It occupies an area of 256,370 square kilometres, and includes the Galapagos Islands, located 956 miles from the mainland. Its capital is San Francisco of Quito and the most populated city in the country is Santiago of Guayaquil, one of the most important ports of South America and main engine of the Ecuadorian economy. This country is divided administratively into 24 provinces, all but one mainland which consists exclusively of the Galapagos Islands, also called Archipelago Colon (although coastal provinces also have a lot of islands adjacent to the coastline).

If you are of people who loves to help and enjoy doing something good for others, there is no better place to Ecuador to practice their altruism. The people of this beautiful country is extremely friendly, unfortunately poverty in the region has made the lives of many are quite difficult. The volunteer opportunities abound in Ecuador. From orphanages to nature reserves, there are many organizations that work for this country and they need personnel urgently.

Below is a list of volunteer opportunities, but the best way to find something is to ask around, surely something a few days.

Nonprofit organizations and charities

Surely in their country of origin there are nonprofit organizations and charities that have programs in Ecuador. Most of these programs are based on volunteerism, but there are occasionally some paid positions. There are also a large number of institutions that accept Ecuadorian foreigners in paid and unpaid positions. It is rather easier to get a job or volunteer an internship in an organisation established in Ecuador. (While in the United States or Europe is more complicated).

Below is a list of some organizations with which you can make contact. Once that has been achieved since it is very important to make it clear as far and how much is expected of commitment. We must also emphasize the skills and experience which account for volunteering to be successful.

The following organizations currently operating with volunteer programs. Visit the web pages linked to more information. Many organizations accept qualified volunteers at the time, so do not be shy and contáctelas while visiting our country.

Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, however climbers offers an incredible diversity of mountain ecosystems and cultures to explore. Just a day trip from Quito, the modern capital, can be found peaks and glaciers at the top of the 5000 meters, Amazonian jungles, cloud forests and sunny beaches with Inca treasures lost. Whether you decide to venture on their own or who prefer to hire a local service guides, logistics to plan trips in Ecuador is extremely simple and time to move closer to their destination much shorter than in other remote areas of the world.

Climbing

The Andean peaks of Ecuador are located along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a long and fertile central valley which is guarded by two ridges, the East and West. Most of the inhabitants of the region, including indigenous communities Quichua, engaged in the work of agriculture.

Some summits are young, cone-shaped volcanoes in the Cotopaxi climbs offer relatively simple techniques, allowing the novice climber to reach beyond the 5000 meters. Other volcanoes oldest erosion processes are offering deeper routes in ice and rock more advanced (eg the glorious ring summits in El Altar).

The first days in Ecuador must be acclimatization so it is advisable to climb small mountains (in excess of 3500 meters.), As the Iliniza North, Imbabura or Pichincha, and avoids contracting altitude sickness. These mountains have no glacier, and are easily accessible from Quito. In each of them there are shelters or hostels small that can serve as the basis for the escalation.

Once your body has become accustomed to the altitude, will be ready to try the four classic volcanoes of Ecuador: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Cayambe. The routes are demanding technical standard media, novices should hire a local guide. The most experienced climbers can try more complicated and remote peaks, as Antisana, The Altar and the Iliniza South, or the alternate routes (and more complicated) of the volcanoes above. Given that Ecuador is still a relatively new destination within the mountain, it is still possible to make promotions first new routes in the mountains.

There are some anomalous volcanoes (Reventador, Sumaco and Sangay) that do not belong to either of the two central mountain ranges, but rose independent amid the Amazon jungle east of the Andes. These have the added attraction escalation of a rapprochement with the bases through dense cloud forest, where you can test your skills with the machete.

Trekking

If their interests are by walking or trekking, a large number of excellent expeditions that can be performed through the Andean paramo. (A sub-alpine zone). From here you can admire spectacular scenery of the volcanic peaks Ecuadorians. The treks are the most popular Trek del Condor, which passes through the snowy Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi and Trek Ingapirca of wearing it by the old road towards the ruins of the Inca Inca largest Ecuador: Ingapirca.

For the more adventurous there are some ways ranging from the Andes to the Amazon jungle. These routes will take you from the inhospitable plains of the moors, through the cloud forest and finally to the rainforest of the Amazon. During the fall, you will witness the dramatic change between an ecosystem and another, the differences in flora and fauna and of course the change in climate. At the beginning of the trip may rest in the cold pajonal moor while noting the impressive flight of a condor, a few days later will have to dry the sweat from his forehead while pursuing with an eye to a spider monkey leaping screaming through the trees.

There are some routes on the East Coast and it is better if we hired the services of a guide because it is very easy to get lost and often have to go through a private property or belong to any community. There are good routes along the Napo River. For the more adventurous recommend a trip by canoe along the rivers and Tiputini Yasuni, guided by indigenous people in the area. On the coast there is an interesting area in the reserve Bilsa near Quinindé. This area is home to indigenous Chachis.

Weather

In Ecuador, the weather is very difficult to predict, usually somewhere sunny and another is often very rainy, the truth is that each region of the country has two seasons: the rainy and dry.

Coast: The north coast is humid between January and June and drier during the remainder of the year. The southern coast is humid between January and April and usually drier the north coast in the remainder of the year.

East (Amazon jungle): In the Middle whenever it rains, however between December and February is usually drier.

Sierra (Andes): The Cordillera Oriental (including Antisana, The Altar, Sangay and to a lesser extent the Cayambe and Tungurahua) is influenced by the climate in the lowlands of the Amazon. The wettest months are between June and August. December and January are the months most conducive to the promotion of The Altar complicated. Climbers local recommend February to climb the Antisana in the period between October and January for the Cayambe.

The dry period in the Cordillera Occidental is between June to early September, with an additional period of good weather between December and early January. The rainiest months are between February and May, April being the wettest of all. During the dry season, temperatures tend to decline dramatically in the evening and the wind can become a problem, particularly in August. The weather in October and November tends to be variable.

Ecuador is a country that is mega-diverse and multicultural. Each region offers a wealth of activities for everyone. For nature lovers a visit to tropical rain forests and jungles for birding, or maybe a fantastic trip to the Galapagos Islands to make diving or observe humpback whales. For lovers of extreme sports, a frantic race between fast and turbulent rivers practicing rafting or kayaking, or perhaps dominate the moors making mountain biking. But if it comes to reaching the limit, why not conquer the best Cotopaxi and Chimborazo? Mountaineering and climbing is also an option. Finally, here are some other interesting activities such as visits to museums, markets and indigenous dance courses.