Eco-Tourism Volunteering in Ecuador

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

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.

RECRUITING FOR 2026! No plans for spring break? Enjoy a meaningful time off from school in this volunteering program abroad! Join the Spring Break Volunteering on a Sustainable Community Project in Ecuador. Contribute to this economic and community development initiative that supports 50 families in their battle to preserve their community and cultural identity. You’ll be involved in various activities, which could include: - Environmental education for local school children - Jam making, food processing, or local cheese production - Physical agriculture work on family farms - Community-based activities such as maintaining camping trails and developing composting systems To join our Spring Break Volunteering on a Sustainable Community Project in Ecuador, you are not required to have any specific skills apart from Spanish. You will need to be a confident Spanish speaker (level B2 Independent User of CEFR) to participate in activities and to gain the most out of the project and your homestay placement. You should also be flexible, patient, creative, and possess a can-do attitude.

Leave a lasting mark on communities and nature while gaining a broader perspective on global issues through our immersive program. Spanning South Africa, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, this journey offers a unique blend of community engagement, youth development, sustainability, ecotourism, expedition, and leadership volunteer initiatives. Start your 6-month adventure as a Sports Coach in South Africa, igniting a passion for sports among Cape Town’s youth. Then, fly over to Ecuador, so you can participate in sustainable community development, renovating heritage sites and empowering local communities. The final adventure will conclude in Costa Rica, known for its incredible biodiversity, where you'll collaborate with local communities on conservation efforts and community-building projects while also honing your leadership skills. Amidst thrilling activities, like surfing in Coffee Bay Beach and exploring historic Quito, you will live in scenic accommodations with panoramic views and comfortable living. This program fosters not just tangible impacts but also a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, forging a path toward global citizenship.

Travel to the island that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and do more than explore. Help support sea turtle conservation! As a sea turtle nest monitor, you'll walk the 2-km stretch of coastline on beautiful Isabela Island, collecting data for the Galapagos National Park to support the management plan of the local beach. Join a team collecting data on the nesting patterns of the Green Sea Turtle, the species nesting in Isabela. Some of your responsibilities will include the following: - Observing and taking data on nest sizes - Determining nesting patterns of the Green Sea Turtle, the turtle species nesting on Isabela beaches, and marking laid nests. - Removing rubbish and debris to keep the beach clear. - Dedicating 3 hours weekly to removing "kikuyu" (grass) from the turtle nesting area, an invasive plant growing along the beach, thus blocking turtle nesting. - Measuring erosion to compare changes in the beach profile over time. The work schedule is from 6 am to 8 am and between 8 pm and 1 am (the night walk will vary depending on high tide when you are in Isabela).

Prepare to go on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that encourages you to become an integral part of the ongoing mission to safeguard the unparalleled ecosystems and rare species on the Isabela Island in the Galapagos. This remarkable opportunity promises to be transformative, not only for you but also for the natural world itself, setting the stage for a profound impact that will resonate for many years. At the heart of your internship lies the organization that you will be working for, which is deeply committed to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. By joining this organization, you are entering into a dynamic network of passionate individuals, including local stakeholders, renowned experts, governmental authorities, and people with a passion for making a positive impact on the Galapagos. Intern's tasks may vary depending on the role and personal preferences, mainly focusing on environmental conservation and wildlife preservation. Contribute to activities designed to nurture and protect the island's unique ecosystems and its rare species, as well as diverse initiatives aimed at the care and protection of Isabela's natural wonders, ensuring that they continue to shine.

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

This program goes beyond ordinary high school travel programs and build cross-cultural community service summer trips perfectly geared to your interests and curiosities. Whether you’re looking to contribute to authentic service projects, experience exhilarating adventure, or develop your language skills, GoBeyond will immerse you in a new culture where you can make a meaningful difference while on the journey of a lifetime. Our high school community service summer programs proudly serve in many under-resourced communities and environments throughout the world. Explore our journeys in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Galapagos & Ecuador, Peru, Iceland, Spain, China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Beyond experiencing the adventure of a lifetime and creating lasting memories, we believe our community service summer trips enable lasting positive change in the world. For over forty years, we’ve been transforming communities, environments, and students’ lives through meaningful, collaborative adventures and service that develop skills and a more sophisticated worldly outlook—ultimately shaping the person you become.

On the Ecuador: Galapagos & Andean Service Adventure program, immerse yourself in a meaningful homestay with local families on mainland Ecuador. Participate in impactful community service and cultural exchange. Work alongside community members, as well as visiting and learning from an indigenous community. Then, explore the biodiverse and historic Galapagos Island. Snorkel with penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, and colorful tropical fish. Learn about the conservation efforts of a unique ecosystem! Hike one of the largest volcanic craters on earth at Isabella Island. Visit and interact with a giant tortoise breeding center. Traveling to Ecuador is truly the adventure of a lifetime!

Join a hands-on, personalized internship to help families & indigenous communities develop profitable tourism destinations that preserve local culture & ecosystems. The challenge: Guaranda is stunning, both in terms of landscapes & culture. However, it's one of Ecuador's least developed regions; 40% of rural people live in poverty & many are forced to cut down the last remaining native forest to farm or leave where they were born to find an income. Through this, the culture begins to deteriorate, and unique ecosystems are lost. Local people lack the education & resources to find innovative ways to make a dignified living that preserves their culture & landscapes. The solution: Community & eco-tourism have the potential to not only provide an income but also have the potential to regenerate native landscapes & celebrate indigenous cultures. By supporting communities & local businesses to develop their ideas, improve their spaces, create sustainable business models, and reach the right tourists for what they can offer, there is a huge potential to enrich the lives of people visiting Guaranda while changing the lives of local people for the better.

Learn Spanish in group classes and volunteer in one of many projects in the city of Cuenca in Ecuador with The National Registration Center for Study Abroad. Each week, volunteers will attend Spanish lessons for 20 hours. The maximum number of students in each class is five. Group classes are organized in such a way that each will always consists of students with the same level of Spanish proficiency. Each class is 55 minutes in length. To get the maximum benefit from the Spanish course, beginner students must spend four to 12 weeks studying the language, while intermediate and advanced students must spend two to 12 weeks in classes. After at least a week of Spanish lessons, volunteers will be placed in community volunteering projects in the afternoons for at least four weeks. Placement opportunities include teaching English to primary school students, helping senior citizens in their daily routine, assisting the homeless, and serving as tour guides in national parks and reserves.

Pursuing a career in the hospitality industry? Take that crucial first step with an internship abroad through World Internships. Choose from placements in Quito, helping to broaden your knowledge and skill set while working at a restaurant, resort, or hotel. While in Ecuador’s capital, explore the industry from the context of a completely different culture as you interact with guests from around the world. The field is essential in helping travelers have successful experiences abroad, and this internship is the key to gaining confidence and skills to unlock your full potential. With placements in hotel and restaurant management, event planning, ecotourism, and fundraising, you will gain hands-on experience while receiving top-notch support before, during, and after your placement. Find the time to explore Ecuador's scenery, people, and culture, including Inca ruins, churches, rainforests, and the hidden gems of the Andes Mountains, like Quilotoa. This program is also open to volunteers.

Discover the soul of South America on a 10-week journey through Peru and Ecuador that blends adventure, purpose, and connection. Hike through the Andes, explore the Amazon, and immerse yourself in rich Indigenous cultures and living traditions. This program goes beyond travel; you’ll engage in hands-on sustainability and community projects led by local partners, learning through experience, not from a classroom. Designed for gap year students, alternative study abroad seekers, and values-driven travelers, this journey offers leadership development, guided reflection, and deep cultural exchange. You'll build confidence, develop real-world skills, and gain clarity for your next steps all in a supportive, close-knit group of like-minded peers. Whether you're looking to grow personally, earn credit, build your resume, or simply see the world through a more intentional lens, this is more than a semester off—it’s a transformative step forward. Travel with purpose. Return inspired. Reach Out to Learn More!

Ecuador is one of South America’s greatest undiscovered countries. With a friendly and welcoming culture, beautiful food and incredible environmental diversity, it is the most wonderful place to visit for those looking for something off the beaten track. Volunteer in a beautiful sanctuary located on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, which is home to over 200 animals. You will help care for animals that have been kept illegally as pets or in poorly run zoos as well as those used through illegal pet trade trafficking. Where possible, these animals are rehabilitated and those that don't undergo rehabilitation live out their days in an eight-hectare beautiful Ecuadorian woodland. The sanctuary provides for over 35 different species that require handling, feeding, and appropriate enclosure. Volunteers will provide enrichment, structure building, and monitoring for animals living on more isolated islands within the enclosure. Volunteers are accommodated in the heart of the sanctuary, in one of three lovely log cabins. The cabins offer shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and communal living spaces including hammocks on the veranda. There is WiFi and access to a swimming pool.

Volunteering with ICYE UK is a transformational experience with real impact. Our ethical programmes promote peace, intercultural awareness and equality of opportunity, encouraging young people from around the world to live, learn and work together. UK residents can apply now to join us on our six or 12-month placements starting in either January or August, and work with locally run NGOs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on impactful projects that matter, such as: - Human rights projects - Women’s empowerment projects - Supporting people with compromised health and/or disabilities - Environmental and wildlife conservation - Sustainable agriculture projects - Providing education, care, and support for children from under-resourced communities - Sports, art, or cultural projects - Community development programmes - And many more Additionally, short-term placements of 3 to 5 months with flexible start dates are available in some of our partner countries. Whether you join us on our long-term or short-term programme, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and language, learn, grow, and make an impact! Get in touch to find out more!

ELEP is an experiential learning and training programs provider specializing in high-quality, customized international internships. We also offer rewarding and meaningful volunteer experiences, as well as intensive language courses, to study, learn, or improve your Spanish language skills in Ecuador. Our programs are open to students, recent graduates, and young professionals from around the world. ELEP Volunteer & Internship Programs collaborates with Career Services Centers of international universities to help students with their career goals through training across a well-organized internship or volunteer program. We offer numerous internship placements, covering almost every field of study. Additionally, our team continually seeks new internship opportunities that align with the interests and needs of our participants. Internship lengths vary depending on the field and placement, ranging from a minimum of 4 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks.