Ecuador Animal Rescue

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Quito

Depart from the USA and arrive in Quito. Meet your ACIS Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel for a briefing session.

Day 2: Banos

This morning, you’ll acquaint yourself with Quito, the lovely capital of Ecuador. A guided tour will take you around the colonial center of this beautiful city, including Itchimbia’s scenic views, Independence Square, and the church of La Compañia. Then travel to the Mitad del Mundo, just north of Quito, to view the world from the equator. In the afternoon journey to Baños, which stands in the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano and is known as a gateway to the Amazonian jungles.

Day 3: Puyo

Today travel into the Amazon region towards the site of your service project. Along the way, you’ll stop to enjoy hiking along a waterfall route lined with stunning cascades. Tonight’s destination is a scenic lodge located in the jungle near the village of Puyo.

Day 4: Puyo

Today marks the first of three days in which you’ll participate in an Amazon animal service project at one of two facilities outside of Puyo, depending on the current needs. The Monkey Sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of rescued primates and the Amazon Animal Rescue Centre partners with the Ecuadorian Environmental Police and the Ministry of Environment in the fight against trafficking and abuse of wild animals. As a volunteer, your duties will include day-to-day care of animals (cutting up fruit, feeding and so forth), helping new animals adjust to the center, general maintenance and cleaning work, repairing animal enclosures or building new ones and daily hikes to pick fruit and catch insects for the animals. You might also be asked to harvest yucca, corn, sugar cane or cocoa.

Day 5: Puyo

Continue your work on the Amazon animal service project today.

Day 6: Puyo

Today is your final full day of working with the animals for your service project.

Day 7: Banos

The morning begins with a trip back to Baños, known worldwide as an eco-tourism paradise. Here you’ll enjoy an afternoon canopy tour above the Andean landscape, exploring via an elevated circuit that includes thrilling zip lines, a Tibetan bridge and rock climbing. Later enjoy time to explore more of Baños. Perhaps soak in the famous thermal mineral baths for which the town is named or shop for souvenirs—taffy made from cane sugar and balsa-wood parrots are two of the town’s locally-made signature products.

Day 8: Cotopaxi

Today you’ll visit Cotopaxi National Park, located at an elevation of nearly 15,000 feet and home to a dormant volcano. Here you may want to hike or mountain bike up to a glacier, or spend time observing the stunning landscapes and amazing flora and fauna. You’ll stay here overnight in a mountain lodge that offers a beautiful view of the snow-capped volcano.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.