Location
  • Ecuador
    • Guayaquil
    • Quito
Length
4 - 26 weeks
Financial Support
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Housing
Guesthouse Host Family Hostel
Primary Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Age Max
22

Pricing

Starting Price
9995
Price Details
Tuition includes everything except airfare.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Park Fees Tour Guide Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Jan 09, 2019
Mar 06, 2014
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Andes are home to incredible cultural and biological diversity. Explore their many faces on our program in Bolivia, Peru & Ecuador, which incorporates an extended homestay, a teaching internship, and additional opportunities for community service. In addition to living in a homestay, where both you and the host family will be challenged to step outside of your boundaries and open your hearts and minds to one another, you will be primarily focused on teaching in a local school. You will further integrate into your host community by selecting an independent project that inspires you and meets needs of the community, such as facilitating an arts or sports camp or painting a mural.

There is ample opportunity for adventure, including exploring the Amazon river basin by canoe, kayaking Lake Titicaca, watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu, and exploring the infamous Galapagos archipelago, and much more!

Learn more about the program on our website.

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from Global Routes.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We recognize that we are a long way from the diversity we aim for within our students, staff, and partners. We want and need more diversity to truly become the organization we would like to be. We recognize that this will not happen overnight or without dedicating time, attention, and resources. To that end, we have created a strategic plan to address our current shortfalls and to make significant improvements, which you can see on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

Neurodivergent Support

At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. During the interview and application process, we have honest and direct conversations with students and families about the support that our staff is able to provide throughout the program experience. We are committed to creating a culture of acceptance and support. To that end, our Overseas Educators and local leaders are selected for their skill in group facilitation and promoting inclusive group dynamics.

Accessibility Support

At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. We have honest and open conversations with applicants about our ability to support individual needs on each program, with the ultimate goal of a healthy and successful experience for all students. In the past, we have worked with students with severe allergies, diabetes, chronic injuries, and mental health diagnoses. We know each student's journey is individual and we work with families to support these individual needs where possible to help determine if the program is a good fit for their gap semester goals.

Impact

Sustainability

Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is committed to maximizing the net positive impact while minimizing the carbon footprint of every program. In our office, on our programs, and through our carbon offset match, our programs are geared toward environmental education to empower future leaders to move their communities to take action. During our programs, students learn more about their impact as individuals and a travel community - then take a solution-oriented lens to tackling key issues. We also contribute to and amplify the voices of organizations and partners who focus on permaculture, natural building, and sustainable solutions.

Ethical Impact

Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is designed to connect to our local communities and provide reciprocal exchange and engagement. Through engaging in experiential education, community engagement, and intercultural exchange, our students develop enhanced perspectives, deeper cultural understanding, and a profound sense of self-discovery and personal growth. We work with vetted local providers to build their businesses as they provide value to our students and programming. With our homestay families, we ensure we minimize our footprint by regularly rotating the communities we work with and evaluating our social impact alongside their community leaders.

Five reasons to do a Global Routes program!

  1. Location! Live and teach in a small, rural agricultural community in the tropical lowlands surrounding San Luis de Pambil. Travel to other exciting destinations in Ecuador.
  2. Impact! Teaching placements are located in rural primary and secondary schools that lack basic educational resources. As a volunteer teacher, you can make a significant impact on students in under-resourced communities.
  3. Variety! Volunteers may teach English, math, science, social studies, or environmental education. Furthermore, there are many opportunities to get involved in sports coaching and music workshops.
  4. Volunteers also choose to do an independent project that allows them to integrate into the local community through a unique development or cultural project of their design. Projects can include building playground equipment, facilitating arts or sports camps, painting projects, and much more!
  5. Build your resume! In addition to the teaching experience, you may also be involved with marketing and fundraising to facilitate your independent project. Designing and implementing this independent project is also invaluable experience to share with prospective employers or colleges. You can also improve your Spanish language ability and cross-cultural skills. These are great assets that will make your international experience stand out.

Program Highlights

  • Teaching Abroad
  • Internship
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Andes
  • Community Immersion

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 2 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 3.5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 4.5
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Default avatar
Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience of My Entire Life

To say that I had an absolutely fantastic four weeks in Ecuador this summer would be a huge understatement. When I began looking into community service teen trips for last summer, I kept noticing a pattern in testimonials of fellow teens saying they went on “a trip of a lifetime.” At first I questioned this a lot and wondered would this really be a trip of a lifetime or are they just saying that so I’d sign up and go? After spending almost an entire month in Ecuador, I realized why all of these teens said it really was a trip of a lifetime. Going to Ecuador was the best decision I ever made and the best investment my parents could have ever made. In just the course of four weeks, I came back with lifelong friends, more photos than I’ve ever taken and enough memories to share until I die. I learned deeper respect for those around me, true appreciation for everything I have back at home and to pause and take in all the small moments. My group named ourselves “La Familia” (the family in Spanish) and to tell you the truth, by the end of the trip we all felt like family. While spending almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the same crowd can get exhausting and annoying, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend those days with any other people. We made each other laugh, smile and everyone just felt like themselves. We pushed each other to be adventurous and go outside our comfort zones. This trip taught me so much about myself and the world outside of my New York City bubble and I still talk about my trip to this day. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop talking about it and sharing the memories. If you’re thinking about going on a Global Routes trip, trust me, you’re truly making the best decision yet!

13 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
FollowYourDreams
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My most memorable experience

Before going to College I knew that I wanted to take a year off and travel abroad. I looked at several different programs and wasn't satisfied with any of them until Global Routes. They are reasonably priced, assure your safety, and offer support for you for wherever you go. They also make sure that at least one other person involved in the program is close to you for even more support. They were extremely helpful and informative in the applying process and the overall experience abroad. I met so many wonderful people on my adventure and learned a great deal about another culture helping to respect and understand mine better. I found myself while there and learned so many life lessons that I have applied to my everyday life now. I loved being able to teach in a school and work with children everyday along with helping to renovate it and bring smiles to the communities faces. The village was extremely accepting, friendly, and caring towards my partner and I and I will always have a place for them in my heart. I still plan on hopefully returning there after college to visit because it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I felt completely safe and secure being there. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a break from school, a desire to help others, or an adventure.

25 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers