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Volunteers make a difference! Travel with a purpose by participating in a hands-on Volunteer Work Project immediately followed by an Adventure Tour through Australia. Organized by International Student Volunteers (ISV), your trip is four weeks in length and consists of two 2-week segments. This trip combines conservation, recreation, education and community development into the experience of a lifetime.

4 weeks — Volunteer Work Project followed by an Adventure Tour including Montanhita, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Ola Vida, Banios, & Quito.

TRIP PRICE

$2,995 plus 50USD for internal flight tickets. The Optional Activity Package (OAP) is 180USD. Internal flights and OAP costs are paid to ISV after the booking is made through Brilliant Trips. International flights are not included.

HIGHLIGHTS

You will participate in a hands-on Volunteer Work Project with such host organizations as the Rio Muchacho Organic Farm, Nuevos Horizontes/Campo Cocha, Puerto Machalilla, or a host of others. You will then travel throughout Ecuador on an adventure that includes such optional activities as: 'Puenting', Rock climbing in the Andes, Waterfall rappelling, Whale watching and snorkeling in Isla de la Plata, and Horseback riding through the cloud forest.

See Ecuador Volunteer Adventure itinerary to review day-to-day activities.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The accommodations vary by volunteer work project, ranging from national park huts, dormitory style accommodations to home-stays with local families. All accommodations for the adventure tour have been carefully selected for their comfort and ideal locations. Accommodations range from nice tourist class hotels to youth hostels (dormitory style).

MEALS

Three meals per day are provided during the volunteer work project. Each project is a little different. Sometimes host organizations provide the food to volunteers (such as via host families), while other projects require participants to contribute to the meal planning and preparation. Your ISV Project Overview Manual (provided approximately 30 days prior to departure to your host country) will advise you of the meals that can be expected on the project. The number of meals provided during the Adventure Tour varies depending on the host country, but at least half of the meals will be provided as part of the trip cost. For all other meals, we encourage you to explore the local restaurants and eateries in the area. You should make note of any health and safety information provided by the Tour Leaders prior to trying new foods or restaurants. You will also stay in many accommodations with kitchen facilities to allow you to prepare some of your own meals. Be on time for meals. No reimbursements will be made for missed meals resulting from your being late or choosing not to attend.

TRANSPORT

Ground transportation varies greatly on these programs; ISV tries to offer a range of different experiences for travelers. While the majority of the transportation during the adventure tour is on air-conditioned busses, other forms of transport (for tour and project) may include trucks or overnight trains. You are required to pay for domestic airfare for flights within Ecuador as the volunteer work projects are scattered all over the country. Ecuador internal airfares have been arranged to be fair to all travelers (as suggested by past ISV participants.) The internal airfare cost is $50. BrilliantTrips will contact you once your booking has been confirmed with information on how to book these tickets.

GROUP SIZE

8 to 10 for Volunteer Work Project
Up to 30 for Adventure Tour

BrilliantTips

This BrilliantTrip is suitable for anyone who desires to make a difference by volunteering in conservation or community development work, is open to enlightening encounters with other like-minded individuals, and thrives on exciting outdoor adventure activities!

VISAS

All countries require a valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity). The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from; citizens of the U.S. can visit www.travel.state.gov/visa. It is important that you check for yourself. Also see our FAQs and Travel Info. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. BrilliantTrips will contact you after booking confirmation to obtain your passport information. We will also review group flight options to Ecuador, internal flights within Ecuador and the optional activity package.

2. All participants must ensure that you voice any dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian) prior to departure. Please also include any allergies to foods as part of your dietary and medical information.

3. All participants will have a ÒProject OrientationÓ upon arrival in your host country. Again, details will be provided to you in your Travel Manual which will be sent thirty days prior to the departure date.

4. Projects are available on specific dates only. Hence, depending on your assigned departure date, only certain projects will be available. Please be flexible in your project preferences; these are ALL great projects with significant conservation and educational value in phenomenal locations.

5. Exact dates, itineraries, accommodations and actual activities will be given to you in the Participant Travel Manual sent to you 30 days prior to departure by ISV.

TOUR LEADERSHIP

Project Leaders & Tour Leaders. ISV's field staff, project leaders and tour leaders guide your groups on volunteer projects and outdoor adventure tours, respectively. ISV requires all field staff to be certified in first aid. ISV's team is well trained and experienced in leading groups. Training is thorough and focuses on the need to be proactive to prevent accidents and incidents. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own behavior and actions; however, ISV staff emphasize that you must be safety-conscious at all times. You can be assured that the ISV staff will do everything responsible and within reason to safely guide you on your overseas experience. ISV has established an office in each of the countries they operate volunteer and adventure travel programs. In each country they have a country coordinator who assesses the local conditions, directs the program and oversees ISV's field staff. In the unlikely event of an incident abroad, the country coordinator will contact and coordinate with ISV's head offices. Important communication between family and friends is best achieved by calling the ISV head office who then relays information to the country coordinator in the participant's host country. ISV has a global team of staff who ensure your well-being and leaders who are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS

You are encouraged to take the group flight from Miami. If you choose not to take the group flight, you will need to meet the group at the airport in your host country.

LOCAL PAYMENT

None.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

In addition to the five included activities in the adventure tour, we are pleased to offer travelers an exciting Optional Activity Package (OAP). These activities are more of the best that Ecuador has to offer in outdoor adventure and appreciation of the spectacular natural surroundings. Each year about 95% of participants choose to purchase the OAP as it adds such great value to the overall experience. All you have to do is show up and be ready to have a great time! Upon confirming your booking BrilliantTrips will contact you to inquire if you would like to purchase the OAP.

The special price for the 2008 Ecuador OAP is $180.

Here's what's included:

Whale Watching-Snorkeling trip at Machalilla National Park (M.N.P)

In 1990, Ecuadorian territorial waters were declared a "Whale Natural Shelter". Each year, from June to September, Humpback Whales come into the bay off Puerto Lopez. Here whales can be seen breaching, leaping, and flippers lapping out of the water, making a huge splash when they land. Whaling boats follow strict international regulations established to decrease human impact on their behavior while allowing passengers to marvel at these magnificent creatures. The day will finish with a snorkeling stop off Isla de la Plata, an islet known as 'the poor mans' Galapagos.

Rock Climbing in Cuenca

Learn how to rock climb and/or challenge your abilities on a rock climber's playground near the town of El Paute, close to Cuenca. Professional guides will have climbs of various difficulties set up and will teach beginners the basics of movement on rock, safety and belaying techniques. Half of the group will climb while the other half hikes through the magnificent scenery of the southern Andes.

Puenting in Baños

A unique adrenaline filled activity, puenting will involve jumping off an anchored rope from one side of a 60 foot bridge! There will be a short freefall then participants will swing in a pendulum above a beautiful Andean Cloud forest stream. Canyoning Participants will climb down narrow canyons and rappel off waterfalls up to 180 ft tall, while exploring the remote San Jorge or Chamana canyons. Half a day of adrenaline, exploration, and team building.

Horseback Riding in Banios

Ride on gravel roads, dirt tracks, and trails up into the surrounding mountainside to some of the most amazing viewpoints in Ecuador from which you'll be able to see the town, the Pastaza River, and the Tungurahua volcano.

HEALTH & MEDICAL

You are required to indicate if you have any injuries, illnesses, allergies or are taking any medications. The information provided should be complete and accurate. The ISV office will follow up with a thorough medical form should a participant indicate anything that would require ISV to obtain additional information. You must update ISV in writing should your medical information change between the time of confirmation and departure.

Illness or Injury Overseas

For each volunteer project and each tour destination, ISV obtains the location and details of the nearest medical facility. If you become ill or are injured overseas, ISV staff will assist you in receiving appropriate medical care (including applying first aid or visiting a clinic or hospital). Depending on the severity of the situation, ISV will contact your listed emergency contact via the ISV head office. Participants are also provided with local and ISV emergency contact numbers and the contact details for local clinics should they require them.

Prior to departure — immunizations

It is strongly recommended that all participants visit a medical doctor for a travel consultation prior to departing. A medical doctor will provide the most accurate and up to date information suitable for each host country. Although ISV does not require any specific immunizations for participants on an ISV program, it is strongly advised that all participants ensure that your immunizations are up to date.

Get fit before you travel

Due to the design and nature of this trip, you should ensure that prior to departure you also attain at least a moderate fitness level so that you can maximize your participation and enjoyment level throughout the experience.

FINE PRINT

Actual adventure tour dates and activities may change. Exact dates, itineraries, accommodations and actual activities will be given to you in the Participant Travel Manual sent to you 30 days prior to departure by ISV. All activities are subject to change without notice. Any and all changes are within the discretion of ISV. The OAP must be purchased as a whole rather than a selection of one or more of the activities mentioned above. All activities are subject to change without notice. Any and all changes are within the discretion of ISV, Inc. Full payment is due prior to departure.