Over the coming weeks I will be updating this FAQ page until we have a comprehensive list of questions most people ask when considering volunteer work in Ecuador. If you have a question you think should be added to this section please don’t hesitate to email me at: ecuadorecovolunteer@gmail.com
Food and Accommodation
Do I have to pay for accommodation?
All accommodation is included in the price for the Volunteer Programs. As a bonus we also offer free weekend accommodation in the Riobamba Guesthouse which has free WiFi and Washing Machine for volunteers who want to relax and resupply.
Is Food Included?
Unless otherwise stated Food is not included. Food is very very cheap in Ecuador however and an average lunch which comes with a soup, a plate of rice, chicken, and vegetables, and fresh juice normally costs $1.50. All of the volunteer work programs have kitchen facilities where you can cook and food is cheap in the supermarkets.
Are these programs Vegetarian friendly?
While Ecuador is not the holy grail for vegetarians like India you will love all of the fresh, organic fruits and vegetables available from the local markets. As most of the volunteer work programs do not include food you should have no problem preparing nutritious vegetarian meals in the kitchen facilities provided.
Time and Transport
Am I required to volunteer on the weekends as well?
Normally the volunteer work programs run from Monday to Friday so you get the weekends free for leisure and travel time to explore the country.
What is there to do on the weekends?
What can’t you do! The great thing about Ecuador is that its small size and incredible geographic biodiversity means its easy to travel around the country. You can wake up in the morning deep inside the Amazon rainforest and after a five hour bus ride later be climbing 6,000 meter volcano in the Andes.
Is Transport Provided while Volunteering?
Transport is provided free of charge while the volunteer is volunteering but he or she may have to make their own way to the volunteer organization at the start of the program. For example, volunteers on the coastline regeneration project need to make their own way to Esmeraldas but while volunteering all transport by boat around the islands is provided free of charge. In the Animal Rescue Centers volunteers need to make their own way to the city of Puyo but they will be picked up from Puyo and driven into the jungle free of charge.
How much does it cost to travel around Ecuador?
As a rule of thumb a one hour bus ride in Ecuador costs $1 USD. The three and an half hour bus ride from Quito to Riobamba for example costs $3.75. Traveling around Ecuador is easy and cheap.
Language and Learning
I cannot speak Spanish, can I still Volunteer?
Of course! While some of our volunteer programs require a basic or intermediate level many others require little or no Spanish at all. The best volunteer programs for people who speak very little Spanish are the Animal Rescue Center, Paraiso Eco Lodge, Nizag, and Casa Condor.
I want to learn Spanish, what next?
Well if you are still in your home country I can’t recommend the online language learning community www.livemocha.com enough! It really helped me with both my Spanish and Portuguese while I was living in Australia before I came to Latin America.
Once you get to Ecuador I recommend you take an intensive Spanish Course before you start volunteering which will give you the foundations necessary to master the language.
Prices for Volunteer Programs
How much does volunteering with Ecuadorecovolunteer.org cost?
Most of our programs are priced at below $10 a day or $225 USD per month. Volunteer Work should NEVER cost thousands of dollars a month unless its somewhere very hard to get to like Antarctica or the International Space Station. Beware of companies that try to charge you over $1000 a month.
It says there is a $25 admin fee, what is that for?
The $25 admin fee helps keep this project running so we can continue providing the best, high quality and low cost volunteer work in Ecuador. This small fee goes towards expenses like website hosting and maintenance and it also allows us to secure you a place in the volunteer work program so you do not miss out if its the high season.
How do I pay the $25 admin fee?
We use PayPal because its safe, secure, and easy to use. With PayPal we can send your email a $25 Money Request that can be paid by Visa or Mastercard quickly and easily without hassle.
I don’t have a Credit Card, how do I pay?
What are the Discounts for Longer Stays?
Anything for a month and under and the standard rate of $225 and $25 admin fee applies. If you wish to volunteer for three months we can waive the $25 admin fee. For volunteers that wish to volunteer for 6 months and over we can subtract $25 per month from the volunteer work. Keep in to mind that our standard prices are already some of the most affordable on offer anywhere in the world for volunteer work of this caliber.
Visas and Preparing for your Trip
Do I Need a Visa to Enter Ecuador?
Ecuador gives the most nationalities an automatic three month visa when they enter the country without having to apply. For more Visa information check this site:
I like Ecuador so much I want to stay longer than three months, how do I renew my visa?
If you wish to stay for longer you can renew your visa in Quito or Guayaquil by getting either the 12×9 Tourist Visa which costs $200 which allows multiple entries and an extra six months to stay in Ecuador. For Long Term Volunteers that will be working on a project for over six months we can help them get a 12×12 Volunteer Visa which costs $200 and is valid for a year.
Can someone pick me up from the airport?
Yes. We can arrange an Airport Pickup where we wait for your plane to arrive at Quito Airport and personally drive you to Riobamba for $120.
What clothes should I pack?
Ecuador is one of those amazing countries where you be surfing on the beach in the morning and walking on snow in the afternoon. Make sure you pack warm clothes for winter along with summer and beach clothes for when you are in the hot humid Amazon or chilling out on the beach.
Any more questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask: ecuadorecovolunteer@gmail.com
