Day 1

Fly into Quito, Ecuador, one of the most bustling and colorful capitals in South America. Spend the first day and evening getting to know your group and learning the basics of traveling in Ecuador, then take a breather (you’ll need it as Quito is nestled in the Andes at about 9,300 ft).

Day 2-7

This first section of your Ecuador expedition will take place in world renowned Cotopaxi National Park. Traveling just a little south of Quito we will immediately find ourselves surrounded by a plethora of outdoor activities and a culture seemingly forgotten by time. From rafting the whitewater flowing through the glaciers and off the mountains to meeting villagers living in and around the volcanoes, this journey into the national park will undoubtedly give us a well flavored taste of the Andes.

First, we will head deep into the mountains on horseback – the best way to get a feel for traveling like the locals. Then we’ll check out Lake Quilotoa by kayak, paddling through the clear green water and volcanic bubbles rising to the surface. We’ll enjoy the best of both American and Ecuadorian cuisine as we join forces with our local guides to cook our meals all together. We will take a trip up the Ruta de Cascades, or road of waterfalls, hiking up and repelling down some of the most spectacular waterfalls in South America.

Finally, we will raft out of Cotopaxi National Park through the whitewater of the Pastaza River. This Andean backcountry experience, tailor made to fit the Moondance mold, will both quench your thirst for adventure and open the doors to the culture of the mountain people.

Day 8-15

After a solid week of adrenalin we will surely be ready to settle into our community service project. We will travel south through the mountains to the Rio Negro community where we will live for the next week. We begin our service project by hosting a soccer game with the local children. After making new friends we will spend the remainder of our time rebuilding and repairing the local school and community church. Once our hard work is complete we will help prepare and enjoy a festive meal with the entire community. This is a truly unique cultural experience as well as gives us a chance to give back to such a welcoming community and country.

Day 16-17

Our journey takes us further North into a tiny, yet well known, mountain village named Otavalo. Each weekend the village is flooded by art, music, color, and people. We can wake up early to watch the locals barter with everything from animals, to fruits and vegetables, to crafts - this is an unbelievable and rare experience. Practicing our Spanish skills we will have the opportunity to barter for souvenirs or even lunch.

Day 18-22

Lather up in sunscreen and get ready to take in some of the most amazing sights in the world. It is time to hop into a sailboat for the final leg of our Ecuadorian experience, taking us through the Galapagos Islands. We will study the gigantic sea turtles both above and below the water, hike to the Wall of Tears, Sierra Negra Volcano and hidden lagoons.

Day 23-24

Saying goodbye in the capital where three weeks ago we were strangers in a strange country will send us on our way with new understandings of the world and our place in it.