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Get Free Quotes From 7 Best Cheap Ecuador Volunteer ProvidersAre you thinking of a trip to Ecuador? Do you dream of giving back to the needy communities while you explore the country’s exquisites? Are you open to reading about the most trusted, highly rated, and affordable volunteer organization in Ecuador?
Ecuador is a great place to volunteer for many reasons and is indeed one of the most beautiful places in the world. This coastal country offers travelers many unique and amazing outdoor adventures. From gorgeous beaches, the Amazonian jungle, the Andes Mountains, the Galapagos, to an endless array of wildlife, visiting and volunteering in the country can truly be an enriching experience.
Although volunteering in Ecuador is an amazing opportunity, finding the best affordable provider can be overwhelming. A simple search on internet will bring up hundreds of organizations. It can be confusing for you to identify the most affordable, reliable and trustworthy organization.
At TravellersQuest, we want to see you join a reputable, safe and affordable program where you you’ll make a lasting difference. So, we did the hard work for you. Based on company reputations and histories, reviews and price points, we examined hundreds of organizations and narrowed it down to the very best.
Here we present to you an impartial selection of 10 best and most affordable volunteering providers for Ecuador.
| Company Name | Starting price (2 weeks) |
Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Global Crossroad | $899 | Go overseas: 88 reviews |
| International Volunteer HQ | $699 |
Go overseas: 1,724 reviews Go Abroad: 1,282 reviews |
| RCDP Volunteer Abroad | $590 | Go overseas: 47 Reviews |
| IFRE Volunteers | $889 |
Go Overseas: 103 Reviews |
| Love Volunteers | $768 |
Go overseas: 139 reviews Go Abroad: 273 Reviews |
| A Broader View Volunteers) | $1050 |
Go overseas: 178 reviews Volunteer Forever – 263 reviews |
| Global Volunteers | $2723 |
Go Overseas- · 182 reviews |
Table updated: Sept 30, 2022
Global Crossroad is a non-profit US based organization that was established in 2003. It is a BBB accredited organization. Global Crossroad offers abroad volunteering experiences to international volunteers in 18 countries across the world.
Most highly rated by most of its volunteers, Global Crossroad offers experience, professionalism and expertise that enable you to gain once in a lifetime volunteering experience in Ecuador.
Global Crossroad offers the perfect balance between volunteering and leisure. Amongst their low-cost and enriching programs in Ecuador, you can pick the best one that matches your skills, interests and experience.
Volunteering as an English teacher and helping to change the life of impoverished Ecuadorian children is indeed a life-changing opportunity. With GCR, you will share your English skills to the students studying in under resourced community school in Ecuador.
Due to several tragic circumstances, thousands of children are living in the streets or left as orphans in Ecuador. Global Crossroad’s Orphanage volunteer program in Ecuador and street children offers these orphans the love, care, and attention they truly deserve. You can participate and make a difference.
Global Crossroad’s conservation program is a right fit if you love nature and want to contribute to save the biodiversity. The program is situated in Quito and your major roles in the project include trail maintenance, participate in scientific research, work in the organic garden and much more. Similarly, their another conservation project is located in the Galapagos Island, where you help collect and classify seeds, plant native species, maintain trails, and more.
With Global Crossroad, you will only 5 hours a day and 5 days a week. Thus, you will have plenty of free time and weekend off to explore and experience the best Ecuador has to offer.
Global Crossroad offers Ecuador volunteer programs at an extremely affordable rate. The price for Quito starts as low as $345 per week and Galapagos project starts at $575 for a week.
In addition, you will need to pay a $299 application fee that covers the administrative costs of Global Crossroad in terms of promotion, staff, office expenses etc. Spanish courses are offered in addition to the volunteering program, which is a great way to increase your knowledge of this popular worldwide language.
Global Crossroad is one of the most experienced and reliable organizations offering quality, reliability and support throughout the whole volunteering process. This makes them the top choice for best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.
Global Crossroad enjoys an excellent 9.2/10 satisfaction rate of its previous volunteers. They receive plenty of praise for their experienced host families and no additional hidden charges. Thus, we have given Global Crossroad first position in this list of the 10 best budget volunteer program providers in Ecuador.
Founded and based in New Zealand in 2007, International Volunteer HQ is one of the very best non-profit organizations around, and they offer hundreds of volunteer projects worldwide. IVHQ was founded after a volunteer trip to Africa in 2006, by Dan Radcliffe, who began working with the aim of making volunteering abroad more accessible by providing affordable and responsible volunteer programs.
IVHQ is one of the best and most professional organizations for volunteering abroad. Their volunteer in Ecuador programs are situated in Quito and Santa Elena, and the quality and usefulness of programs earns them second position this this list.
International Volunteer HQ runs 18 meaningful programs in Ecuador and all programs are located in Quito and Santa Elena. Some of the most enriching programs they offer are:
Animal Care Volunteer Project in Ecuador is the best option for you if you love working with animals. With IVHQ in this project, you get to look after wildlife and marine animals which have been deserted, sick or injured.
Their Community Development program in Quito calls for volunteers who wish to work in various projects at a time. As a volunteer in Ecuador, you can help disadvantaged children, work in community gardens, actively participate in school renovation works and run various types of workshops in schools.
If you are a nature lover, this environment conservation program should be in your radar. This is an active outdoor work where you will teach local people about taking care of their stunning natural environment. Besides, you will actively participate in:
IVHQ’s Kindergarten volunteer program in Quito empowers you to gain teaching experience and caring for children. You will mainly spend your time teaching kids math, art, writing and more. On top of everything, you will provide these kids with valuable exposure to the English language.
Their fees start at $270 for 1 week. For 4 weeks the cost is $630, while for the longest program of 12 weeks the cost is $1,775. Besides the application fee of $299, you need to pay for airfare, transportation costs and your personal expenses when you arrive in Quito. They have a well-developed network in Quito and the host families are reliable, kind and helpful.
You will live with other volunteers, which provides a great opportunity to meet other people and share new experiences. You can also visit popular tourist attractions together in your free time.
No matter which program you choose you will gain invaluable experiences that improve you as a person on many levels. The great thing is that these volunteering in Ecuador programs are established by one of the best organizations, offering great affordable volunteering projects in Ecuador!
The majority of the reviews on Go Abroad and Go Overseas are extremely positive. Many users have had life changing experiences because of the ability of International Volunteer HQ to set up environments in which the volunteers can interact with the locals and receive support during their time in Ecuador.
RCDP Volunteer Abroad is an US based non-profit organization offering fulfilling volunteering opportunities abroad since 1998. RCDP takes immense pride in being the most affordable, safest and most meaningful volunteer program providers abroad. Since inception, they have been working hard to achieve their goal of making contributions in several needed areas to make this world a better place.
RCDP offers 5 impactful programs in Ecuador. The programs are situated in Quito and the Galapagos Island. Their volunteer in Ecuador programs starts every 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month and you will work around 5 hours a day from Monday to Friday.
RCDP’s Ecuador orphanage volunteer program and street children program supports orphanages in Ecuador that lack adequate resources to take care of the orphans. You can join as a childcare volunteer, teach them, be their mentor and help them lead a happy and harmonious life.
RCDP’s another highly impactful program is teaching English, where you will teach underprivileged children studying in underfunded community schools. You will give Ecuadorian students an invaluable exposure to the English language, which will surely help them earn better future.
If you are a conservationist and loves to preserve the ecology by working outdoor, RCDP offers two special conservation programs in Ecuador. While volunteering in the Galapagos, you will participate in reforestation, maintenance and agricultural works to preserve the Island. Similarly, conservation volunteers in the Cloud Forest help maintain the trails, help reserve boarders, assist in growing vegetables and more.
The prices vary depending how long you want to stay; you can choose from 1 to 12 weeks. The stay in the Galapagos project on San Cristobal Island costs double what the Quito programs cost, but the Galapagos conservation volunteer work project in Ecuador offers an amazing nature experience because of the stunning location and popularity of the program.
The prices in Quito vary from $345 for 1 week, $1,080 for 4 weeks (which is an ideal length for volunteering) and $3,040 for 12 weeks. On the other hand, the Galapagos project costs from $575 for a week, to $5,580 for 12 weeks.
In addition to these fees there are additional fees that you need to take care of as well, like your visa, daily transportation, airfare, personal expenses like food, travel, water etc. You will be accommodated either in a hostel or a host family.
You will share rooms with other volunteers, which is an excellent opportunity to share experiences, have fun and meet new exciting people. This all makes RCDP a good option if you are in search of inexpensive volunteer in Ecuador programs.
RCDP is one of the more highly reviewed companies, and there are several positive reviews on Go Overseas. In all reviews, volunteers praise their life changing experience, quality of service, reasonable fees.
Many previous volunteers state that the organization was very helpful, with an amazing local team. They also rave about the safety and transparency. When researching for best and most affordable opportunities to volunteering in Ecuador we advise you to look out for RCDP.
IFRE Volunteers was founded in 2005 and it is based in Dallas, Texas. It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and nearly 20,000 volunteers have participated in their volunteer programs across the world.
IFRE offers one of the best volunteer works in Ecuador, are extremely experienced, professional and have more than 100+ field employees in their well-developed network.
IFRE Volunteers’ Ecuador volunteer programs are located in Quito and Galapagos Island. According to your interest, you can work with children, teach English and other subjects to students, work in conservation programs.
IFRE’s Quito orphanage volunteer project is best fit for those who loves taking care of orphan and street children. You will be placed in an orphanage or childcare center, where you will cook, clean, teach and help in administrative works.
Working as an English teacher volunteer in Ecuador with IFRE is indeed an amazing opportunity. You will teach English and other subjects to impoverished students in a community school. You can also assist regular teachers if you cannot handle the class on your own.
IFRE’s Galapagos conservation program is unique and indeed a truly enriching program. When you join, you will have a once in a life time opportunity to conserve the eco-system and bio-diversity of the scenic Galapagos Archipelago.
The Ecuador volunteer prices of the IFRE vary depending on whether you choose Quito or Galapagos Islands as your destination. The prices for Quito are significantly lower, but the Galapagos Islands offer a stunning and unique nature experience. The price for Quito programs varies from $345 for 1 week, and $1,080 for 4 weeks up to $3,040 for 12 weeks.
Each application for volunteering has a fee of $299 which is intended for the staff and office expenses; but most importantly you will pay the weekly fees directly to the projects and the host families you will be volunteering for.
There aren’t any negative reviews for their Ecuador programs, and volunteers report lots of good experiences. IFRE’s experienced team support and the quality and diversity of the volunteer in Ecuador programs fascinates thousands of volunteers to join their program and make a difference. Read reviews of IFRE volunteers on Go Overseas.
Love Volunteers is a New Zealand based non-profit organization that was founded in 2010. It is one of the fastest growing organizations to offer a varied amount of volunteering opportunities. They offer one of the largest assortments of destinations and programs worldwide.
Love Volunteers offers 7 seven amazing internship and volunteer opportunities in Ecuador. They have mainly focused on animal conservation, environment conservation and community development programs in Ecuador.
The Amazon Animal Conservation is the Animal sanctuary program specially designed to help preserve the wild lives of the Amazon. You will mainly help to rescue the wildlife; help provide medical treatment to the injured and sick animals and work on programs to improve the habitats of the wilds.
Animal therapy Ecuador volunteer program is indeed an amazing and highly meaningful project. This project treats physical, mental and emotional patients with Hippotherapy (horses) and canotherapy (dogs). You can join and provide animal Therapy Season to those in need.
Childcare volunteer program in Quito is a fun filled program that supports poor and disadvantaged families to take care of their children. When you join, you will take care and teach the children of poor families so that they can work to earn and leave the poverty cycle.
Cloud Forest Environmental Protection is located in Pichincha Province, Ecuador. As a volunteer in Ecuador, you will have the incredible opportunity to work at the biological station located in the reserve. You will carry out various projects that will undoubtedly preserve the exceptional tropical Ecuadorian forest for future generations.
The prices can vary from $389-779 for 1 week depending on type of the program, to $979for 8 weeks. The minimum stay can also vary from 2 to 3 weeks. That is why it is best to choose the program that suits you and then talk with a professional from their stuff. Of course, you need to pay the application fee like in every other program. Even with these fees Love Volunteers still asserts itself as one of the best volunteer experience providers in Ecuador.
With 92% positive reviews percentage Go Overseas, and mostly 5 star reviews on the other volunteer review websites, Love Volunteers still remains at the very top of the best volunteer opportunities providers in Ecuador.
Volunteers praises the great support from Love Volunteers. Their unbelievably fun and rewarding projects makes it one of the top choices for budget volunteer opportunities.
Are you interested volunteering in other neighboring Latin American countries? We have thoroughly researched and selected the best and most affordable volunteering Organizations in Brazil, volunteering Organizations in Argentina, volunteering Organizations in Costa Rica, volunteering Organizations in Guatemala, volunteering Organizations in Mexico and volunteering Organizations in Peru.
A Broader View Volunteers is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity located in the USA. The organization was founded in 2007 and is based in Pennsylvania. Although they are one of the youngest organizations that offer best volunteering opportunities for Ecuador, they are also one of the highest quality ones.
ABVV offers 12 meaningful volunteer programs in Ecuador. Their program mainly focuses on community development programs.
They have PreMedical / PreNurse program where you will work with a non-profit medical institution to improve the health and education of children and poor families. Generally, you work in the areas of General Medicine, Rehabilitation, Odontology, Clinical Laboratory, Gynecology and Permanent First Aid Course.
Their orphanage volunteer in Ecuador is located about an hour outside of the city. You will help children who have suffered violence, physical and psychological or other risks previously in their life.
If you love taking care of senior citizen and learn valuable life lessons with them, this is the best available option for you. When you join ABVV’s Elderly care program, you will be placed in Fundación Abuelitos. Your major responsibilities in this institution is to promote, support and realize efficient attention to senior citizens residing there.
Are you a dental student or dental professional and thinking of gaining hands-on experience in the beautiful country of Ecuador? Join ABVV’s amazing dental care volunteer program in Ecuador. You will be placed in a public hospital in Quito, where your major tasks include:
Volunteer in Ecuador programs can last from 1 to 4 weeks, although for some programs there is a 2-week minimum. The price depends on the project and location. You need to pay from $895 for 1 week, to $1050 for two weeks.
You are actually covering the costs of support from ABV staff, program marketing costs, information pack, administration costs, ABV donation Fund, travel costs to inspect programs and communication costs with volunteers and the Volunteer Program Fee.
A Broader View earns hundreds of excellent reviews on Go Overseas and Go Abroad where they enjoy an overall 9.5/10 ratings. The organization, responsiveness, the staff and the host families, highly impactful hands-on Ecuador volunteering programs are best praised by their previous volunteers.
Amigos de las Americas, established in 1965 and based in the USA, is one of the oldest volunteer organizations in the world. They offer transformative immersion and leadership experiences through their amazing volunteer programs across the Americas.
The company’s vision is to establish a world where all the people share each other’s responsibilities and lead a happy, prosperous and harmonious life. They are always driven by the major six values: Safety First & Always, Youth Leadership, Transformational Outcomes, Community Led and Respect.
Amigos offers 3 amazing volunteer projects and one gap year programs in Ecuador.
Amigos’s Climate change and eco-system restoration program works with local organizations to restore eco-system and to promote sustainable agriculture in the pacific coast of Ecuador. Besides volunteering in this project in Ecuador, you get to explore spectacular beaches, rocky shorelines, and coastal forests.
Are you working in the field of human rights and food security or thinking of building a career in the filed? Amigos Indigenous rights and food security program can help you achieve your dream. When you join, you will travel to hills of Ecuador where indigenous communities reside and explore the condition of food and justice they are receiving. You will try solving the problems of the indigenous communities meeting with local leaders and food producers of the region.
Amigos Youth Empowerment volunteer opportunity in Ecuador is the best fit for you if you love working with the youths of disadvantaged communities. When you join, you will live with a host family of a rural, coastal community. You will work over 110 hours helping local projects to inspire youth. Some of the projects you can work on are beautifications, risk reduction, public health workshops and community gardens.
Their Gap Year Program in Ecuador is not actually volunteering program, however, you will indirectly give back to those in need through your internship. Living with a host family, you can intern in fair trade store supporting local artisans and tourism, program that supports marginalized populations and Urban agriculture program.
With over 55 years of experience in the field, Amigos De Las Americas is one of the most trusted, most reviewed and gold verified organizations. They have over 500 reviews online in various directories where they enjoy excellent 9.5/10 rating. Past volunteers praises Amigos for the usefulness of their program and the best cultural immersion opportunity they have abroad. Read Amigos reviews on Go Overseas.
Amigos’s cost for volunteering in Ecuador looks expensive, however, their programs run for 3 to 30 weeks. Besides volunteering certificate, you will also earn over 30 college credit hours. Their fee for Ecuador program starts at $5875.
Global Volunteers is an international NGO established in 1984 in the USA. They offer short term volunteer in Ecuador on long-term development volunteering programs across the world. Trusted by over 37000 volunteers since inception, they mainly focus on offering:
Global Volunteers offers three major short-term volunteer programs in Ecuador. Their programs run 1 to 2 weeks and you will stay in a cheerful tourist-class hotel in Quito. Authentic cultural immersion is guaranteed along with amazing Ecuadorian local cuisines.
The Ecuador Early Childhood Education Volunteer Program offers extra care and attention to the children at-risks. Once you join, you will share your passion, social skills and hygiene techniques with these kids. You will teach one-on-one basis to inspire their young minds.
Global Volunteers’ Teaching and Tutoring volunteers teach either in classrooms or one-on-one basis to students from kindergarten through secondary school. Your major task in the program is to help better the English conversational skills of the students.
If you love doing physical labor that makes a real difference in the life of disadvantaged, you can opt for joining repair and maintenance volunteer in Ecuador of Global Volunteers. In this project, you will help paint and repair the classrooms, playing spaces and more. As per your skills, you can also help in plumbing, carpentry and electrical projects as needed.
Since Inception, Global Volunteers has placed over 37000 happy volunteers, and with out a doubt they have a huge number of positive reviews in many reviewing websites. On Go Overseas, they have over 180 reviews with an excellent 9.56/10 rating. Past volunteers raving reviews, impactful programs, their continuous support to the grassroots communities worldwide has help them earn the space in this of best the Ecuador volunteer providers.
Global Volunteers cost for programs in Ecuador looks expensive in comparison to other providers in this list. Their 1-week programs in Ecuador costs $2956- and 2-weeks program costs $3171. Though the fees are expensive, they offer quality hotel accommodation, 3 meals a day and also most of the cost they donate to the project you work.
Intercultural Outreach Initiative (IOI)
Child Family Health International
Besides Ecuador, if you are interested volunteering in Africa or Asia we have thoroughly researched and compiled the list of the best and most affordable volunteering Organizations in Nepal, volunteering Organizations in India, volunteering Organizations in Sri Lanka, volunteering Organizations in Thailand, volunteering programs in Cambodia, volunteering programs in Bali, volunteering Organizations in Kenya, volunteering organizations in South Africa, volunteering Organizations in Tanzania, volunteering Organizations in Uganda and volunteering organizations in Ghana.
You can volunteer in Quito, the coastal city of Santa Elena, Galapagos Island and many other cities of Ecuador. You will have an amazing opportunity to experience an endless array of Ecuadorian allures such as the Cloud Forest, dense Amazon rainforest, patchwork villages, winding coastlines, volcanic islands and more.
U.S. citizens having valid passport do not require a visa for volunteering in Ecuador less than 90 days. Other nationals must obtain a tourist visa to enter Ecuador. You can do it by applying online or upon your arrival at the airport.
Volunteering in Ecuador is indeed a hands-on learning experience while also giving back to those in desperate need of your help. You get to work together to make a positive change with energetic, compassionate, open-minded, and respectful locals and international volunteers. As per your passion and skills, you can choose to join orphanage, animal care, medical, physical therapy, teaching and several other projects.
There are several countries in the world that are in desperate need of international volunteer’s support. Some countries need help in teaching and childcare sector, some countries need medical volunteers, some countries need animal lover volunteers. Thus, if you love wildlife or sea turtle, Costa Rica is the best country to volunteer, children lovers can volunteer in an orphanage in Nepal, medical students can volunteer in Cambodia, volunteers working in the field of HIV can work in HIV project in Ghana, Uganda. Similarly, environmental volunteers can opt for volunteering in the Galapagos Island.
If you search on the Internet right now, you wouldn’t find a better offer for budget volunteer opportunities in Ecuador than the programs above-mentioned. Although, the most logical choice would be to choose the cheapest one, be aware of the additional fees and talk with the customer support before you sign or pay for any application.
Usually, most of these non-profit organizations have great customer support and we advise you to talk with them before making any decision. They can also help you in determining your needs and which programs to choose. Also read reviews of the programs on popular volunteer program review websites that can enable you to get a feel for what your volunteer experience might be like.
