Jul 18 - Jul 26

We will be joining local missionaries Steve and Carol Thompson at their camp “Chacauco” to organize and implement a camp for Ecuadorians from the Mountain, Coastal and Jungle regions.

Your students will bond with Ecuadorian students over games, songs, sharing time, crafts, and much more.

You will all get to experience the culture through Ecuadorians that you meet as well as many activities such as a trip to a waterfall, a trip to the “Middle of the World”, and a visit to the artisan market to purchase many hand-made Ecuadorian crafts.

Camp Chacauco

Camp Chacauco is a recently completed camp near Ambato, approximately 100 miles from the capital city of Quito and 150 miles from the western coast of the continent. What was originally a retreat site for native pastors is now a setting for Ecuadorian students to know Christ better through His Word!

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In 2006, Student Life kicked off a new ministry partnership in this South American nation!

Camp Chacauco is a recently completed camp near Ambato, approximately 100 miles from the capital city of Quito and 150 miles from the western coast of the continent. What was originally a retreat site for native pastors is now a setting for Ecuadorian students to know Christ better through His Word.

This exciting new opportunity is available to American students who are interested in taking their faith on a journey to another country to impact students of a different language and culture.

Servant Life invites you to go and be part of a life-changing experience.

For more information about the country of Ecuador, please visit:

CIA World Factbook

National Geographic

Ecuador's cultural heritage is as impressive as its physical beauty. The nation was part of the Inca empire until it fell to the Spanish conquistadors in 1534. In that same year, Inca General Ruminahui razed Quito to keep it from being captured by the invaders. Refounded as the colonial capital, Quito became famous in the 17th and 18th centuries as a center for the arts—there are no finer examples of Spanish colonial architecture, sculpture and paintings than those produced in Ecuador at that time. The colonial center's beauty and rich legacy were recognized when it was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Like the rest of South America, Ecuador underwent a period of turmoil as it attempted to cast off Spanish rule in the early 1800s. Independence was won by the armies of Simon Bolivar, with the key battles in Ecuador being won by Antonio Jose de Sucre, one of Bolivar's field marshals. (Ecuador's former currency was named in honor of Sucre.) After forming an unsuccessful federation with Colombia and Venezuela, Ecuador became an independent nation in 1830 and began the long, difficult road toward political stability. During this period, there wasn't much job security in being a leader of Ecuador. In the first 95 years of independence (1822-1917), Ecuador had 40 presidents, dictators and juntas, and from 1925 to 1948, none of the 22 presidents or chiefs of state completed his term.

In 1942, as the result of a war with Peru, Ecuador lost a significant portion of its Amazon Basin territory. After numerous battles, a peace was finally negotiated in late 1998 that has eased tensions along the border. Ecuador's bad luck with its leaders continued, however—it holds the dismal record of the country with the most exiled ex-presidents. Despite high oil prices since 2000 and abandoning their currency for the U.S. dollar, the majority of Ecuadorians remain in poverty. Huge numbers have emigrated—chiefly to the U.S. and Spain. Revenues sent home from abroad now constitute the country's third- or fourth-highest foreign-exchange earner (along with bananas, oil and tourism). In recent years, Ecuador's indigenous political parties have risen to the forefront of national politics and will continue to be a source of tensions in the future, as will events in the country's troubled neighbor to the north, Colombia. Currently, no one political party holds popular support. A run-off election in 2006 was won by leftist Rafael Correra, who began a four-year term in January 2007.

Contrary to the popular myth promoted in jungle and horror movies, you can safely swim in rivers where there are piranha. The carnivorous fish are not nearly as aggressive as they are portrayed on the screen and rarely attack something that isn't already bleeding.

The line on the pavement at the Mitad del Mundo (Center of the World) complex is not the actual equator. In the 1700s, Frenchman Charles Marie de La Condamine came awfully close, however, finding it mathematically. Several monuments have marked it, the most recent being the 90-ft-/30-m-tall monolith with a gigantic globe on top of it. But GPS measurements have determined it's just a bit off the mark.

As lush as the rain forest is, its soil is only about 4 in/10 cm deep. When cleared of trees, the soil washes away within a year, and the remaining terrain is as arid as a desert. Your participation in a responsible rain-forest excursion helps convey the message to the cash-strapped Ecuadorian government and people that the best long-term use of the rain forest is as an environmentally intact tourist preserve.

You are unlikely to find two groups of the same species of flora or fauna close to each other in the rain forest. If you come across a mahogany tree or a troop of monkeys, chances are the next tree or troop is at least a mile/kilometer away.

Population growth and overfishing in the Galapagos Islands have been of major concern. The 1998 El Nino phenomenon caused ocean heating, which forced the fish to migrate to cooler waters and has adversely affected wildlife dependent on the fish. There are continued tensions regarding the management of the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the rights of local fishermen. 

In the remote southeastern town of Vilcabamba, people are known to live for a very long time—up to 120 years old. The town is also renowned for a hallucinogenic juice that comes from a local cactus. A connection between the juice and longevity has yet to be proven.

Ecuador was the first country in South America to adopt the U.S. dollar as its official currency.

Chimborazo Volcano, though not the highest mountain in the world, is the point farthest from the center of the Earth (it's because the planet bulges slightly at the equator) and thus said to be the closest spot on Earth to the Sun.

Expect to be doused with water if you are in Ecuador during Carnival (it's the custom).

All citizens in Ecuador ages 18-65 are required by law to vote. Ecuadorians who do not fulfill this obligation cannot get passports to leave the country and even cannot complete certain bank transactions. Members of the military and national police, however, are not allowed to vote.

Quito
The capital and second-largest city in Ecuador, Quito sits high in the Andes with an elevation of 9,300 ft/2,835 m. Because of its elevation, the city has a pleasant, moderate climate despite being just south of the equator. The first thing you will notice about Quito is the mountains (including the active volcano Mount Pichincha to the west of the city—its last eruption was in 1999) that surround the city. The next will be the air pollution, which is held in place by those mountains (Quito occupies a long, narrow valley). The smog is largely created by the hundreds of exhaust-spewing buses—local and intercity—that pass through the city. Quito is Ecuador's principal transportation hub, and although efforts are being made to improve air quality, it remains bad.

Quito's Old Town is a wonder—blocks of colonial architecture, some of it dating from the mid-1500s when the Spanish founded the city. (Before the Spanish arrived, Quito was an important Inca settlement, and before the Inca, other tribes lived at the site.) Vintage facades line the streets, and large open plazas are surrounded by cathedrals and stately public buildings. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beauty. As impressive as the exteriors are, the interiors of the buildings can be even more breathtaking, especially the churches. They gleam with gold—not paint but real gold leaf, and lots of it. Most of the standouts are located within a few blocks of one another. The Monastery of San Francisco is Quito's oldest church—construction began shortly after the city was founded in 1534. It's still the busiest, holding several masses a day.

Several museums are located in the Old Town, including the Museo de Arte Colonial, which features endless depictions of the bleeding Jesus and some amazingly intricate wooden desks. The Museo Municipal Albert Mena Caamano (with colonial and modern art) is another good choice. We especially liked Casa Sucre, the beautifully restored home of Antonio Jose de Sucre, who helped liberate Ecuador from Spanish rule. The displays of maps and weapons are interesting, but it's the house and its period furnishings that are the real attractions. A similarly restored old house is the Casa Maria Urrutia. Be sure to spend time on cobblestoned La Ronda Street, the oldest in town, and then take in Quito's most modern museum, the Museo de la Ciudad, located inside a renovated old mansion and showcasing the city's social history.

Outside of Old Town, Quito is modern and does not possess the beauty of the colonial section (in places, it seems like a study in the many unattractive things that can be done with concrete). What's usually referred to as "New Town," or the Mariscal Sucre, is where most visitors stay. It's home to a large selection of hotels, restaurants, money-exchange houses and upscale souvenir shops. Also in New Town is the Casa de la Cultura, a must-see attraction: It contains the Banco Central archaeological museum, an attached art museum, a vast musical-instrument museum, an indigenous-clothing museum and a modern-art museum.

Do not flaunt expensive jewelry or watches—leave them at home. Be wary of flashing your expensive-looking camera and video equipment, and keep them concealed and safe as much as possible when in crowds of people. 

For the latest information, contact your country's travel-advisory agency.

Sanitary conditions in some local restaurants may pose problems for some travelers. Most hot, freshly cooked food should be safe, but peel fresh fruit and raw vegetables, make sure meat and shellfish are cooked thoroughly, avoid local dairy products, and assume the tap water is unsafe (stick with bottled or boiled drinks). 

If you're flying into high-altitude areas, allow a day or two to acclimate yourself (avoid heavy foods and physical activities, and drink plenty of fluids). If you have heart problems, you may find the higher altitudes particularly distressing—check with your doctor before going—but remember that no one is immune to altitude sickness. Some say that the fitter you are, the higher the risk, because you're more apt to ignore the warning signs of this dangerous illness, such as fatigue and nausea. 

Take along all prescription medicines needed for the trip. Though not always required for entry, inoculations against cholera, yellow fever, polio, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis might be recommended—consult your physician. If you're heading to the jungle areas, it's wise to take malaria suppressants, although much depends on the local environment you'll be in - consult your physician. Always remember to take plenty of insect repellent on jungle excursions, and drink lots of water. The sun can be very strong, especially at midday, so slather yourself in sunscreen and wear a hat (you can get high-altitude sunburn from a day's walk around deceptively chilly Quito). Don't forget to take along a pair of comfortable walking shoes, and a pair of polarizing sunglasses is a good investment.

Do carry your passport with you when traveling between provinces in Ecuador. By law, visitors are required always to have their passports in their possession, but this is less likely to be an issue if you're not traveling long distances (do carry a photocopy of the passport at all times, as well as a copy of the page with your customs entry stamp/printout).

Don't point at people with your finger. Use your chin or your entire hand.

Do say "buen provecho" (enjoy your meal) to companions before a meal and to fellow diners when leaving a restaurant. Also say "con permiso" to get past someone.

Don't be surprised to see a lot of uniformed people toting machine guns. They might be soldiers, police or security guards at banks and money-exchange houses.

Do ask for permission first before photographing Amerindians.

Do shake everyone's hand and peck everyone's cheek upon being introduced.

Do remember to take photos of your family and/or hometown. Ecuadorians are very family-oriented, and a chat about your relatives will always get the conversation going.

Do take lots of small-denomination bills with you (US$20 maximum). Changing a US$50 or higher is nearly impossible.

Official Name: Republic of Ecuador.

Passport/Visa Requirements: Passport, onward passage and proof of sufficient funds required for a tourist visit up to 90 days in one calendar year for citizens of the U.S. and Canada. A tourist stamp good for 90 days is issued upon arrival.

Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.

Capital: Quito.

Population: 13,547,510.

Languages: Spanish, Quechua.

Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic).

Time Zone: 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-5 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.

Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.

Telephone Codes: 593, country code; 2, city code for Quito.

Ecuador is located on the equator on the northwest coast of South America, bordered by the Pacific to the west, Colombia to the north and Peru to the south and east. The fourth-smallest country on the South American continent, Ecuador encompasses four distinct regions: the Oriente (covers half the country and is a region of thick tropical forests in the eastern foothills of the Andes and in part of the Amazon River Basin), the Costa (flat plains along the Pacific coast), the Sierra (Andes Mountains and highland areas that cover about a fourth of the country) and the Galapagos Islands, which lie about 600 mi/1,000 km off the coast. The capital, Quito, is 9,200 ft/2.8 km above sea level on the Sierra plateau.

Currency Exchange Rates

US Dollar United States Dollar US Dollar United States Dollar $10 10.00 $200 200.00 $20 20.00 $400 400.00 $30 30.00 $600 600.00 $40 40.00 $800 800.00 $50 50.00 $1000 1,000.00 $60 60.00 $1200 1,200.00 $70 70.00 $1400 1,400.00 $80 80.00 $1600 1,600.00 $90 90.00 $1800 1,800.00 $100 100.00 $2000 2,000.00

Temperatures are determined more by altitude than by the calendar, so you should pack accordingly. The Oriente region and Quito remain constant year-round: Quito is always moderate (lows in the mid-40s F/6-7 C, highs in the low 70s F/21-23 C), and the Amazon is always hot and humid. Lightweight clothing can be worn year-round in the Oriente and Costa, and sweaters and medium-weight jackets are always needed in the Sierra. Whenever you visit, take a sweater for the cool mornings and evenings. Layers and a raincoat are also a very good idea because temperatures can vary greatly and storms blow up unexpectedly.

The most common forms of transportation that you will encounter are buses and taxis once you are in Ecuador.

Servant Life will take care of all of your in-country travel arrangements.

COMING SOON PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP