Blog

Although the end of our trip is edging ever closer and our reunions draw nearer and nearer, this group of explorers continues to take in every beautiful moment. The story picks up during our stay in Baños. We kicked it all off by walking to the local hot springs just under a gorgeous waterfall. At the base of this waterfall was a tribute to the virgin Mary, a partner to the statue topping the opposite side of the ridge. Both of these sites are staples of this primarily c… Read more

The past week has been quite eventful for the Pacific Discovery students. The group continued their homestay with their loving and welcoming host families in the Agato Community, learning more about the Kichwa culture. The mornings would begin with the group giving back to the host community with extensive community service ranging from community cleanups to the planting of over one hundred and thirty trees. After completion of the daily service activities, students met … Read more

This week, the group has been adjusting to and getting to know our homestay families in the Agato Community in Otavalo, Ecuador. Five families welcomed 3-4 of us into each of their homes, and we’ve spent each morning doing volunteer work in the community. Some of the projects have included cleaning up community spaces such as parks and soccer fields, regenerative gardening, and moving debris. We’ve also gotten to experience Kichwa Spring Equinox traditions.   On Sunday… Read more

When we first signed up for this trip, we all discussed the things we were most excited for. Machu Picchu, the Galápagos Islands, and rafting the Amazon were some of the group’s most anticipated activities. However, if you asked our group what our most memorable experience was thus far, I’m confident most would answer our stay with the Llama Pack Project. Our experience began with a grueling hike to Cancha Cancha, a rural village located high in the Andes mountains. As … Read more