EcuaExperience: Pre-Medical and Volunteer Programs

It is going to be the best month of your life. You have one week of med rotations that you can see and learn a lot, also there are amazing tutors that will help you out with your questions and teach you many materials. Volunteer week is absolutely amazing, and you get to spend time with great people of the community. Rest of the trip you get to see Ecuador, which is a very beautiful country, and do many activities. You usually spend the nights in the best hotels that are available and have amazing meals. The price of the program is more than worth it, and the month is unforgettable.

Ecuador was simply amazing, a country with diversity and vibrancy. As a first time traveler the Bio- premedical program was a great experience, the first week was an intensive week of shadowing doctors and learning the key skills by medical students. They were valuable and informative sessions that only ignited and propelled my curiosity in medicine.

The second week consisted of volunteering in the town of Pujili where I worked with the construction workers and fellow volunteer's to build the walls of the houses. We also explored the various diverse parts of Ecuador, including the beautiful Cotopaxi volcano.

The third and final week included the biology part of my program with exploring the diverse Galápagos Islands. Every part of the Galápagos crawled with beautiful and majestic wildlife, it truly was heaven on earth.
These experIence and 28 days packed the best parts of my life, not a single day that I did not feel challenged. The trip takes you out of your comfort zone takes you to amazing places, allows you to explore amazing things.

Nothing compares, it's simply amazing

Ecuador is truly an amazing and welcoming country a place that's has changed my life forever, the amazing friends and family that I have made that will last a lifetime. From the volunteer work to exploring the diverse Galápagos islands, these experiences I will treasure forever.

Thank you HLD for a phenomenal experience!!

They all say that traveling in a foreign country is memorable- HLD DOES capture that essence beautifully. It's a trip that helps you discover the country of Ecuador and yourself- through hiking in the Amazon, repelling down waterfalls and volunteering in Pujili.

Where do I even begin? Help, Learn & Discover provided me with the best summer of my life thus far. The amount that is packed into the program's 28 days is beyond what I could have ever imagined.

People ask what your favourite part of the trip is and you just want to say ALL of it. There's really no experience offered quite like it.

The first component of the trip being "Help" gave us the opportunity to assist in the construction of 20 house builds. Some of the most rewarding days were spent with the wonderful people of this community. I was so overwhelmed by the joy and gratitude these people have. To say it was a humbling experience would be an understatement. Prepare to have your hearts swell for the community, and for the children that cling to your sides.

I was part of the Pre med group, so the "Learn" aspect involved shadowing local doctors in both public and private hospitals. The tutors are absolutely brilliant and you're thrown right into the midst of it all. We saw unreal surgeries, and had so much knowledge poured into us, it was amazing. If medicine is something you're even considering this will SEAL THE DEAL.

With just the two components above, I feel as though it's already well worth the price of the trip. BUT THERE'S MORE. We also got to "Discover" Ecuador. This involved an authentic culinary experience, tubing down the amazon river, rappelling down waterfalls, riding gondolas across the valley, hikes through the jungle, walking tour around the city, swinging at the end of the world, learning to surf, lounging on the beautiful beaches, horse back riding by volcanoes, and so much more. There's a lot to see, and HLD makes sure you see all the best parts. There's no way I would have been able to see half of the things that I did if I had been on my own.

The staff was incredible...12/10. Jose and Juan will provide you with nonstop laughs and the best opportunity imaginable.

Thank you HLD for a summer I'll never forget.

For everything that I learned and tried for the first time on this trip, the price of HL&D is more than worth it. We traveled everywhere from the mountains and volcanoes to the countryside and the beach and stayed at all the nicest and most authentic accommodations along the way. The program owners and managers are so invested in their cause and in their volunteers, I had fun and felt safe at every stop along the way. Thanks to HL&D for a great summer!

I did not know what to expect on this trip but it exceeded my expectations in all areas. I was very impressed with the medical portion of the trip. We were allowed amazing access to the hospitals especially the surgery. I was always busy and I never felt that I was just sitting around.

My four-week stay in Ecuador was amazing. Simply unforgettable. Learning to suture, diagnosing REAL patients, bargaining at the Otavalo Market, touring the city of Quito, partying on a party bus, being in a surgery room, tubing down the Amazon, hiking in the Amazon in Misahualli, casually swinging at the end of the world in Banos, building homes in Pujili, braiding little girls' hair in Pujili, playing with the little kids in Pujili, dancing to El taxi on the bus, learning to surf in Canoa, watching the sunset every night in Canoa, winning the Amazing Race with my amazing team, visiting the Chocolate Factory in Mindo, paragliding in Canoa, meeting great people and great friends, visiting the homes of the families we were building houses for, horseback riding in Cotopaxi, and lots of thinking about life were all accomplished in four weeks.
Expect lots of laughter and fun.

With that, I would like to thank Ecuaexperience for their hardwork to ensure that each and every student was having a great time. Thank you!

Simply put, my time in Ecuador with EcuaExperience was the greatest experience of my life! Everything about their three-part Help, Learn & Discover program was absolutely unforgettable and life changing.

I was completely humbled during the help component of the trip. It was an honour to wake up ready to work hard knowing that I was part of a project that was undoubtedly going refine the lives of the twenty beautiful families of Pujili who we helped build and fund twenty homes for.

Everything about the learn component of the trip was literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. All the things I learned, the procedures I saw, and the firsthand interactions I got with patients were incredible! I'm super thankful for these opportunities as they really motivated me and wholly solidified my commitment to pursue a career in medicine.

Last but not least, the discover portion of this trip was just unbelievable! I was completely blown away by the beauty that this tiny South American country had to offer. No matter where we were, I was sure to see extraordinary scenery that I could only ever dream of seeing back home. Not only was the country beautiful, but the activities were absolutely fantastic, ranging from horseback riding alongside wild mustangs to waterfall rappelling in the Amazon!

Last but not least, it wouldn't be fair to end this review without mentioning the amazing HLD staff. They were...phenomenal! 10/10 in organization, support, energy, entertainment, fun, etc! Thank you to all the tutors, leaders, and hotel staff. A thousand times thanks to Ruben, Megan, Juan, and Jose for a truly unforgettable experience!