Conservation & Preservation Study Abroad Programs in Ecuador

Earn 3 credits studying the 2-week environmental science program in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador with AIFS Abroad. The course, "Ecosystems and Biodiversity in the Galápagos", at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, introduces the major ecosystems in the Galápagos Islands and their ecological complexity. Students will participate in academic field excursions to learn about the environmental characteristics, biodiversity, ecological niche, and environmental issues of the archipelago. Stay in hotels in Quito and Santa Cruz and a homestay while on San Cristóbal Island. Visits and field trips are a key part of your academic study in the Galápagos, while social and cultural activities in Quito give you a better understanding of Ecuador – the South American country governing the islands. In the Galápagos, students visit La Lobería Beach, La Galapaguera, Kicker Rock, and Frigate Bird Hill. USFQ was founded in 1988, one of Ecuador's top-ranked universities and the only private, liberal arts university in the country. USFQ opened its extension campus on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, in 2002 to promote conservation in the archipelago through education and research.

Study abroad in Ecuador with IES Abroad and experience one of the most culturally and geographically diverse countries in the world. Roughly the size of Colorado, Ecuador has the environmental megadiversity of a much larger country. Four eco-regions—the Amazon basin, the high Andes, the coastal plain, and the Galápagos Islands—offer a wealth of flora and fauna that attracts biologists, botanists, and environmentalists from around the world. These internationally known natural wonders are at your fingertips when you study in Ecuador. Adventure and learning opportunities will surround you when you study abroad in Ecuador. Snorkel in the Galápagos Islands as you study biodiversity, learn about indigenous culture as you stroll through Otavalo Market, and study environmental science in the Amazon rainforest! To make the most of your time in Ecuador, study abroad is a great opportunity to not only visit, but also learn about this stunningly diverse country.

Witness the causes and impacts of climate change in diverse cultural and ecological contexts across four continents. Explore how food, water, and energy systems intersect with justice and sustainability while traveling to Ecuador, Morocco, Nepal, and the United States. Meet with farmers, energy providers, policymakers, and activists to analyze challenges and solutions. Explore some of the world’s most productive, unique, and vulnerable landscapes to witness how climate change impacts regions differently and how communities are responding to the climate crisis. This program offers the choice to do a minor in environmental studies. MONEY MATTERS SIT has given an average of over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students in recent years and is committed to ensuring you have the information necessary to apply for such funding. Our program costs include academics, excursions, accommodations, airport transfers, meals, and health insurance. Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor and read the website for more specific information.

SIT’s Global Master of Arts in Sustainable Development Practice is a full-time, one-year degree that explores the interconnected nature of global health crises, economic inequality, natural resource degradation, and political and ethnic conflicts. Study begins in Ecuador, focusing on biodiversity and urban-rural development, then continues in South Africa and Malawi, examining sustainable practice in diverse sociopolitical contexts. Hands-on learning provides a unique opportunity to acquire professional skills through research and fieldwork in a competitive global environment. This program is ideal for emerging professionals seeking careers in sustainable development, policy, project leadership, or community engagement.

This program is for students aspiring to become conservationists and environmental scientists. Spend your summer immersed in the Ecuador Study Abroad and Intern – Environmental Science and Conservation Track. It involves studying in Cuenca for eight weeks and an optional internship for 2 or 4 weeks. The placement is at a rescue and conservation center in the Amazon, and you can join before or after your studies. The host university is Universidad de Cuenca, where you can take one Spanish class based on your level and another course from these options: - Natural Heritage of Ecuador - World Agriculture and Food Problems - Structure and Functions of Plants, Forestry, and Society Be at the front lines of environment and wildlife conservation in this summer study program. Feel free to visit our website or send an inquiry for more details.

Get ready for an adventure in the Amazon rainforest! Spend two weeks at amaZOOnico, a wildlife rescue center located in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. AmaZOOnico rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for wildlife animals that have been victims of trafficking. During your time at the center, you'll get the unique opportunity to research and create enrichments for monkeys, put on a free medical clinic for dogs and cats, and care for the various animals living at the center – including coatis, toucans, tapirs, and other Amazonian animals! In addition to the hands-on experience you'll gain alongside a veterinarian and site staff, you'll also get to enjoy the capital of Ecuador and a weekend rafting and caving in Tena.

Earth Expeditions (EE) are Miami University study abroad courses designed for people looking for inspiring professional development opportunities while earning graduate credit. All courses engage with grassroots conservation and sustainability programs making a difference in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Our planned 2026 EE sites are the Amazon, Australia, Baja, Belize, Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, Galápagos, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Namibia, Paraguay, and Thailand. Awarding seven graduate credit hours (5 credits for the Summer Term + 2 credits for the Fall Semester), EE courses are hybrid and combine direct global study experiences with engagement in a web-based online learning community. Summer field courses typically run from mid-May through mid-August, with pre-course work beginning in April. The international field “in-country” portion of each class generally lasts 9-10 days. The 2-credit-hour follow-on fall semester course, “Inquiry & Action,” is entirely online and typically runs from late August to mid-December. This component is optional for students taking an EE course for stand-alone graduate credit outside the master’s program.

The Tropical Conservation Semester offers a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Ecuador, where you will immerse yourself in Latin American culture and language, and explore some of the most pristine and wildlife-packed sites on the planet. You will experience the immense biodiversity of Ecuador from the Amazon Rainforest, to the Andes Mountains, to the Galápagos Islands. Ceiba has partnered with the University of Wisconsin to offer an unparalleled semester in applied tropical ecology, conservation, and rural community development. We join real-world conservation projects, and encourage you to blend the academic and applied realms, bridging the gap between classroom science and practical conservation. This one-of-a-kind semester is ideal for undergraduate students in biological and social fields who seek interdisciplinary training for careers in habitat protection, tropical ecology, environmental education, and international development.

Snorkel in crystal-clear waters alongside sea lions, sea turtles, and marine iguanas, and observe the iconic wildlife that inspired the theory of evolution. This unique program takes you aboard the National Geographic Islander II, an intimate expedition ship designed for daily exploration across the Galápagos Islands. Led by National Geographic Explorer and professor Dr. Alizé Carrère, you’ll experience the Galápagos both on land and beneath the waves. Each day brings new opportunities to engage with this extraordinary ecosystem—through guided hikes, snorkeling, and close-up wildlife encounters. This once-in-a-lifetime journey offers more than just travel; it’s a deep dive into one of the world’s most biologically significant regions, designed to inspire curiosity, scientific thinking, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.