Overview

 Highlights


  • Participate in reforesting Andean ecosystems with native trees, contributing to the preservation of Ecuador's unique biodiversity.
  • Connect with the Kichwa Amazonian Indigenous community, learning about their spiritual world, traditional lifestyles, and sustainable practices.
  • Explore the breathtaking beauty of the Amazon rainforest, from cascading waterfalls and lush jungle trails to serene hot springs nestled in the cloud forest.
  • Enjoy Class II whitewater rafting
  • Exploring natural lagoons and lookout points
  • Jungle hikes

Attention young explorers and educators! Get ready to embark on an incredible journey that blends adventure, education, and cultural immersion in one of the world's most fascinating destinations – the Ecuadorian Amazon. This is your chance to dive into diverse ecosystems, encounter amazing wildlife, and engage with the rich traditions of local communities, all while having a blast with nature hikes, river explorations, and wildlife observation.

Countries:

Start and Finishing Point:

Quito

Activities:

Grading:   

Addressing:


Begin your adventure with a private transfer to your hotel in Quito, where you'll settle in and prepare for the journey ahead. Overnight in Selina Hotel or similar.

Meals:  D

Today, we head to Papallacta Hot Springs. Here, we'll spend hours soaking in the divine thermal pools, which range in temperature from frigid to steaming hot. These thermal waters are rich in minerals, sulfates, and alkaline, providing numerous health and skin benefits. After this refreshing stop, we continue our drive to the Amazon Basin, arriving in the city of Tena. At the end of the day, we'll settle into our jungle cabins, ready for a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. Overnight at Pimpilala Amazon Cabins or similar.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning, we head to a little indigenous village where we will start our rafting experience. After our safety briefing, our whitewater rafting adventure begins. A trip down the Arajuno River offers crystal-clear water and glimpses into indigenous communities that live along the shores in small bamboo and wood houses. The Arajuno is famed for the conservations that we can see here, the water and jungle are in really good conditions. We’ll spend the day navigating the Arajuno, whose waters carry us through breathtaking rainforest landscapes full of bird life. In the afternoon, we will arrive to a Kichwa Amazonian Indigenous community to learn about their traditional way of life. Here we will set our campsite and we check the basic amazon cabins that this community has here. After a traditional Kichwa dinner we can enjoy the fireplace sharing some indigenous legends and traditions. It becomes quickly evident how much the Kichwa rely on the forest in their everyday lives and their harmonious relationship with their environment inspires us. (B, L, D). Overnight in Santa Barbara community or similar

Meals:  B,L,D

Today, we will take a motor canoe to go to see a birds´ clay leak. After our bird watching activity we comeback to the community to enjoy a deserve breakfast. Continue with our adventure we will paddle for 2 more hours before to arrive to the bridge where our motor canoes will be waiting for us to continue our activities next to the river. After a nice box lunch, we will start out by receiving an introduction to the local wildlife at a zoo-like wildlife center for animals rescued from the pet and poaching trades. At the end of our day we will go to the community where we spend another wonderful night in the jungle. (B, L, D) Overnight in Campo Cocha community or similar.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we start our jungle hike with an insightful explanation of the life of indigenous men in the jungle. Following indigenous traditions and lifestyle, men were hunters while women stayed near the house. Our local guides will show us how to make traps for hunting and fishing. With the locals, we'll learn about medicinal plants and the use of various fruits and seeds. When we finish the activities in the forest, we'll return to the lodge for more activities led by our Kichwa guides. At the end of the day, we'll settle into our jungle lodge, ready for a peaceful evening surrounded by rainforest sounds. Overnight: Campo Cocha community or similar

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning after breakfast, we'll visit the women's house in the Kichwa community to learn about their traditional way of life. It is truly an honor to have them share some of their ancestral knowledge of medicinal plants, balsa wood carving, and Chicha (manioc beer) brewing with us. We'll also have a traditional cooking class. After a ceramics demonstration, our Kichwa hosts will conclude their part of our tour. It quickly becomes evident how much the Kichwa rely on the forest in their everyday lives, and their harmonious relationship with their environment will inspire us. Overnight: Campo Cocha community or similar .

Meals:  B,L,D

After our last jungle breakfast, we'll drive back up into the Andes, climbing from 500 to 3000 m (500 to 10,000 ft) in altitude, passing through national parks and nature reserves until we reach the Andes. Here, we'll visit Guango Lodge, one of the hotspots for seeing hummingbirds. After this colorful stop, we'll finally arrive in Quito for our farewell dinner with our guides. Overnight in Selina Hotel or similar.

Meals:  B,L,D

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals:  B


Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable And Clean Energy:  Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity.

Climate Action:  Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.

Life Below Water:  Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.

Life On Land:  Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Partnerships For The Goals:  Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development


Learning outcomes for students

World Expeditions Schools journeys are designed to encourage positive personal development and the learning of life skills, while leaving the communities and environments we travel to, in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to:
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers, their teachers, and the local people they meet.
• increase the confidence to engage with new people, and collaboratively make informed decisions.
• discover the benefits of working cooperatively together as a cohesive team, to achieve a common objective.
• Increase the ability to face, and cope with, mental and physical challenges and therefore increase resilience.
• give students a chance to appreciate and care for the natural world. The environments we travel through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment.
• Learn personal skills i.e., time management, personal hygiene, responsibility for personal gear, patience, tolerance, and public speaking.
We help encourage students to learn what it means to be a true global citizen.


Inclusions

  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Private ground transportation
  • Bilingual local guides
  • 7 nights' accommodation in hotels and jungle lodges
  • Airport transfers
  • All entrance fees and activities as per itinerary
  • Rafting adventure and safety equipment

  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa costs if applicable
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls etc

Grading

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery involve little extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. Extended walking is available for those wanting something more demanding. * Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.


Customise your program

We can fully customise a School Travel Program to suit your students' learning objectives and budget. Whether you require a Service Learning program, physical challenge, cultural immersion or certain curriculum targets - talk to one of our educational travel experts about the elements you need in your itinerary. We pride ourselves on developing unique itineraries to meet the learning requirements for schools.

World Expeditions Schools is a division of one of the world's leading adventure travel companies, World Expeditions. We can develop itineraries in any destination that is offered by World Expeditions, which is to every continent on earth.

Use our simple Expedition Design Form to contact us with your requirements and an educational travel expert will be in touch to assist.


Why travel with us

Why travel with us

Assisted over
14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.

400+ Service Learning
Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised
School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and
Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Testimonials


Want to find out more?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.


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