Help families & indigenous communities develop profitable tourism destinations, which preserve local culture and ecosystems.
Guaranda is stunning - both in terms of landscapes and culture. However it's one of Ecuador's least developed regions; 40% of rural people live in poverty and many are forced to cut down the last remaining native forest to farm or leave where they were born in order to find an income. Through this process, the culture is beginning to deteriorate and unique ecosystems are lost. Local people lack the education and resources to be able to find innovative ways to make a dignified living that preserves their culture and landscapes.
Community and eco-tourism have the potential to not only provide an income, it also has the potential to regenerate native landscapes and celebrate indigenous cultures. By supporting communities and local businesses to develop their ideas, improve their spaces, create sustainable business models and reach the right tourists for what they can offer, there is a huge potential to enrich the lives of people visiting Guaranda while changing the lives of local people for the better.
Recommended by Previous Participants
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¡Advance Your Career!
Gain more tourism experience with the support of trained mentors to expand your knowledge and build your confidence.
Now more than ever, employers are looking for a resume with diverse experiences, certificates and strong references that an internship provides.
Our stay with El Terreno was so far beyond my expectations. They - and their entire community in Atandahua - embraced us and shared their music, dancing, food, stories, adventures, and work. It is a truly special place.
The team are kind, organized, communicative, and inspiring. The work is fun and very fair, the accommodations are comfortable, the community and the group of volunteers is lovely and easy to build friendships within. I highly recommend this project to anyone looking to experience this region in a real way, and to become immersed in a small, hard-working community with a beautiful vision for the future. I will be thinking about all that I learned here for a long time.
Kenzie (USA)
¿What's Included?
Free Discovery Call & Plan
Flexible Start Date & Duration
Educational Documentation Support
Pre-Arrival & Travel Support
Shared Accommodation with WiFi
(Family Homestay also Available)
Lunches Monday to Thursday
Weekly Professional Learning/Mentoring
In-Person Coordination
Materials Budget
Cultural Immersion
Free-Time Recommendations
Certificate of Completion
Written Reference
Only $130 / week
(Minimum Stay 4 Weeks)
Additional Services
Private Room within a Local Family Homestay
Spanish Classes (before or during visit)
Private Transfer from Airport
Additional Professional Mentoring Sessions
Application Process
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Fill out the online interest form
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Participate in your discovery call, free of charge
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Review your personalised internship plan, free of charge
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Place your deposit & confirm your place
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Complete any required documents for your education provider
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Join us for an unforgettable experience in the Ecuadorian Andes!
Gain Experience.
Make a Difference.
Travel the World.
Imagine waking up to the cockerels at dawn as the sun rises over the horizon as you take in Chimborazo volcano over your morning coffee. After breakfast, walk to meet your mentor, stopping to say hello to the friendly neighbours in the community as they take their cows to pasture. Take a trip to visit the tourism project, where you'll meet the owners and get a tour of the project, asking questions and sharing ideas.
On the way back, talk through your plans with your mentor, beginning to make your project plan. Get back in time for lunch, which you spend the rest of the team and workers from the local community, sharing stories and learning about the local culture.
Meet with your coordinator in the afternoon to discuss your plans, share your experience and request any additional support you need, before joining other interns and volunteers to go and watch the sunset, go out to a local bar/restaurant or simply spend the evening learning more from your host family.
Still not sure what a hands-on in the Ecuadorian Andes would look like? Speak to our team who will create you a personalised internship plan to give you a glimpse into the future, all free of charge.
