanctuary
GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization logo

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

No reviews yet

Ecuador - Rainforest Monkey Sanctuary

Express your devotion for animals at a family-run monkey sanctuary in the center of the Ecuadorian rainforest after a week of cultural immersion ...

Have more questions?

We're here to help!

The GoAbroad team is here to support you as you choose the best program for you, and GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization is also happy to answer any questions you have.

Trusted by millions of travelers worldwide since 1997