Ecuador
Ecuador straddles the equator and is home to some of the most diverse countryside to be found in the world. Bordered by the mighty Amazon rain forest to its east and the Pacific Ocean to the west this country is packed with wonderful opportunities for the avid traveler, trekker and naturalist. If you don’t trust us then have a look at what Charles Darwin had to say about some of the land.
Venture Force have the capacity to organise a number of special opportunities for you in Ecuador, visiting and exploring the Amazon rain forest, the magical markets of the Otovalo region, the aptly named ‘Devil’s Nose’ train ride, trekking across the Cotopaxi National Park, whitewater rafting the Amazon feeder rivers or High Altitude ascents of Ruminahui, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
Oh, and let’s not forget that the Galapagos Islands 990 km into the Pacific are owned by Ecuador.
Your adventure in Ecuador or South America (if you choose to combine more than one country in a single trip) can be tailored to consist of one, or more, of the adventurous activities listed below. All activities are suitable for school team/youth groups and adults alike!
High Altitude Trekking - Tres Volcan or Cotopaxi, Schools Expeditions and Community Projects are the core components of our expeditions to Ecuador. Isla de La Plata, White Water Rafting and a tour of the Galapagos Island can be combined as ancillary components of your adventure in Ecuador. Please contact us for advice.
EXAMPLE EXPEDITION – Ecuador (Tres Volcan)
A typical 15 Day Ecuadorian Expedition (other options can be combined on request)
Day 1 – Travel from UK to Quito
Day 2 – Arrive Quito and drive to Cotopaxi National Park
Day 3 – Acclimatisation trek National Park
Day 4 – Acclimatisation Trek Day 2
Day 5 – Acclimatisation Trek Day 3
Day 6 – Ascent Day Ruminahui
Day 7 – Rest Day Tambo Paxi
Day 8 – Team Climbs to Cotopaxi Mountain Refuge
Day 9 – Ascent Day Cotopaxi
Day 10 – Travels to Chimborazo Mountain Lower Refuge
Day 11 – Lower Mountain refuge to higher refuge for Climb preparation
Day 12 – Team climbs Chimborazo on descent travel to Banos
Day 13 – R&R- visit to the hot spring baths
Day 14 – White water rafting and return to Quito for evening flight
Day 15 – Team arrives UK.
Ecuador’s diversity of culture and environment make it a wonderful location for school expeditions. The moment teams touch the ground in Quito things are very different! Ecuador provides unique opportunities for both personal and team development. Students are given the chance to plan their team's journey through the country, living in tents, jungle long houses, villages and town hostels. Traveling the country's many bus routes from one extreme environment to the next, managing their own progression, integration and experiences all under the watchful and experienced eyes of our Venture Force Leaders.
In our experience a good community based project can make a team, provide students with an essential experience and actively promote global citizenship through community interaction. We don’t take teams half way across the world to paint a wall but work hard to ensure that our projects are worthwhile and sustainable.
With time, planning and careful consideration the Venture Force team will work with you and for you to ensure that the project is what’s required, what you and the local community want and need….not what we think is needed. Obviously physical labour is a small part of the picture, but additionally, our ‘interactive programmes ensure that students really get to know how the local population live; their foods, their culture and their history. We leave behind development, positive memories and positive benefits for our host community; we take away only new friendships, positive memories and untold tangible personal benefits.
Ecuador’s diverse landscape provides an equally diverse cross section of communities, all friendly and willing to play their part in our ‘interactive programmes' enabling community development and enhanced opportunities for their children.
Give us your agreement and we’ll find an ideal location for a great community project whether it be supplying them with a lifetime’s clean and safe drinking water, building a much needed toilet block or adding to, and enhancing, their village school or community meeting building.
Expedition Duration: 15 Days (includes Rest & Relaxation and white water rafting)
Description: Guided, supported High trekking peaks
Expedition Level: Intermediate/Advanced
A chance to scale three wonderful volcanoes in the Valley of Volcanoes!
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Expedition Duration: 4-5 Days
Description: Guided and supported High trekking peaks
Expedition Level: Intermediate/Advanced
The National Park has to be one of the most beautiful trekking locations in the region. Read More
Prices: Venture Force ensures that each and every expedition, project or skills training programme in our portfolio is designed for the needs of the client, or group. Prices are dependent on many variable circumstances and cannot therefore be quoted on our website.
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Expedition Duration: 1-2 Days
Description: Guided, supported, food and accommodation
Expedition Level: Intermediate/Advanced
White Water Rafting is an exciting, exhilarating and fun way to explore the Amazonian areas of Ecuador as a stand-alone activity or as part of a wider and broader Ecuadorian adventure
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Expedition Duration (when in-country): 1-2 Days
Description: Guided, accommodation on mainland, boat ride and Whale watching en-route
Expedition Level: Suitable for all. (Sightseeing activity)
37 km east from the coastal village of Puerto Lopez the Isla de La Plata that provides a unique opportunity to see close up a wide range of marine wildlife and is one of two places on the earth (other than the Galapagos) where the three species of Booby can be seen side by side.
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Expedition duration (when in country): 5-6 Days
Description: Live-aboard cruiser tour, guided walks on selected Islands
Expedition Level: Suitable for all. (Sightseeing activity)
In our opinion by far the best way to see the Galapagos and all its wonderful wildlife is on one of the many cruise boats that circumnavigate the Islands.
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