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Latin America

Ecuador

Mainland placements plus the Galápagos Islands.

1-12 weeks 17 placements Galápagos Islands, Isabela Island, Puerto Villamil, Quito Homestay or Volunteer house$

Ways to get involved in Ecuador

Here's what our partners are running right now. Pick a placement that looks like a fit and we'll send the current dates and costs.

Why AmeriCorps alumni choose Ecuador

Ecuador gives alumni two very different experiences under one country page. On the mainland, Quito is a base for teaching, childcare, and community health work at high altitude with easy access to the Amazon and the Andes. In the Galápagos, placements lean toward conservation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental education on islands where the science is the whole point. The Galápagos is the kind of trip that usually feels out of reach on cost, and an award can change that math. Both options run short, so a four-week stay is realistic.

  • Galápagos conservation and sustainable agriculture
  • Mainland teaching, childcare, and health work
  • Amazon and Andes both within reach

Placements run through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) and Intern Abroad HQ.

Pricing in Ecuador

These are our partners' published fees for Ecuador, taken from their public fee pages, with the registration fee added in. Your final cost depends on the placement you pick and how long you stay.

Volunteer program fees in Ecuador

Run through International Volunteer HQ. Fees below cover the full stay for that length.

Quito · International Volunteer HQfrom $699 for 1 week, registration included
LengthProgram feeWith registrationPer day
1 weeks$370$699$100
2 weeks$525$854$61
3 weeks$680$1,009$48
4 weeks$835$1,164$42
5 weeks$990$1,319$38
6 weeks$1,145$1,474$35
8 weeks$1,455$1,784$32
10 weeks$1,765$2,094$30
12 weeks$2,075$2,404$29
Includes the $329 registration fee, which is added to every program fee.
What's included and what's not

What the fee covers

  • Breakfast
  • Airport pick-up
  • Accommodation
  • 24/7 in-country emergency support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Not included

  • Lunch and dinner
  • Transport to and from your placement each day
  • Return to the airport when your program finishes
  • Flights
  • Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
  • Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
  • All programs attract a Registration Fee that ranges from $329-$429 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Galápagos Islands · International Volunteer HQfrom $1,759 for 2 weeks, registration included
LengthProgram feeWith registrationPer day
2 weeks$1,430$1,759$126
3 weeks$1,950$2,279$109
4 weeks$2,470$2,799$100
5 weeks$2,990$3,319$95
6 weeks$3,510$3,839$91
8 weeks$4,550$4,879$87
10 weeks$5,590$5,919$85
12 weeks$6,630$6,959$83
Includes the $329 registration fee, which is added to every program fee.
What's included and what's not

What the fee covers

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Transient visa (for all volunteers aged 18+ - this visa is specific to Galapagos National Park only)
  • Local pickup
  • Return ferry from Santa Cruz to Isabela island
  • Accommodation
  • 24/7 in-country emergency support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Not included

  • Transit Control Card
  • Water taxis
  • Transfer from the Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora ferry terminal (transfer includes a bus, small ferry, and another bus or taxi)
  • Return bus from ferry to the airport when your program finishes
  • National Park Entry Fee (only required for volunteers under the age of 18)
  • Flights
  • Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
  • Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
  • All programs attract a Registration Fee that ranges from $329-$429 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.

Internship fees in Ecuador

Run through Intern Abroad HQ. Internships are longer and include placement sourcing, supervision, and academic credit facilitation.

Isabela Island, Galápagos · Intern Abroad HQfrom $4,299 for 4 weeks
LengthProgram feePer day
4 weeks$4,299$154
5 weeks$4,699$134
6 weeks$5,099$121
8 weeks$6,049$108
10 weeks$6,899$99
12 weeks$7,699$92
Deposit starting at $499, credited toward your fee
What's included and what's not

What the fee covers

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Transient visa (for all interns aged 18+ - this visa is specific to Galapagos National Park only)
  • Local pickup
  • Return ferry from Santa Cruz to Isabela island
  • Accommodation
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • Program orientation
  • Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
  • In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
  • Sourcing and securing your internship placement
  • Personalization of your internship plan
  • Coaching from your supervisor
  • Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
  • Academic credit facilitation
  • International reference letter
  • Certificate of Internship Completion

Not included

  • Transit Control Card
  • Water taxis
  • Transfer from the Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora ferry terminal (transfer includes a bus, small ferry, and another bus or taxi)
  • Return bus from ferry to the airport when your program finishes
  • Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
  • Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
  • A deposit that ranges from $499-$599 is required to confirm your participation. This is subtracted from the Program Fee total.
  • Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
  • All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
  • Terms and Conditions apply.

If you're using your Segal Education Award

Award funds have to go to a Title IV school, so your placement needs to carry academic credit. That required academic credit and enrollment fee starts at $999 and is on top of the program fees above. We'll walk you through it.

Fees change through the year. Ask us for the current Ecuador numbers and we'll confirm them with the partner before you apply.

Alumni stories from Ecuador

AmeriCorps alumni who used their Education Award to go here, in their own words.

Sarah with her community development project in Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador · IVHQ · 1 week

Volunteering in Quito, and swimming with sea turtles in the Galápagos

Thanks to my AmeriCorps Education Award and IVHQ, I volunteered with a community development organization in Quito, Ecuador. I also visited Cotopaxi National Park, Mindo Cloud Forest, and the Galápagos Islands. Swimming with sea turtles and sharks there is an experience I will never forget. The people I met and places I visited in Ecuador will always have my heart.

SarahCommunity Development Volunteer · Quito, Ecuador

See all alumni stories

Common questions about Ecuador

Can I use my Segal Education Award in Ecuador?
Yes. Placements in Ecuador run through partner organizations tied to an accredited Title IV institution, so AmeriCorps alumni can apply the Segal Education Award toward program and travel costs.
How long are placements in Ecuador?
1-12 weeks. Award funding is available for programs up to 6 months.
What kind of work can I do in Ecuador?
We list 17 placements in Ecuador, spanning Arts, Media & Culture, Business & Marketing, Community Development, Education & Youth, Environment & Conservation.

Get the details for Ecuador

Tell us whether you're after a volunteer placement or an internship and we'll send the current options, dates, and a realistic budget for Ecuador, plus how to put your award toward it. No cost, no obligation.

What are you looking for in Ecuador?

By submitting this form, you agree that we will share the details you provide directly with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) so they can contact you about placements in Ecuador. See our Privacy Policy.