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Frequently Asked
Questions
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In this section we try to answer any question you might have prior to coming to Ecuador or Uruguay. The answers indicate how you can make a safe travel with family to Ecuador when visiting you. Also we indicate guidelines for some general health and money questions you might have. Besides we indicate about booking programs and payment policies. If you have a question and cannot find the answer here, please contact us via the contact form on the next tab! How do I get to Ecuador? There are many airlines that fly directly to Ecuador from all over the world. Check with a travel agent or Council Travel for the best prices. By bus is easy to cross the border from Colombia or Peru. Will I need a Visa? Normally interns, volunteers and tourists from the UK, Canada, Spain, Italy, Japan, USA, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavian Countries, do not need to get visa before hand to visit Ecuador; just upon arrival, at the Quito airport, you will get a three months tourist visa free of charge. You can renew this visa for three more months at low cost. For other nationalities, before you depart, we strongly recommend checking the visa issue at the Ecuadorian Embassies or Consulates. Should I pay in advance any cost? 50% of the value of the program has to be paid via electronic bank transfer two weeks before arriving to Ecuador. The other 50% has to be paid in cash upon arriving in Ecuador. Are there any extra costs involved? If you decide to take extra Spanish or salsa classes than the ones described on your program you have to pay for them. Besides, there are always a weekend trips and activities and the prices depend of each activity. You also are responsible to pay for your own transportation from the place you are living to the place where you work/study There is an airport tax of $35 when leaving Ecuador. Do I need any special qualifications? Our programs are open to people who really want to have true experience in South America. We request a Resume and application form. Are there any time limits for volunteering and internships? We require that you volunteer for a minimum of two weeks. For internships the minimum is one month. For both there is no maximum time limit Are there any age limits? For Interns and volunteers there is a minimum age of 18 years. Can families / friends work together? You are free to choose to work together in one of our programs and stay in the same or in a different host family/ LH residence. Our programs are flexible in those cases. Do I need to speak Spanish? Not necessarily. However, the Spanish classes included in the Program will help you to communicate with your host families and the people you are going to work with / for. Beside the Spanish classes we highly recommend you to practice your Spanish every day during your stay. When should I apply? We take participants for our programs all year-round. You should apply two months in advance. Should I be worried about health insurance? It is really important you get an international insurance before you leave your country. We highly recommend you to take an insurance that cover accidents, health, and your property. How can I apply for one of the programs? You should fill out the application form which will be send to you upon expressing your interest in one of our positions/programs. How can I communicate with my family and friends while in Ecuador? There are many Internet cafes throughout the major cities, which are very inexpensive. The price per hour cost around $1. Long distance calls between 0,10 to 0,20 cents per minute. Local calls to cellular phones and international calls from your host family home are not recommendable as they are quite expensive. What stuff should I bring with me? Recommended items include: a Spanish dictionary, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, guidebook, money belt, back-up medicine, glasses and contact lenses if applicable. Do I need any vaccinations? Vaccinations (not obliged but recommended, for more information contact your local health center) DTP, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis A&B, Yellow Fever (optional, only coast), Malaria (optional, only jungle). What should I bring to wear? The clothes you use depend on your placement. In general interns go semi-formal/casual and volunteers within the projects are very casual: jeans and t-shirts are ok. We recommend comfortable clothes. One formal dress is necessary as invitations to formal events (marriages, family parties, and alike). If you plan to travel around the country we recommend you to bring a casual clothes; light clothes for the coast and the jungle and warm jacket and raincoat for the high lands no matter the month of the year. How can I learn more about Ecuador? We recommend you to buy a guidebook for your trip: Lonely Planet Ecuador, Lets go travel guide Ecuador We also recommend check out some of the websites about Ecuador |