The Ecuador Insider

Finding a volunteer opportunity in Ecuador is easy, finding one that doesn’t charge you is another story.

Volunteering is an outstanding way to get a look at Ecuador from an Insider’s perspective and really see how people live. It can help you learn Spanish, meet cool people, and experience new things all while helping someone.

The problem is that most foundations down here charge foreigners a pretty hefty fee for the “experience”.

In order to find a program that doesn’t charge you for the volunteer experience you will need to look a little harder.

I wouldn’t even bother looking on the net, the programs you’ll find there are likely to charge you, often around $800 per month for the whole package, food, housing, transport, etc. Not a bad deal, unless your budget is tighter.

In that case, I would recommend you wait until you arrive in Ecuador to look for a volunteer opportunity.

Once in Ecuador, ask your hotel to lend you a local yellow pages where you can find dozens and dozens of non profits and their contact info if you look under “Fundaciones”.

You can call around or visit until you find an opportunity you like that doesn’t charge…

Another idea is to visit the UNICEF offices in Quito. They regulate the non profits that work with kids and can help locate you in a serious organization for no, or a small, fee.

Their office number in Quito is 2 460 330 x2414 or x2413.

Two organizations I recommend in Quito are the PAE which helps street animals and the Fundacion Triangulo which helps kids with disabilities.

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For anyone visiting Ecuador that likes to bike ride, this one is a must!

Did you know you can ride 60 km downhill in one day (about 5-7 hrs) from high in the Andes to the mouth of the Amazon, then catch a bus with your bike back up?

To begin, you need to go to Banos, a beautiful spa town about 4 hours from Quito. There, there are many locales where you can rent a bike for the day for around $5.

With the bike, you need to go to the main road and start your downhill journey (no tour guide needed). Once the Best bike computer is affixed to your bike, you should have no worries of going astray.

80% is downhill, you will pass waterfalls, small pueblos and notice abrupt changes in the surrounding wildlife and vegetation. It is useful to take a poncho in case a sudden rainstorm hits.

The 60 km journey will end in Puyo, a town in the Amazon, where you can catch a bus for a few dollars back up to Banos, putting your bike under the bus. Puyo is located south of Tena and west of Yasuni National Park.

This is a MUST try for anyone who likes being outdoors and riding bikes!

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I asked a customs official here in Ecuador recently, “What’s the biggest mistake foreigners make when bringing their household goods to Ecuador?”

He said:

They often bring prohibited items…like exotic pets, loads of new clothes or shoes, used cars or tires, or handguns.

My Notes: After a certain amount, if you bring a lot of clothes they may think you are bringing them down to resell, which may inherit tariffs…used cars can only be brought to the country under special parameters…used tires are not allowed and handguns are not allowed either…just sport guns if you follow the suggestions I made here.

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Where can I find the most sun in Ecuador?

My answer. The Dominican Republic. No…well, Ecuador has sun, just not as much as it’s Caribbean neighbors. And life in Ecuador has it’s definite advantages over the Caribbean, like costs, mild weather, amazing food, nice people, good business opportunity and more.

In fact, Ecuador has many micro-climates, all with their own distinct weather patterns. Some with sun, and some without.

Much of the coast has crystal-clear blue-bird days from late December to early April. From there, the rest of the year most days are often overcast.

In the Andes, just about every day has an interesting mix of blue skies, sun, rain, clouds, and the occasional hail. Many locals in the Highlands mention how all 4 seasons can often be seen in the same day.

In the Amazon, the climate reminds me of when I lived in Hawaii, where on any given day you will probably see some sun, and a few moments of torrential down-pore.

Below is a Town by Town comparison of the sun in Ecuador based on my personal experience:

1-10, 1 is NO SUN, 10 is All day , almost everyday, pack the SPF 100

Ambato 6
Atacames 5
Ayampe 4
Bahia de Caraquez 4
Banos 6
Canoa 4
Cotacachi 7
Crucita 6
Cuenca 6
Esmeraldas 5
Guayaquil 8
Loja 4
Machala 7
Manta 6
Montanita 4
Olon 4
Otavalo 6
Pedernales 5
Playas 4
Puerto Lopez 4
Puyo 7
Salinas 6
San Clemente 8
Vilcabamba 7
Quito 7
Zamora 8

What do you think?

IF YOU HAVE AREAS TO ADD OR SUGGESTIONS PLEASE LEAVE IN THE COMMENTS…

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I think most foreigners wish more dumpsters were used, but in a poor country it is simply not possible (the trash trucks don’t have the proper equipment to lift and sometimes the people steal them to strap down).

However, the trash pick up in Ecuador works similar to that of the US and is reliable.

In the cities, every other day (it seems) people place their trash on the street corners, which is then collected late at night.

On the coast, even in the smaller towns, there is a trash pick up service that passes by once a week.

There are no fees in Ecuador specifically associated with this service.

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