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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• ExploretheGalapagosbyKayakandBoat
• SnorkelAlongsideSeaLionsintheIslands’CrystalClearWaters
• InstallMuch-NeededFlooringinRuralVillageCommunities
• WhitewaterRaftthroughtheLushRainforest
• PartnerwithAndeanLocalsonaCommunityImprovementProject
• Zip-linethroughtheMindoCloudForest
• 45HoursofCommunityService
Spotlight Project: Quitugo Development ProjectIn rural communities in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, most families live with dirt floors in their homes, lacking
any type of hard flooring. In addition to being uncomfortable, this living environment poses health risks for families,
especially young children, and can lead to a host of preventable diseases. Dirt floors are impossible to clean and
become even more of a risk during the rainy season, which turns the floors to mud. For our spotlight project, we
work alongside local families to install concrete floors in their homes, providing them with a clean and healthy living
environment that will transform their lives.
ARCCPrograms|Ecuador&Galapagos:Island&VillageImpact
Days 1: Travel Day
ParticipantsmeetattheMiamiInternationalAirport(MIA)inMiami,Florida.Afterabrieforientation,wehavea
lightdinnertogetherbeforeboardingourgroupflighttoQuito,Ecuador.UponlandinginQuito,wearegreeted
byourSouthAmericanfriendsandheadtoourhosteltogetsomerestafteralongdayoftravel.Accommoda-
tions: Hostel
Day 2: Quito
WespendthedaygettingorientedtolifeinSouthAmericaandgettingtoknoweachother.Surroundedbyfor-
estedmountainsandvolcanoes9,350feetabovesealevel,QuitoisthesecondhighestcapitalcityinLatinAmerica.
WemaywanderthecobblestonestreetsoftheOldCityorclimbatopElPanecillotoviewthecityfromabove.
ECUADOR/GALAPAGOSISLAND & VILLAGE IMPACT
ARCCPrograms|Ecuador&Galapagos:Island&VillageImpact
Throughgames,team-buildingactivitiesandeatingourfirstmealtogether,
theadventuretrulybegins. Wealso introducetheroleof“Leaderofthe
Day”which isanessentialcomponentofeveryARCCtrip. Accommoda-
tions: Hostel
Days 3 – 6: Community Improvement Project in the Amazon Basin
Wejourneytoasmall,ruralvillageintheAmazonBasinwherewewillbegin
ourservicework.Forthenextfewdays,wewillworkalongsidecommunity
membersmakingmuch-neededimprovementstodifferentstructures,such
asthelocalschoolorthecommunitycenter.We’llalsohavetheopportunity
to interactwiththe localchildren,tutoringEnglishandplayingsocceron
thecommunityfield.Therewillbetimetotakearefreshingdipinanearby
naturalspringandlearnfromfriendlycommunitymembersaboutmedicinal
plantsintheareaonajunglewalk.Accommodations: Community Center
Days 7 - 8: Visit a Cacao (Chocolate) Farm & Hike Lake Cuicocha
Wespendourremainingdays inthecommunitycelebratingtheworkwe
haveaccomplished.Wemeetwithfarmersandlearnabouthowchocolate
isproducedfromorganiccacaobeans.WehiketothepristineLakeCuico-
cha,whichfillstheancient,butactive,craterofCotacachiVolcano.Hiking
aroundthecraterwall,wehopinaboatthattakesustothe islets inthe
centerofthelake.Thecommunitycallsthisa“despedida,”orafarewell,as
awaytosaythankyou.Accommodations: Community Center
Days 12 - 14: Spotlight Project: Quitugo Development Project
WesetoutforImbabura,knownasthe“ProvinceoftheLakes.”Duringour
drive,wemaycatchaglimpseofoneofEcuador’spicturesque,snowcapped
volcanoes:CayambeorCotopaxi.Insearchofbrightcolorsandhand-made
textiles,wevisitthefamousnativemarketofOtavalo,oneofthemostim-
portantandlargestmarketsinSouthAmerica.Thestallsteemwithvibrant
colorsandhandicrafts,includingweavings,paintings,jewelry,andtradional
Days 9 - 10: Whitewater Raft the Río Napo
Today’s adventure takes us to the Río Napo for an exhilarating raft-
ingtrip. This fun,high-volumeriver flowsoff thecoastalsideof theAn-
des Mountains. With our experienced professional guides, we pad-
dle down the river and check out the lush jungle aswe ride the rapids.
ThenextdaywecontinueouroutdooradventuresasweexplorelocalAma-
zonianwaterfallsandhike through thebreathtakingRioPastazaCanyon,
inaweofthenaturalbeautythatsurroundsus.Lastly,wehavethechance
toswingat“theedgeoftheworld”fromafamoustreehousewithbeauti-
fulmountainviews,whichincludetheimpressiveTungurahuaVolcanoona
clearday.Accommodations: Hotel
Ecuadorianclothing. Themajorityof the itemsaremade locallyandwe
have the opportunity to try our hand at bargainingwith themerchants.
OurfinalcommunityserviceprojecttakesplaceinQuitugo,anindigenous
KichwacommunitylocatedatthebaseoftheImbaburaVolcanojustout-
sidethecityofOtavalo.Throughoutthenextfourdays,weworkdirectly
withmembersof this colorfulAndeancommunityonourSpotlightProj-
ect. Themajority of families in this village are fortunate to have a roof
overtheirheads,butarenotabletoaffordthe luxuryofconcretefloors.
Webringinmuchneededsupplies,splitintogroups,andgettowork.Over-
seeingeachprojectfromstarttofinish,weimmediatelyseethetransforma-
tionofourwork.Duringourdowntime,wehelpoutwithadditionalcom-
munitytasks,includinghouseholdchores,tutoringchildrenthroughEnglish
andartclassesandassistinginpreparingmeals.Afteranamazingfourdays
inQuitugo,wesayfarewelltoournewfriendswithadinner,celebrationand
dance.Accommodations: Community Center
ARCCPrograms|Ecuador&Galapagos:Island&VillageImpact
Day 15: Visit the Equator & Zipline through the Mindo Cloud Forest
ThismorningwedepartforthebreathtakingMindocloudforest.Cloudfor-
estshavegreatbiodiversity,withaprofusionofnativeandendemicplants
andwildlife.Mindoishometoover300differentspeciesoftropicalbirdsand
numerousotheranimals.Weslideonaharnessandclipinforanexhilarat-
ingziplinecanopytourofthesurroundingsights.Wekeepoureyespeeled
fortoucans,owls,quetzals,hummingbirds,andotherbeautifulbirdsaswe
exploretheforestcanopy.Aseriesof13ziplinesconnectedbybuilt-intree
platformsallowsustojourneyover2milesacrosstheupperlevel.
LatethisafternoonwetravelbacktoQuito.Ontheway,westopalongthe
equatorattheMiddleoftheWorldMonument,MitaddelMundo,andhavethe
chancetostandintwohemispheres.Aswearrivebackinourstartingcity,
wetaketimetocontinueourexplorationoftheOldCityofQuito,wherewe
viewtheSouthAmericancolonialarchitectureandwindourwaythroughthe
steepcobbledstreets.TheOldCityisfullofstunningchurchesandamazing
vistasofthevolcanoesinthedistance.Wecloseoutourdaywithdinnerin
thecity,reflectingonallouradventuressofar.Accommodations: Hostel
Days 16 - 17: San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Thenextfivedaysofouradventureprovetobetheexperienceofalifetime!
Fromthesandybeachesstrewnwithfriendlywildlife,tothedepthsoftheen-
richedandunexploredwatersoftheGalapagos,ourdiscoveryoftheseislands
isonethatwillnotbesoonforgotten.
WebeginourtimehereontheislandofSanCristobal.Thisistheeasternmost
islandandiswhereCharlesDarwinfirstsetfootduringhisvoyage.Wesetoutin
two-personkayaksandexploretherockyislandcoastline,whichisteemingwith
wildlifelikeblue-footedboobies.Bepreparedtogetalittlewet,asplayfulsea
Days 18 - 19: Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
OurnextadventuretakesusbyboatwesttotheislandofSantaCruz.We
hiketoaremotebeachatTortugaBaywherewecankayakorswiminthe
calmingwaters,surroundedbywildlife.Travelingthroughthevariousveg-
etationsoftheGalapagos,wehangoutwiththeGiantGalapagosTortoises
intheirnaturalhabitat.Wecontinueoureducationoftherenownedislands
withastopattheCharlesDarwinResearchStation,wherewelearnabout
thelateLonesomeGeorge,thelastknownindividualofthePintaIslandtor-
toisespecies,aswellasthecontinuedeffortsandprojectsforconservation
of theGalapagosecosystems. Weendourtime intheGalapagoswitha
dinneralongtheshoreline.Accommodations: Hotel
Day 20: Return to Quito AfterourunforgettableexperienceintheGalapagosIslands,weboardour
flightbacktomainlandEcuadorandQuitoforourfinaleveningtogetherin
SouthAmerica.Wepausetoreflectonourtimetogetherandrelivehappy
memoriesaswecelebratean incredible journeywitha festive final feast.
Accommodations: Hostel
Day 21: Departure DayEventuallyallgoodthingsmustcometoanend.WesayadiostoEcuador
andbeginourjourneybacktoMiami.OncewearriveinMiami,wegetev-
eryonetotheirconnectingflightshome.Thememoriesoftheexperience
andthegroupwillcarryusthroughtonextsummer!
ARCCPrograms|Ecuador&Galapagos:Island&VillageImpact
lionsaresuretogiveyouasplash!Wehikealongthecoasttoasecludedbayand
snorkelinthecrystalclearwatersamongtheharmlesssharks,sealions,andgi-
antmantarays.Wecontinueourhiketoarestingplaceforsealionsandhometo
someofthebiggestmarineiguanasintheGalapagos.Accommodations: Hotel
Want to Learn More? Contact the Regional Director:
Brent Anderson | Regional Director: Costa [email protected]