Location
  • Ecuador
    • Quito
Length
1 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
465
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Feb 10, 2025
Jul 28, 2023
4 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Ecuador with Plan My Gap Year (PMGY), an award-winning international organisation offering safe, trusted, and affordable programs in the heart of South America. Based in Quito, Ecuador’s vibrant and historic capital city, PMGY provides a variety of impactful programs, including Bird Rescue, Childcare, Medical, and Teaching, opportunities.

Our volunteer in Ecuador programs start on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month, running year-round with flexible durations from 1 to 12 weeks. Volunteers stay in a welcoming host family, enjoying comfortable accommodation and the full support of a friendly local team. PMGY ensures a seamless and enriching experience with comprehensive pre-departure support, airport transfers, and a thorough in-country orientation.

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

Plan My Gap Year is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We have personally vetted all of our Volunteer Programs in every destination. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs abroad that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.

For this reason, PMGY does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Research and studies have shown that visiting and volunteering in orphanages has the potential to generate an industry that separates children from their families. In turn, putting children at increased risk of neglect and abuse. Therefore, we do not support these institutions with our volunteer network.

Instead, we focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe, responsible, and vetted projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff.

Program Highlights

  • Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.
  • Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.
  • Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.
  • Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.
  • Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 1 review
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  • Impact 4
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 reviews
Default avatar
Tilly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I had a wonderful time on the South America Encounter

I had a fantastic time on the 12-week South America Encounter with PMGY. Spending 4 weeks in each country (Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru) gave me plenty of time to explore. I volunteered at different projects (childcare, English teaching and wildlife rescue), so was able to experience many new things.
I made lots of new friends and together we planned weekend trips such as a weekend in Puerto Viejo (Costa Rica) and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Travelling with PMGY gave me the gap year experience I was looking for - I was able to meet new people, gain new skills from the projects, learn Spanish, and explore 3 amazing countries with diverse cultures.
The PMGY team were on-hand throughout my trip, helping me when I had any doubts and providing information for each country-specific programme.
I highly recommend Plan My Gap Year and the South America Encounter!

Pros
  • A combination of impactful volunteering and weekend adventures.
  • The local staff can help you to organise weekend trips.
  • Living with a host-family is the perfect opportunity to try the local cuisine, immerse yourself in the local culture and practise your Spanish.
Cons
  • Communication with project staff can be challenging at times.
89 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers