Conservation & Preservation Study Abroad Programs in Ecuador

Studying abroad in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands was a once-in-a-lifetime, life changing experience. As a biology major, I was looking to gain more knowledge and hands on experience with nature in other areas of the world. Getting to visit the Amazon Rainforest and staying in the Galápagos Islands fulfilled these desires! The courses I took exposed me to new material and were much more hands on than my courses at my home university. In fact, we spent more than half of our class time in the field in some of our courses. Besides the biological aspect, I had wanted to learn Spanish and experience life in another culture/country and Ecuador was perfect for both of these things! The people in both Quito and the islands were friendly and patient as I practiced my Spanish. As for the university and program staff, everyone was super approachable and there to help us adjust to a new life and environment. This experience taught me so many good lessons and I learned so much about my future aspirations. If you are looking for a study abroad program that is both culturally and biologically diverse, this is the program for you!

I have always wanted to study abroad. Additionally, I have always wanted to be a wildlife biologist and do field research. Furthermore, The Galapagos and The Amazon have been at the top of my “Bucket List” for my whole life. The fact that my first field research opportunity in my life was at both of these locations is mind boggling.

I had such an incredible time on this trip!! I've always dreamed of going to the Galapagos Islands and it was the best experience of my life. Being able to interact with wildlife on such an intimate level was incredible. As well as this, being able to experience the Amazon Tiputini Biodiversity Reserve was a whole other level of crazy. Not having my phone and electricity at certain points definitely changed my outlook on things!

I went on this trip during a hard time in my life. I have always wanted to go to a rainforest and have always loved learning about the delicate balance of the environment and human society. This trip allowed me to find who I am, including who I want to be! I was immersed in the Ecuadorian, and South American culture and their beautiful environment. I realized my dream of protecting nature through conservation and found a college that would be a perfect fit, for my path and purpose as a human being, and that is pure magic. This was a beautiful experience, and I still talk to my group on WhatsApp!!! We formed a bond and learned a lot from each other. We all pushed past the box we grew up in, and our learned limits, which is such a beautiful thing. Difficult of course but so so worth it!!! I suffer from a lot of anxiety as well as Chronic Lyme and this helped me grow from the barriers I thought those labels put me in, including how and what I needed to work on for myself especially mentally.

We got to explore so many parts of the country, from Quito, Mindo, Tena, Banos, Riobamba, to Galapagos, everything was so different and interesting at the same time. We explored rainforest, waterfalls, Chimborazo and the Galapagos islands. We saw so many different animals and experience so many different physical activities that are really once of a life time experiences. We hiked in the Amazon Rainforest for 4 hours, snorkeled in the Galapagos islands, climbed the Chimborazo mountain that is the closest to the sun and experience homestays in Riobamba.

While this study abroad was short, it was full of amazing opportunities and we were always doing fun things. I would recommend this study abroad to anyone looking for an opportunity outside of their university. Very organized and great people!

This was my second trip with Loop Abroad, and it did not disappoint. Staying at Runa Wasi and volunteering at AmaZOOnico was a very humbling experience that really makes you appreciate nature and all its creatures, from spiders to birds to monkeys. The best part for me was evaluating and microchipping tortoises which were being prepared for release into the wild. It was rewarding to feel like you were actually making a difference, and we also were able to learn a lot about wildlife medicine and conservation. The lectures were very informative and related really well to the activities we did. There are opportunities to work on veterinary skills like physical exams, vaccinations, and suturing techniques. We also went into Ahuano and put on a two day veterinary clinic for the locals to bring their pets, which let us interact with the community and practice our Spanish. In addition, we had time to do some tourist things like walk around old historic Quito, go white water rafting, and tube down the Amazon. An incredible experience I would do again.

This program was so informative about the Amazon and the problems they’re facing and how we can help. We spent two weeks at Amazoonico assisting the vets there in their daily rounds taking care of all the animals there.

This program was a once in a lifetime experience that I am so grateful for. Not only did I learn so much about the animals of the Amazon, but also about the conservation work that the rescue and government is doing in the area. The vets that we worked with were very knowledgable and were always there to help us with any questions and help we might need. This program isn't as hands on as I was told others were, but we were able to partake in necropsies and physical exams in some of the wildlife. We also got to participate in a turtle release with endangered turtles and do blood labs on birds and turtles. Getting to do the medical clinics were super rewarding because the community was so grateful that we were there. Getting to experience the culture and the community was such a cool experience.

I went on this trip July of 2019, this was my third trip with loop abroad. My first being in 2017. Loop abroad is a great program for making friends! I’m close friends with another girl from my 2017 trips that lives in the states (I’m Canadian) and we’ve stayed in touch and have done all of our loop trips together since! The loop abroad staff is wonderful at making you feel safe during travel, so don’t worry if you’re traveling alone or if this is going to be your first time traveling abroad. The amazon trip was an amazing experience, it was wonderful for learning about amazon animals and they ways we can help them. AmaZOOnico works hard to rehabilitate and release the animals back into the wild, where they can have the best quality of life. It was a pleasure getting to volunteer there throw loop abroad. This trip is great for people who don’t mind getting dirty( bring rubber boots... your gonna get muddy!) and are adventurous!

The program provided field trips with everything included such as meals and equipment. We went snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, sea lions, and other marine biodiversity. My host family was welcoming and they shared their stories of living in the Galapagos. They treated me like family. The meals were great. We ate a lot of rice and by the end of the program we loved rice. Our class was about the biodiversity, history, and current issues that the Galapagos islands is facing. Our professor and tourist guides were helpful and made the program fun and educational. My favorite memories were learning to snorkel, swimming with sharks, and watching the sunset at the end of class or a field trip since the beach is right in front of the campus. After we left the Galapagos islands, we went back to Quito and we had a last field trip to a market to buy souvenirs. We ended the program by having dinner at a 5 star restaurant in Quito. This experience was exciting and made me more independent and open-minded. I have learned to appreciate other cultures and become more comfortable traveling to other countries. If you are thinking on going to the Galapagos do it. It is worth it and you will never want to leave this place. It is unique in the entire world. The program will provide you with all the help necessary and they will always answers your questions and address your concerns.

IES abroad made sure that everything was taken care of so all I had to do was show up and have the time of my life! Living in the Galapagos is a whole other world; the community is incredibly tight-knit and so kind. Latino culture is extremely warm and living with my host families was an absolutely amazing experience. We bonded over cultural differences and it was an opportunity for me to be immersed in their culture while also being able to teach my families about my own culture. This program is extremely hands-on and research based! If you love being outside this program absolutely takes advantage of being in the Galapagos and each course has a ton of field trips and outdoor excursions so that you really get to know the Galapagos Islands and all they have to offer! If you are scuba certified and in the Marine Ecology track each of your classes has a scuba component too! This program absolutely changed my life and it will change yours too!

No matter what academic background you may come from, whether it be Marine Science or Political Science, studying in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands is a must! From the perspective of a biologist, I believe that the Galápagos Islands are the best place in the world to observe evidence of evolution by natural selection, a key part of numerous science disciplines and the basis of life in general. As a student in the Marine Ecology academic track, I participated in research conducted off the coast of mainland Ecuador, as well as in the waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve and in the labs at the Galápagos Science Center on the island of San Cristóbal. After spending the first month of the program with my wonderful host mom in Cumbayá, San Cristóbal became my home for the next three months of my time abroad. I immediately felt at home with my host families and experienced a perfect balance of having them there for me as a support system but having the independence to explore on my own as well. I spent countless hours traveling around the island and enjoying all it has to offer; a typical day began with a hearty breakfast prepared by my host mom, followed by a beautiful walk to the university, which is located right across the street from a popular beach. After spending the morning in class, my friends and I would venture to the downtown “malecón” area for a bite to eat and then spend the rest of the day working on assignments at the university, spending time at the beach, or snorkeling at a beautiful nearby cove filled with several species of fish, numerous sea turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas and countless other marine organisms. My friends and I befriended many locals, and between sharing meals with them in addition to those spent with my host family, my conversational Spanish improved immensely and I now feel very confident in using my language skill back home. The culture of the island is incredibly rich for its size; there were events sponsored by the national park service and by the local government almost every week. These provided excellent opportunities to experience true “island life” and become a part of the environment and culture in Ecuador. It was incredibly hard for me to leave my new home as the semester came to a close, but I hope more than anything that I will be able to return in the future!

I loved my time in the Galapagos, overall a completely amazing experience! I seriously think everyone should visit the Galapagos at some point in their life, and if you get the chance stay as long as you can!! Great people, great food, unforgettable location.

I truly can't recommend this program enough. As a double major in Latin American Studies and Environmental Policy, a chance to study environmental science while immersed in the vibrant, diverse culture of Ecuador was pretty much the perfect study abroad experience for me. Not only was I able to take interesting classes with knowledgeable professors from a wide range of backgrounds, I got to visit the largest Indigenous market in South America (Otavalo), spend a weekend in Cotopaxi National Park and hike to an altitude of 16,000 fasl, study and explore at the remote Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station in the Amazon rain forest, and spend three weeks in the Galapagos Islands. Not to mention the dear friends I got to study with, the host families who took care of me and treated me as a part of the family, and all of the day to day adventures that are par for the course when you spend an extended amount of time abroad. I am incredibly grateful for this program, and it has been one of the highlights of my life thus far. I can't recommend this program enough, or any of the other IES Abroad programs all over the world.

Going to Quito, Ecuador was a complete cultural immersion. Through IES, I took classes at the program center and at the local university, USFQ. All the while, I lived with an incredible host family whom I learned a lot from. Never did I ever think that my Spanish would improve so much after spending 4.5 months in Ecuador, but it sure did. I also traveled almost every weekend throughout Ecuador. One weekend my friends and I would be hiking an active volcano in the pouring hail and the next we were sunbathing on the coast. We had the amazing opportunities of visiting the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest, two of the most amazing places I have been to date. If you're seeking adventure, a cultural and linguistic immersion, and a step outside a comfort zone; Ecuador is the place for you.

The Galapagos Islands/Ecuador was such an amazing experience and opportunity I am so grateful it is the best thing I have done so far in my life. I had two amazing host families that I still talk with. I saw amazing wildlife such as hammerhead sharks and many a rays. I conquered so many fears and anxieties and I had the chance to see the world and experience Latin culture. I will forever be grateful for my study abroad program. I also took my younger brother on his first trick or treating adventure. He went as a little black cat.

I had an absolutely amazing experience during my semester abroad in Quito. It was such a wonderful opportunity to meet a diverse group of people from all walks of life, from Ecuador and as well as many other parts of the world. Through the IES Abroad field trips to the Amazon region and the Galapagos Islands, as well as weekend trips with my travel buddies to more local destinations like Baños and Quilatoa, I had the opportunity to see and do and live so many things I never would have been able to otherwise, like snorkeling face-to-face with sea lions in the Galapagos or climbing to the refugio on Cotopaxi, one of the tallest volcanoes in Ecuador (I actually thought that I might die on this trip, but I would still highly recommend the adventure, if just for the satisfaction of the accomplishment!). The community I became a part of was wonderfully supportive, from my host family to the IES staff, my professors, and the staff at my internship placement. The IES professors teach at the local university where you can take direct-enrollment classes, of which I would definitely recommend trying at least one, and they were all some of the best professors I've had. I already miss Quito and everyone I met so much, and I hope to go back and visit soon!

My time abroad was an experience I will never forget. I was enrolled in the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation track, which gave me the opportunity to travel to the Amazon for a week! After spending a month in Quito and experience this historical city, we travelled to the Galapagos for 3 months. I got to snorkel almost everyday as part of class research but also on my free leisure time. The IES coordinator matched me with an amazing host family that took me in as their own daughter and with whom I am still in contact with. Overall I had the best time of my life and I recommend this program to everyone!

This was an amazing experience. Opened my eyes to a lot. It was a beautiful place and great experience. I would do it all over again. Made me appreciate life more and the earth more. I loved being around all the animals and all of the excursions we got to do.