Day 1: Arrival in Guayaquil
Arrival day! You will land in the bustling coastal city of Guayaquil. This day you will get settled in and meet your guides and the crew you will be traveling with for the next 10 days!
Meals Included: Dinner
Ecuador Ultimate Andes Impact Adventure 10-Day | Eden Taylor
Starting at $2,495
Trip Dates: 2022 dates coming soon. Stay tuned!
On this 10-day adventure, you will experience the true Ecuadorian culture as you make your way from colonial Cuenca, to spending quality time with the communities of Oña as you work alongside them on your impact projects. You will see the amazing landscapes as you road trip through the incredible Andes Mountains from Southern Ecuador all the way to the Northern part of the country!
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About the Program
About:
On this 10-day adventure, you will experience the true Ecuadorian culture as you make your way from colonial Cuenca, to spending quality time with the communities of Oña as you work alongside them on your impact projects. You will see the amazing landscapes as you road trip through the incredible Andes Mountains from Southern Ecuador all the way to the Northern part of the country!
An impact adventure is the best of both worlds, an incredible travel adventure combine with an impactful service project. During a portion of your trip, you will go off the beaten path to rural villages where we have partnerships with local communities. During this time you will work alongside the community to help increase access to clean water, education and health services. Don’t worry, no specific skills are needed to partake in the project, just a big heart, and a positive attitude!
Map:
Highlights
- Explore colonial Cuenca
- Spiritual hike to sacred Incan prayer location with the Saraguro People
- Homestays
- Life-changing Impact project
- Learn to salsa dance
- Visit Ancient Incan Ruins “Ingapirca”
- Adventure in Baños (adventure capital of Ecuador)
- Visit the swing at the end of the world
- Drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes
- Visit Cotopaxi National Park
Gallery
Impact
The central part of a Vivid Roots Impact Adventure is the “Impact” portion of the trip. For this trip you will be working in Oña where we have partnered directly with the local government and community leaders. You will work alongside the community to help increase access to education, water, health services through multiple initiatives.
Donation for Impact Project – To pay for the materials for the project you will work on, we ask that each guest donate or fundraises $250. This small donation will change many lives. When you arrive you will see the materials that your donation funded and your volunteer labor will help complete the project.
Once you apply and get signed up for your trip we will give you the details on how you can fundraise for your project!
If you have questions about the donation, please let us know!
What's Included:
Accommodations: 9 Nights Hotels
Clean, safe, and comfortable private rooms. You’ll share rooms with one or two other Impact Adventurers. (Upgrade to your own private room if you want!)
Meals: 18
18 of 26 meals are included
9 Breakfasts – 5 Lunches – 4 Dinners
Dietary restrictions? No worries, we can accommodate to most preferences!
You will be on your own for 10 meals where you can explore local cuisine with recommendations from your guides. Meals in Ecuador cost on average $4-$8.
Transportation
All group transportation is included. Private vans, buses.
Guides
You will be accompanied by professional guides throughout the trip. Our Vivid Roots adventure guides are not only professional and knowledgeable but also all around incredible humans who you’ll surely value from the get-go.
Activities
- Salsa Class
- Cuenca City Tour
- Saraguro Indigenous Cultural Immersion Experience
- Sacred Incan Hike
- Cotopaxi National Park Hike
- Tour Ancient Incan Ruins “Ingapirca”
- Swing at the end of the world
- Devil’s Cauldron Waterfall (Pailon del Diablo)
Add-on Optional Extras
- Pottery Class
- Hot Springs
- Biking Tour
- Ziplining
- ATV, Motorcycle, Jeep rental
- Canyoning
- Bungee Jumping
- White water rafting
- Spa
- More
Additional Things To Think About
Flights
For this itinerary, you will fly into Guayaquil and fly home out of Quito. We can help you book your flights and get you a great deal. Just ask us for a quote!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required for all trips. Policy’s start around $75. (Don’t worry, we can help with this too!)
Airport Transportation
There are public taxis shuttles and uber available or we can book a private driver who will be waiting with your name on a sign to take you to the hotel for $50, to take you to the airport for your departure.
Private Room
You will be sharing a room with 1 or 2 other guests. If you would like your own private room, no problem just add $350.
Payment
To save your spot on the trip, just make your $500 Deposit. Payment plan options available. Simply apply for the trip to see the simple payment options!
Your deposit is 100% refundable for up to 7 days.
Impact Project Donation
To pay for the materials for the project you will work on, we ask that each guest donates or fundraises $250. This small donation will change many lives. We can give you everything you need to fundraise so you can make a HUGE impact in the community you will be helping!
After you make your deposit you will get all of the information you need to fundraise and maximize your impact!
Frequently Asked Questions
What People Are Saying About The Trip
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Ella Elizabeth
Day 2: Exploring Colonial Cuenca
Get the day started early with a transfer from the coast to the highlands in Cuenca!
Cuenca is one of the oldest, and most well-preserved cities in Ecuador. It is a short drive from the airport to the hotel. You will have this day to acclimatize as Cuenca sits at 8,399 Ft (2,550 meters) above sea level. Your guide will take you on walking tour of the city and recommend some activities and sites to see if you have time.
Visit the amazing viewpoint Turi and then tour the famous Panama Hat Factory. In the afternoon you will have free time to explore the city on your own where you will have many options for activities and sites to see. Cooking class, pottery class, hot springs and more! In the evening we will gather for a special group dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast - Dinnner
Day 3: Experience the Indigenous Community of Saraguro
Rise early for breakfast and then hop on the bus for a scenic two-hour drive south to the indigenous town of Saraguro where we will meet a local guide who will teach us about her community and the thriving indigenous culture for the day. In Saraguro you will hike to the “Pucara” a very special ritual place where the locals go for spiritual purposes. Then visit a local family and have a traditional lunch. Then continue to Oña to meet your host family where you will stay for the duration of the impact project.
Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Day 4: Start Impact Project In Oña!
This is the first of two days that we’ll be working alongside the local community to increase access to clean water, education, and health services. Depending on the needs and requests from community leaders, we may be working in a school or possibly a health center in a surrounding mountain village. We typically work from 8 am to 5 pm with a break to get out of the sun and enjoy some local cuisine. Once we get to a good stopping point for the day, you’ll head back to share a meal with your host family!
Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Day 5: Continue Impact Project In Oña
You will finish up the project and then head to back to Cuenca in the evening to get some rest and stay overnight before the amazing road trip to Baños de Agua Santa.
Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch
Day 6: Road Trip North To Baños & Visit Ancient Incan Ruins
Rise early and begin heading north to the adventure capital of Ecuador. Baños de Agua Santa. Along the way, stop at Ingaprica an incredible Incan Archeolgical site. Sun worshippers built this fortress/temple in Cañar Valley in the 15th century. Then continue on through the Andes mountains taking time to stop to enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains, valleys and maybe even Ecuador’s highest volcano, Chimborazo if weather permits. Arrive in the evening in Baños and let the heart pumping adventures begin.
Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch
Day 7: Choose Your Own Adventure In Baños
Wake up in the Adventure Capital of Ecuador, Baños de Agua Santa. Situated in a lush green valley between massive mountains and volcanoes, Baños is the gateway to the nearby Amazon jungle. This day you will have free to do as you choose.
Choose from one of many adventures, such as ziplining, bungee jumping, canyoning (repelling down waterfalls), rent ATV’s, motorcycles or jeeps. Go mountain biking or enjoy one of the many thermal baths in the area. Your guide will help book the whichever adventure you choose!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 8: Visit The Famous Swing and Hike To Waterfall
Visit the famous Swing At The End Of The World and get those Insta pics. Then make your way to the Pailon Del Diablo (The Devil’s Cauldron), and awe-inspiring waterfall that will surely take your breath away. On the way to the trailhead, you will have the opportunity to stop and ziplining across a massive canyon passed some waterfall or take a cablecar. Or just stop and enjoy the views!
Meals Included: Breakfast - Dinner
Day 9: Visit Cotopaxi Volcano
Continue your road trip north to Quito driving through the Avenue of Volcanoes to visit Cotopaxi, the second-highest point in Ecuador. Your tour guide will lead you on an easy hike to Limpiopungo lake where you will have the best view of the volcano and will be able to learn about the beautiful flora of the highlands.
After visiting the park you will make your way to Quito and prepare for your departure the next day.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 10: Time To Say "See You Later"
Time to say your goodbyes, this day you will catch your flight home out of Quito. If you would like to extend your adventure, just let us know and we can help arrange something!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Not enough?
If you want to extend your adventure, maybe see more of highlands? The Amazon Jungle? Or even head over to The Galapagos, we can help you extend your stay, just ask!
Impact Location: Oña, Azuay, Ecuador
Causes:
Water, Education, Health Services
Volunteer Hours:
10+ Volunteer Hours
Overview:
Oña is in a small municipality in southern Ecuador that is comprised of more than 20 smaller communities spread out in the mountains.
Project leader:
Paul Zhañay. Paul works for the local government and is our primary point of contact. He works with the community leaders to assess and understand their individual needs, and acts as a collaborative facilitator of the projects.
Project Examples:
Building bathrooms, implementing water systems, health service projects for people with special needs and disabilities.
What will I do?
As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to get your hands dirty on the project you helped fund, primarily through manual labor. This could consist of painting, basic construction, clean up and more!
Where will I stay?
In Oña you will be staying with a local family in the main town. These families are amazing and you will surely feel welcomed and safe in their homes. Homestays in Oña is something that guests have said is their favorite part of the trip.
What will I eat?
You will eat breakfast and dinner with your host family and lunch will be provided by the locals!
What’s My Impact?
Your impact expands far beyond the scope of the specific impact project you work on. Each project completed will empower the communities to improve their quality of life and support them to plan for a brighter future. There is no doubt the things you learn during this process will highlight the common thread that connects us all and change your life forever.
Map:
Project Leader:
Everything you need to prepare for your trip!
On this page, you will find all of the details about preparing for your trip to Ecuador. This page will be updated once your trip has a confirmed minimum number of travelers.
Step 1 – Passports:
Make sure that your passport is valid through your return date. If it will expire before then, click the link to explore options for renewals. If this applies to you, please contact Dylan ([email protected]) to let him know so he can help answer any questions. Click here for more info on US Passports.
Step 2 – Flights:
For your trip, you will be flying into Guayaquil (GYE) and flying out of Quito (UIO). You may arrive earlier or stay longer than your trip dates but you must arrive on the first day of your trip (see itinerary and trip dates).
We can help you book your flights, please just reach out to [email protected].
Step 3 – Travelers Insurance: