Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to each reserve?

Transportation expenses from Quito to each reserve are not included, however transfers are not expensive with $100 easily covering the cost of 4 transfers to the different reserves. We do not include these because they are local payments to bus companies and the the company used differs when you want to head to each station.

You will be briefed on  how to get to each station at the initial orientation meeting, and our co-ordinators are on hand to assist you through out the programme.

All transfers go through Quito so you will want to spend a couple of extra nights in Quito when you transfer between reserves. This breaks up the journey and gets you back to civilisation everyonce in a while. Accommodation during thr Quito stop overs are not included, but hostels are inexpensive at about £10 per night.

Distances between reserves

• Quito – Jatun Sacha amazon around 200 km  (6 hours) Napo province
• Quito – Guandera around 220 km (6 :30 hours) Carchi province
• Quito – congal around 380 km (8 hours) Esmeraldas province
• Quito – Bilsa around 260 km ( 2 days travelling in, because you need to ride a mule) Esmeraldas province

Durations of Volunteer Work:

The minimum time limit for volunteers /internships is 2 weeks at each reserve. That means if you opt for a 2 week trip you can stay in one reserve, 4 weeks 2 reserves, 6 weeks 3 reserves and 8 weeks you can experience all of the reserves. Volunteers will need a visa if staying in Ecuador more than 90 days.

Health Insurance and Malaria:

You will need travel and health insurance and need to sign a waiver to release our partners from responsibility from any illness or injury incurred in Ecuador.

There exists a small risk of malaria at our biological stations located in the Esmeraldas provinces on the Ecuadorian coast (specifically at the following reserves: Bilsa, and Congal). Therefore volunteers must supply their own malaria prophylaxis while volunteering at any of these three sites.

Work Schedules:

Saving the rainforests is not an easy task, you will be expected to get your hands dirty and can be volunteering for up to 8 hours a day, with 2 days off a week.

Extra costs:

While at the reserves, volunteers need approximately $20 USD per week for additional costs (beverages, community visits, postcards, etc). However, please take along small bills to the reserves ($5 USD denominations or less).