Ecuador Chulla Vida Expedition: 10 Days

Introduction

Discover the best of Ecuador on this 10-day expedition, from hands-on community projects in the Amazon rainforest to cultural exchange and adventure in the Andes. You’ll support meaningful initiatives, connect with local people, and explore some of Ecuador’s most stunning natural landscapes.

Location Ecuador, South America
Duration 10 days
Expedition Type Service Expeditions

Your adventure also takes you beyond camp, from trekking into the primary rainforest and sleeping in hammocks under the jungle canopy to visiting the mountain town of Baños for a well-earned rest. The journey ends in Quito, with memories, friendships, and experiences that will last a lifetime.

South America map showing Ecuador in green.

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Boy standing on a hill with his arms up in Ecuador

What’s Included

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition fee covers not just the incredible activities you’ll experience, but also the extensive guidance and support you’ll receive every step of the way. From the moment you sign up through your safe return home, our team ensures everything is organized and supported.

You’ll also need to plan for essentials like vaccinations, visas, personal gear, and a bit of spending money. Don’t worry—we make it easy. Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your personalized Traveller Gateway, with clear guidance and resources to help you prepare with confidence.

Round-trip international flights
In-country transfers
Expedition Leader (qualified and experienced)
Comprehensive travel insurance
All meals
Unlimited, safe drinking water
All accommodations listed in the itinerary
All activities listed in the itinerary
Entrance fees for all included excursions
All in-country transfers by private, approved vehicles
Project materials, costs, and management
24/7 support throughout the expedition

Day	Activities	More details
Day 1	Quito	Arrive in the vibrant city of Quito where you’ll be met at the airport by a member of our Camps crew. From there, we’ll transfer you to your accommodation in the city for your first night.
Day 2	Camp Donbiki	Today, you’ll transfer to Camp Donbiki, where you’ll stay for the first part of your expedition. On arrival, the Camp Manager will give you a tour of the camp and the community, and introduce you to the service-learning projects that you’ll be working on alongside the community members. In the evening, you’ll attend a goal setting workshop to set the group objectives and start your reflection on the adventure ahead.
Day 3	Camp Donbiki	Your first full day of project work begins. You might plant food trees, help regenerate the rainforest, maintain the school, or work on projects balancing the needs of the community with rainforest conservation. After lunch, enjoy cultural activities with community members, who are proud to share their heritage and traditions. Evening Reflection helps wrap up the day’s experiences.
Day 4	Camp Donbiki	Continue project work alongside community maestros (supervisors). After lunch, try your hand at blowpipe skills, prepare local dishes with camp cooks, or join a lively soccer or ecuavolley match. Evenings often end with group activities such as a quiz and Reflection under the stars.
Day 5	Camp Ceibo	Today, you’ll start heading deeper into your jungle adventure. After breakfast, you’ll prepare your supplies ready for spending the night in a jungle hammock. You’ll trek for a couple of hours to your resting camp, and along the way your guides will explain the various uses for the plants and trees and how they can be used for food and medicines. You’ll learn more about how their firefathers lived off the land, and used the trees and plants as construction materials and food supplies. After settling for the evening, you’ll learn about the folklore of the indigenous people and how their society was structured. You’ll spend tonight sleeping in your hammock strung between trees under the jungle canopy.
Day 6	Camp Donbiki	After packing up the satellite camp, we will trek back to Donbiki. You will have a new understanding of the landscape in which you are living and the local community you’re with, which will offer you a new perspective on life. You will be back in camp in time for lunch and then spend the afternoon relaxing and doing a little traditional face painting. In the evening, you will have a traditional dinner and a Reflection session.
Day 7	Camp Donbiki	It is time to make sure that the group’s project objectives are met. Depending on progress and aims, it may well be that today you work on into the afternoon to ensure everything is completed. The afternoon will end with a game of soccer or ecuavolley and an emotional chance to say goodbye to new friends. In the evening, you will have the chance to look back at what you’ve achieved and share stories of the adventure so far.
Day 8	Baños	Leave the jungle behind and travel to Baños, a lively town surrounded by dramatic green hillsides. Here you’ll enjoy local food and shop for souvenirs. Spend the night in a small hotel, a refreshing change of pace after your days in camp!
Day 9	Quito	Take one last stroll around Baños before boarding the bus back to Quito. The journey is approx. 5 hours, with a box lunch provided. In the evening, celebrate with a final group dinner, prize giving, and Reflection before preparing for the journey home.
Day 10	Departure	You’ll depart bright and early for the airport with a Camps representative, who will see you off and wish you a safe journey home.

Gallery

See what life is like on expedition

Check out photos from past travelers for a first-hand look at what an expedition is really like.

Partner Community in Ecuador for Camps International

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Your impact

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

Ecuador – Community development and environmental protection

You’ll be working on a number of projects to develop community infrastructure, such as constructing a neighbourhood recreational area or improving infrastructure at a local high school. You’ll also help to tackle the issue of waste in the natural environment, by participating in beach clean ups and working on rubbish management projects.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Our camps

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are at the heart of every expedition. Built in traditional styles and staffed by local community members, they offer an authentic place to rest and recharge after a day of service learning project work.

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll stay in several of our camps. These could include those featured below.

Camp Donbiki

The incredible Camp Dunbiki offers a unique jungle experience. Situated in the Ecuadorian rainforest, its located next to a wonderful river, so you can be lulled by its peaceful sound as you go to sleep.

You’ll be welcomed by the friendly community here as they teach you their local customs and knowledge of the rainforest, including the traditional use of medicinal plants. You’ll work alongside them to help protect and restore the indigenous trees and improve the community facilities.

Location: In the Arajuno area of the Pastaza province
Accommodation style: Jungle lodge
Bed type: Bunk beds
Power: American two pin plug sockets in the communal spaces
Social area: The end of each cabin has a chill out space with cushions and there is a small dining room. Lots of open space in camp to enjoy your jungle surroundings.
Signature dish: Maito de tilapia or Maito de pollo – Fish or chicken cooked inside a banana leaf with palmito (roots of a type of palm) and yuca (root veg) and rice.

Find out more

Tried, Tested, Loved

My daughter has had an amazing experience with Camps International in Ecuador. She was one of the youngest on the trip at age 15 but this did not hold her back. She thoroughly enjoyed and learned so much from living in the community. From construction and conservation work to the incredible environment, it has been a life transforming trip for her.

Claire, Camp Ecuador 2023

Our crew

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by local community members who will quickly make you feel at home. These amazing team members bring each expedition to life and share the very best of their country with you.

Marisol Piloso

Ecuador is a country of spectacular natural diversity, from stunning coastlines to magnificent mountain ranges offering everyone who visits us a varied experience. In our village, we are very proud to work with Camps International and to have volunteers from all over the world work with us to make a difference in our community.

Meet our Crew

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