Free Time
Rainforest Expedition in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Participating with GVI not only allows you to work on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Below is some information on trips and travel options in Ecuador.

Included Side Trips

In the first five weeks of each phase, all volunteers experience a long weekend visit to Sumak Allpa. This is an island 3-4 hours downstream from the GVI base on the Rio Napo, owned by a local conservationist Hector Vargas. He and his partner offer education to local children who are too far away from the towns to make it to the schools every day. Their island is also home to seven species of endangered primates, most of which were orphaned through hunting or found being sold illegally in the local markets. They now have the run of the island and Hector’s aim is to rehabilitate them, giving them the freedom to live wild on a protected island whilst in that process. Our trip allows volunteers to visit another area within the region and learn more about the traditional culture, through Hector’s incredible incites and knowledge. Also, in exchange for sharing time on his island and knowledge with us, volunteers normally spend half a day helping Hector with some work around his island; maybe trail maintenance, improving the school facilities, or whatever might be needed on that day.

In the second five weeks of each phase, volunteers visit Yasuní National Park, Ecuador’s largest and most biologically diverse mainland national park. The park is located approximately 5-6 hours downstream from the GVI base camp on the Rio Napo, in prime Huaorani territory. Volunteers spend a long weekend in the Yasuní Park, getting a small taster of what Yasuní has to offer. There is a chance to visit two separate clay licks, where many different species of parrots, parakeets, parrotlets and macaws flock daily to feast on the clay, which is believed to counteract the build-up of toxins from the rest of their diet. Walks in the rainforest during the weekend will hopefully allow glimpses of some of the record number of species of birds, bats, insects, frogs, and fish that can be found within Yasuni, along with the opportunity of learning about some of the tremendous variety of tree species all around. A chance to catch a beautiful Amazonian sunset might not be out of the question either.

Further Travelling Opportunities

Ecuador is an amazing country which should be explored further, if you have the time and funds. Ideas worth considering include; a road trip along the Quilotoa Loop in some amazing scenery, relaxing in the steam baths of Termas de Papallacta, checking out the unique beauty of the Galápagos Islands, taking in the views offered by the mountain retreat of Zaruma, visiting the surfers paradise of Montañita, and many more.