Ecuadorian Animal Sanctuary

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: Quito

Begin your day with a guided sightseeing tour of Quito, viewing Independence Square with its monument to the independence heroes of August 10, 1809, and visiting one of the colonial-era churches, which boast impressive exhibitions of architectural and religious art. Then travel just north of Quito to view the world from the equator. See the Mitad del Mundo monument as you drive to the Intiñan Museum for a visit. This interactive museum—which locals claim to be on the “real” equator (as determined by GPS)—is loaded with unique activities you can only do at the equator, like balancing an egg on a nail or watching how water spirals differently down a drain in each hemisphere. Then return to Quito.

Day 3: Puyo

Today travel into the Amazon region towards the site of your service project. Along the way, you’ll stop to enjoy some light hiking along a waterfall route lined with stunning cascades. Arrive at one of the well known Amazon Animal Rescue Centres in this region and have a brief introduction to the centre's mission, projects and the activities you'll be participating in over the next two days. Then continue to your hotel located near the village of Puyo.

Day 4: Puyo

Today marks the first of two full days in which you'll participate in an Amazon animal sanctuary service learning project at one of the facilities outside of Puyo. 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 could 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 sanctuary service learning project today.

Day 6: Banos

The morning begins with a journey toward Baños. Stop en route to visit with students at a local school, a great opportunity to practice your Spanish skills as well as to share and compare typical school days, customs, passions and challenges. In the afternoon, arrive in Baños de Agua Santa, a small and vibrant city located at the base of the Tungurahua Volcano, surronded by rivers and beautiful mountains. Start your exploration of this picturesque place with "The Route of Waterfalls." On this route you will enjoy several waterfalls, such as the Agoyan and the Manto de la Novia, ending with entrance to the famed 80-meter Pailón del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron). A short trail leads you to spots where you can admire the impressive falls from a small bridge, or from a viewpoint where you have to be prepared for a natural shower!

Day 7: Banos

Discover today why Baños has a reputation as an eco-tourism and adventure capital. Enjoy an exciting canopy tour high above the Andean landscape that includes zip lines, a Tibetan bridge and rock climbing. Then enjoy time to explore more at your own pace. Perhaps discover why it's also a center for relaxation with a dip in the naturally heated thermal mineral baths for which the town is named. Or shop for souvenirs like cane sugar taffy and balsa-wood parrots along a street in the town center that is lined with handicraft stalls and artisan shops.

Day 8: Overnight Flight

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 up to a glacier, or spend time observing the stunning landscapes and amazing fauna. Continue to Quito airport. Depending on your flight time, you'll either stay overnight at an airport hotel for a morning departure, or board an overnight flight to the USA this evening.

Day 9: United States

Arrive in the USA.