Gen Z Travels PLUS: Ecuador 2027

Come see it. Learn from the people who live here. Understand what's changing. Build some skills. Ask difficult questions. And discover what role you might play.

Ecuador has clearly sparked your curiosity. After all, you're here, reading this, and perhaps imagining what it would be like to explore the Amazon, not from a tour bus or a viewing platform, but by actually paddling its rivers and experiencing the rainforest firsthand. Maybe it's the highlands that draw you in, or the chance to learn alongside Indigenous communities whose cultures, traditions and ways of knowing have been passed down through generations.

Whatever brought you here, Ecuador has so much more to offer than you might imagine. It's a remarkable mix of wild places, diverse cultures, ancient traditions and real adventure. It's also an opportunity to challenge yourself, see the world through a different lens and discover a little more about who you are.

And who knows? It might just become one of those experiences you talk about for the rest of your life.

A Nation of Culture, Adventure, Agency & Biodiversity

Few countries offer young people this much in one journey.

Join us for one of our most ambitious World Bound experiences: 21 days across Ecuador, travelling from Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest to the Highlands, onward to the extraordinary high Andes (Cotopaxi) and through the historic streets of Quito.

Ecuador is one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots in the world. Participants can experience the Amazon and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (yes where the pink dolphins can be found), horseback among Andean landscapes shaped by volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, learn alongside Indigenous and local communities, and explore one of South America’s great historic capitals.

But Ecuador is more than incredible geography. It is a country shaped by culture, community, stories, resilience, and change. Young people experience this through the people they meet, the food they share, family homestays, local knowledge, conservation projects, and the everyday realities of life in communities very different from their own.

That combination is what makes Ecuador such a powerful place for World Bound. Climate change isn't just discussed. Culture isn't simply observed. Leadership isn't taught from a worksheet. Participants experience them through the rainforest, mountains, communities and islands they travel through.

One country. Amazon. Andes. Highlands. 21 days that can change how you see the world—and your place in it.

Wait... No Galápagos? That’s Intentional.

We get it. The Galápagos Islands are extraordinary, globally important and for many people the first place that comes to mind when they think of Ecuador. But World Bound has made a thoughtful decision to travel differently.

Rather than adding to the pressure on Ecuador’s most visited destination, we choose to spend our time in the Amazon, Andes, Highlands and Indigenous and local communities where our presence can support smaller operators, local families, knowledge keepers and community-based tourism. These places offer just as much wonder—rainforests, volcanoes, rivers, wildlife, culture, food, homestays and stories—while giving young people the chance to experience an Ecuador that many international visitors never get to know.

If we are going to talk seriously about climate change, sustainability and responsible travel, we also have to be willing to make choices about where we go and where we don't. We treasure the Galápagos. We simply believe the rest of Ecuador deserves our attention too.

View Itinerary

DATES
May 2 - 22, 2027

AGES
18+ (co-ed) Minimum of 8 to participate

LOCATIONS
Ecuador: Quito • Otavalo • Cuicocha • Cotacachi • Cayambe • Cotopaxi • Cuyabeno• Napo River Region

PRICE (USD): $6299 for 5-7 participants.
$6199 for 8 - 12 participants.
Non-refundable deposit: $1000

Book before November 15, 2026, and save $300 USD

Includes:
– Pre-course Zoom orientation
– 12-hour Spanish lessons
– 12-hour 1:1 support and coaching
- climate change and cultural workshops
- 3-day reforestation and volunteer projects
– 21 days in Ecuador exploring three distinct environments
– 24/7 instruction and support by Fireside and Ecuador staff
– Most meals
– All accommodation (eco-lodge, hotel, homestay)
– Private ground transportation
– Flight coordination and guidance
– Admission into all parks
– Horseback riding in Cotopaxi
– City tour of Quito
– 5-day Highlands Community Homestay
– Amazon water safari connecting with local Indigenous communities, full day

Does not include:
– Flights to and from Ecuador (departing from Vancouver or Toronto)
– Anything not mentioned above

More info: office@firesideadventures.ca

Why this hits differently?

Unstuck, Empowered, and Inspired: Your story begins here

Do you have big ideas and dreams but are feeling stuck, anxious, and unsure of what your future holds? Would you describe yourself as neurodivergent or navigating a challenging season of life?

You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. With us, you can travel, explore, and feel supported every step of the way.

Travel P.L.U.S. – Adventure with Support, Built for Gen Z (optional offering)
PLUS is designed for Gen Z travellers who benefit from additional support, a lower-stimulation environment, and connection with like-minded peers. Whether you’re neurodiverse or simply needing a more intentional way to engage with the world, this program creates space to grow at your own pace. With skilled, empathetic instructors and daily coaching support, participants are guided to build confidence, manage overwhelm, and step into new experiences with care and encouragement.
P.L.U.S. = Purpose • Leadership • Understanding • Support
Purpose: Travel with meaning, not pressure

• Leadership: Build confidence through small, achievable wins

• Understanding: Trauma-aware, neurodiverse-informed instruction

• Support: Daily coaching, check-ins, and a lower-stimulation environment

Our Journey | View itinerary

Why You Need This?

Go deep in your connection with nature and life experiences:
Navigate rainforest trails, paddle remote rivers and explore the high-altitude páramo, the Andes’ natural “water towers.” Discover how these incredible ecosystems store carbon, protect biodiversity and provide water for millions of people. This isn't some overly hyped, packaged tourist experience. It's real, hands-on and intentional, with opportunities to explore, learn and challenge yourself along the way. Everyday is jammed with social, life and leadership skill training to expand your comfort zone and to teach you how to manage the opportunities in front you. It's the kind of experience you need right now. You know it. We created it.

Live the culture and be with the people:
This is far from surface-level travel. Stay with local and Indigenous families, share stories around the dinner table, help prepare traditional meals, pick up everyday Spanish phrases, and get your hands busy learning skills like weaving, carving and chocolate-making. You'll also spend time in comfortable Amazon lodges, surrounded by the sounds and wildlife of the rainforest. But what makes this experience special is the people you'll meet—local guides, artisans, farmers, families and community leaders who generously share their knowledge, traditions and ways of life. This isn't about simply observing another culture. It's about slowing down, participating, asking questions, building friendships and seeing Ecuador through the eyes of the people who call it home.

Connect directly with individuals leading meaningful change: reforestation teams, river guardians, and youth leaders who are transforming their communities through creativity, education, and resilience. That distinction between climate fear and climate agency is one of the strongest philosophical foundations of World Bound.

Build real skills:
Develop practical skills you can take with you long after the adventure ends. From cooking, time management, backpacking and trip planning to setting goals, building friendships, understanding risks and travelling with confidence. Along the way, you'll learn to how to manage the opportunities in front you, develop healthy routines and take on more responsibility. Daily journaling, reading and reflection are also part of the journey, with experienced staff there to guide, challenge and support you.

Learning & Preparation
Before departure and during the trip, participants take part in a structured course that includes : 12 hours of online Spanish learning, 12 hours of 1:1 coaching with a Latin American/Canadian instructor and so much more. This preparation builds foundational language skills while introducing mindfulness and reflection tools to support emotional readiness, confidence, and group connection throughout the experience..

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin

What you’ll take home

• Climate literacy that sticks: You won’t just hear about climate change; you’ll see it in glaciers, forests, and streets, and learn what communities are doing right now.

• Cultural humility and connection: Respect, reciprocity, and real friendships—because the best memories are made around kitchen tables and campfires.

• Leadership you can trust: Confidence, purpose, and a plan so you return as a Gen Z Traveller ready to lead at school, at home or work, and in your community.

Digital Detox and Screen Offsets

Eva es una educadora ecuatoriana orgullosa y carismática que trabaja al aire libre y cree que proteger el planeta significa proteger y educar a la humanidad, especialmente a los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes. Sin embargo, sin voluntad, curiosidad, esperanza y bienestar social, esta misión se vuelve imposible. De esta visión, nació el Turismo Consciente como una de las alternativas más poderosas para lograr ese objetivo. Su propósito es mostrar a la gente su país y su continente en todas sus dimensiones, culturas y facetas. No somos perfectos, somos humanos, con deseos y debilidades, pero juntos formamos un equipo fuerte y resiliente.  Además de su demostrada pasión y compromiso por brindar experiencias excepcionales, Eva es bilingue, ha viajado a numerosos lugares del mundo y se graduó recientemente de especialista en proyectos de desarrollo. 

Ethan Barnes: PLUS lead instructor

A lifelong traveller, Ethan has helped lead adventures with Fireside from the Yukon to Fiji. Along the way, he has also spent hundreds of hours working one-on-one with neurodiverse youth, supporting them in expanding their comfort zones and building life skills. Ethan is also completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology, graduating in 2027. Ethan has the magic skills to helping young people see the bright side of things, co-developing plans and life skill capacity building. Plus he is a lot of fun to hangout with because of genuine personality and care for others.

Culture offers alternatives. Different societies demonstrate that the way we currently consume resources and inhabit the Earth is not the only possibility. - Wade Davis

Why This Course Is for You

This is the real deal—learning Ecuador by being in it. This is an immersive, place-based experience where culture, nature, and hope intersect. You won’t just talk about change—you’ll witness it, question it, and take part in it through daily experiences on the land and with the people who call it home.

As an Ecuadorian saying reminds us: “La tierra no nos pertenece; nosotros pertenecemos a la tierra.” (The land does not belong to us; we belong to the land.)

In short: this course blends Indigenous and local perspectives, hands-on climate learning, and meaningful adventure travel—so you return with practical skills, real relationships, and the confidence to lead with humility and purpose.

Your Mission: Becoming a Resilient, Knowledgeable, and Adaptive Adventurer

Climate change is both global and deeply personal. Responding to it means learning to move thoughtfully through new environments, listen to different worldviews, and build connections across cultures. This course is for young people ready to challenge themselves, strive beyond comfort, and learn through experience—developing the adaptability, awareness, and leadership needed to navigate an uncertain future with confidence and care.

”Young people need agency. Climate education must recognize the seriousness of the crisis without overwhelming the generation that will inherit its consequences.” - Wade Davis - Beneath the Surface of Things

Introducing our Ecuadorian partners!

The magic of the Ecuador portion of this trip is only possible thanks to our lovely friends from Huasquilah Amazon Lodge and Equator Face Travels. With their help, we can experience the beautiful country as more than tourists, making authentic and meaningful local connections while leaving the country better than when we found it.

Huasquila Amazon Lodge

Founded by Pablo Marañon and Bastienne Paliz, Huasquilah specializes in offering inclusive and immersive Amazon experiences by combining nature exploration, environmental education, sustainability, and authentic cultural connections. Their work is guided by an understanding that Indigenous perspectives bring generations of knowledge on sustainable living and nature conservation, providing valuable insights to help address climate change.

Huasquilah is committed to working with youth through a climate action lens. This includes teaching young people about climate change through hands-on activities like rainforest hikes, reforestation projects, and cultural exchanges with local Kichwa communities, helping them understand the importance of sustainability and conservation for the future.

Equator Face Travel

Equator Face is a passion project that is 21 years in the making, founded by Diego Orlando Fueres Túquerres - a member of the Otavalo people with long generational ties to agriculture and the Andes - and Huaita Sisa Morales Males - daughter of Indigenous artisans dedicated to the traditional craft of textile weaving. Their mission is to connect youth with the local communities to transmit the ideals instilled in them by their cultural traditions and families.

Equator Face promotes healthy eating by transmitting the Andean diet to new generations, strengthens organic polyculture in family crops to preserve the quality of the land and food, advocates conscious care of humanity's most valuable resource: water, and conveys to all people the feeling of caring for and practicing their beliefs, values, traditions, art, music, literature, and more.