In this section you can obtain more information about the possible destinations available within our programs. At the moment we offer Ecuador, in the Andes, Uruguay and Chile in the southern cone and Costa Rica in Central America. If you want to stay in a Spanish cultural heritage city then come and do and internship or volunteer program in Quito. Ecuador has to offer a great biodiversity of nature and culture alike. During your stay you could visit the Amazon jungle or the famous Galapagos Islands. In Uruguay you can enjoy cultural highlights of the capital Montevideo or dream away in the enormous pampas. Chile is famous for its mountains were you can pratice wintersports and in Costa Rica you will enjoy a splendid environment.

ECUADOR

 

Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean nations located in South America. It is bordered by Colombia to the North and Northeast, and by Peru to the South and Southeast. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures and well-preserved colonial architecture, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America.

Ecuador has four diverse regions: the Amazon rain forest, western coastal lowlands, the highland Andes, and the Galapagos Archipelago. These four regions are subdivided into 22 provinces. The central highlands are composed of two volcanic ranges separated by a central valley which is where much of Ecuador's population lives. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and it is the second highest capital in the world at an elevation of 2,850 meters (La Paz in Bolivia is the highest at over 12,000 ft). Quito is being considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Quito is a modern city with every comfort and convenience readily available, yet it retains a large historic district which has been designated a UNESCO cultural heritage site.

Ecuador is one of the countries with highest biodiversity in the world in relationship with its size. It is an extraordinary destination full of adventure, diversity, cuisines, art, and a unique contact with ancestral cultures and nature. Ecuador is a country with a happy and generous spirit.

In a few words, Ecuador is definitively an unexplored country, rich in culture and architecture due to its Spanish and Inca heritage, vast indigenous population and broad ethnic diversity. Whatever your interest may be:

Ecuador has something to offer You !

 

General facts

Population: 13 million

Capital: Quito

Major languages: Spanish, Quichua

Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 75 years (women)

Monetary unit: USD

Main exports: Bananas, Flowers , Fish and shrimp, crude petroleum and by-products, coffee, sugar, cotton

Average annual income: US $2,100

Internet domain: .ec

International dialing code: +593

 

Education and Literacy

Ecuador has an educational system that is a three-level, eleven-year education system based on various reforms. The first pre-primary level is for children of 3 – 5 years old. The six-year primary education is for children between 6 – 12 years old. Six-year secondary education begins at age 12 –18 years old. In 2005, only 66 % percent of school-age children attended school. At this time, Ecuador has 5 public and 15 private universities. The estimated literacy rate in Ecuador is 85%.

 

Religion

When the first conquistador planted a cross in honor of God and the King of Spain, Roman Catholicism became a hallmark of Latin American culture. Aside from Mass and annual festivals, the influence of Catholicism is still felt in education, social services, and important occasions such as marriage, funerals, baptisms, and quinceañeras, a girl’s coming-out celebration on her 15th birthday.   Protestantism continues to establish itself in Ecuador, especially evangelical sects in the more remote areas of the country. Indigenous religions are also still present, although usually mixed with Catholicism, creating a diverse combination of various religions. Other religions such as Mormonism and Judaism are also present among small groups of people.

 

Ethnics groups

The population is ethnically mixed: 55% Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous), 25% Indigenous, 10% Caucasian, 9% African, and 1% other 

 

Weather

Weather and climate vary with the regions. The coast has its summer from December to April. In the winter temperatures drop but it's still rainless. In the Andes May to December is the dry season, 20-25°C in the day and cold at night. The rest of the year some rain and a slight temperature drop. The jungle has its dry season from April to October with temperatures up to 35°C. During the rainy season there is heavy rainfall and high humidity

 

Healt

The most important sickness the tourists get on the coastal line is stomach ache. The main reason could be not well boiled food. You also have to be careful with the water you drink. We recommend drinking only bottled or boiled water. In the Andes, the main sickness is the soroche (altitude sickness), which is the reason why we recommend drinking a lot of water and acclimatizing some days before start driving trough the Andes. In the jungle you’ll need a vaccine of yellow fever, recommendable is 10 days before arriving at the jungle. You may also ask your doctor about the possibilities of taking a vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, polio or hepatitis.

 

Food

For most Ecuadorians, the basic foods are rice, potatoes, and cassava – a starchy tuber – with fish or meat and a wide variety of fruit. Some fruits are familiar, such as bananas, pineapples, oranges, and avocados and others are less well known, such as sweet custard apples and passion fruit. Fish is popular in coastal areas and in the eastern lowlands. Favorite fish dishes are ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in lemons or limes and served with onions and chili peppers, and corvine, similar to cod, which is fried or grilled. Other popular seafood dishes include squid, shrimp, mackerel, and snapper. Large catfish found in rivers in the Amazon are occasionally used to make soups.

Soups are some of the most popular and nutritious dishes in the highlands and include many vegetables combined with pieces of pork, chicken, or beef. Many soups are more like stews. Sancocho, for example, is made with green plantains and corn, while mazamorra is a thick soup of ground corn, with cabbage, potatoes, onions, and spices. Corn is another popular food, often eaten on the cob. Potatoes, which tend to come with everything, are also cooked as potato cakes with cheese.

 

Money

The national currency of Ecuador is the US Dollar. You can find ATM machines on every street corner which are MasterCard and Cirrus compatible. Besides we do recommend bringing one of the following credit cards only: Master Card, Visa Card and American Express Card. It is possible to bring travel checks, but remember that you have to pay a commission of 1-2% when you want to change them. Public transportation in the city costs US$ 0.25 one-way regardless of distance, a regular meal $5, drinks at bars from $1, 50 to $5 each. There are many interested places to visit in Ecuador, the average price if you take a private one day tour are between $30 - $50. If you plan to visit the Galapagos Islands you are going to spend around $1300 for 5-8 days depending of the boat. The public transportation between the main cities in Ecuador cost between US$ 5 and 12 one way. The airplane tickets for a flight between Quito-Guayaqui-Cuenca or the jungle cost approximately between $60 to $110 round trip including taxes.