Ecuaexperience Reviews 43

I had a great time with Help, Learn and Discover. It was a great way to gain some valuable skills and experience. I was able to help the less fortunate and gain experience in building a house, while honing my organization, work ethic, and teamwork skills. Additionally, I was able to learn and gain experience in the healthcare field, which is what I want to pursue. I aim to become a doctor, and being able to shadow a professional in my desired field was awesome. I was also allowed to practice on real patients, which fostered my curiosity and excitement to pursue my passion. On top of all of this, I was able to discover the beauty of Ecuador. Just being able to see the unforgettable sights is worth it. Volcanoes, costal beaches, and the Amazon Rainforest make it worthwhile, and doing it with your friends makes it even better. I'll never forget the memories and life-long friends that I've made on this trip.

#VIVAECUADOR

In July 2017 I went to Ecuador with Help Learn & Discover. I had a fantastic and memorable experience!

I didn't know what to expect from the medical rotations at first, but they turned out to be super interesting. I participated in the 28-day premed program, so I had two weeks of medical rotations. In the morning sessions, we shadowed doctors in the ER and OR, gaining insight on interesting patient cases and sitting in on surgeries. The coolest surgery I saw was a cataract removal, viewing the surgeon’s work directly through a microscope lens. In the afternoon sessions, we learned how to do stitches using a cow's heart and studied cases related to abdominal pain. The evening sessions took on more of a lecture/tutorial format. We learned how to do CPR, withdraw blood, and read an ECG. In my second week of rotations, I was able to conduct a full clinical history on ER patients (with the help of the tutor’s translation) and give them a physical exam.
The tutors are very educated and welcome questions from the students. They are 5th year medical students at the university in Quito, so they were very thorough and patient with us students. I learned so much over these two weeks, and I am very grateful for the tutors' expertise.

The volunteer portion of the trip was also very memorable. Our project was to build 20 homes for the community of Pujilí with the help of 3 HL&D volunteer groups. Over 5 days, we split into smaller groups to work more efficiently on the project. Some days were spent digging holes (to lay the foundation for the cement pouring of the homes), scraping, sweeping, priming, and painting interior and exterior walls of these homes. It was really special working on these homes with members of the community. The men and women were so hardworking; they worked from sunrise to sunset, only taking rest on Sundays. Their efforts were truly admirable. I feel so fortunate to have helped build 12 homes for them and to have experienced their lifestyle. I will never forget starting off our workdays with a team huddle, chanting “H-H-HLD, HLD IN PUJILÍ”, and seeing joy and graciousness in the faces of the community members.

The travel portion of the trip was also incredible. Between exploring waterfalls in Banos and Mindo, hiking through the jungle in Misahualli, horseback riding in Cotopaxi, and shopping at the market in Otavalo, there was truly never a dull moment.
My favourite travel destinations were Banos, Manta, and Mindo. Banos is a town known as the “gateway” to the Amazon. Here we went zip-carting through the Andes Mountains, which was absolutely mesmerizing. We then went to the “swing at the edge of the world”, where we were given a great photo opportunity. We also went hiking up to a waterfall, followed by a relaxing afternoon at the spa where we had an unobstructed view of the Andes.
Manta came after a week of work in Pujilí. This was a beach town on the coast of Ecuador. We went banana boating, paddle boarding, drank coconut juice, and played in the ocean. Our hotel was very comfortable, with great space and hammocks on our balconies.
Mindo was also unforgettable. There were many stray dogs there, but they were all friendly and well behaved. Here we went water rappelling; the waterfalls were 8 m, 20 m, and 40 m in height, in that order. We descended down each waterfall, the water rushing over us with every step we took. Afterward, we went rafting down a river, which was so exhilarating.
I also paid extra to go to the Galapagos Islands, which I would definitely recommend. My experience on the islands was unbelievable, and compared to the cost of visiting the islands away from HL&D, we really got a good deal.
The food there was unreal- we were eating seafood that had been caught and cooked that same day. The wildlife was incredible- there were sea lions and marine iguanas on all the boardwalks and benches, making it very difficult to stay at least 2 m away from all animals. The beaches were beautiful, with the softest sand I had ever touched. Snorkeling was absolutely wicked. We also got to hike Sierra Negra, which is a caldera with the second largest diameter in the world of 10km.

I had the time of my life on this trip. Juan, Jose, and Olivia are wonderful, doing whatever they could to make us happy. The students were very down-to-earth, and I am so grateful for having travelled with them. This trip was the definition of “work hard, play hard”. We learned so much from the medical rotations, and I gained so much perspective from working in Pujilí. There was never a dull moment when travelling either. Thank you HL&D for a trip to remember!

If you're having troubles deciding whether or not you want to go to Ecuador with HLD, I can help you make this decision: GO. The month I was in Ecuador with Help Learn and Discover was honestly the best 28 days of my life. I couldn't have imagined travelling to a more interesting country, making more incredible friends or helping a more kind and deserving community.

I first heard about HLD through the SFU2016 Facebook page. I had been looking for a volunteer abroad program to do in the summer and right away I knew this would be the perfect fit for me. I did the Biomed program, which meant 4 days of medical rotations, followed by activities, volunteer work, a trip to the coast and finally a week in the Galapagos islands. Although the days were jam packed and we were constantly on the move, I wouldn't have changed a thing about how our schedule played out!

The first week was definitely a crazy one. Being part of the biomed group, we had to fit everything the Premed group did in two weeks into one. This meant our days were schedule like this: 4 hours of med rotations (OR, ER and radiology) in the morning, a tourist activity in the afternoon (we visited churches, downtown Quito and the middle of the world) and finally a lecture in the evening (we did abdominal pain, stitches, fractures, headache and drawing blood). All in all this first week was absolutely amazing and was filled with incredible opportunities to see, learn and do things that we would never have the chance to experience in Canada as Pre-med students. Juan and Olivia definitely made sure we would get the most out of this first week. The medical tutors were also very knowledgeable, friendly and welcomed questions at all times.

After the first crazy week, we spent our weekend horseback riding in Cotopaxi, swinging at the end of the world in Banos, hiking in the jungle, and finally relaxing at the hot springs in Papallacta. All of these environments had much different weather patterns (ranging from Cotopaxi being at about 2 degrees, to the jungle being 25 and humid), so definitely pack well and be ready for any kind of weather!

We then travelled to the volunteer site (this year in Pujili) and spent 3 days volunteering with the community to begin building 12 of the 20 houses the HLD 2017 group fundraised for. I was absolutely blown away by the people of the community. They were all very welcoming, grateful and patient with our group. They also had the most admirable work ethic, and I felt very fortunate to be working alongside these individuals knowing how much these houses will help change their lives. As for the work itself, be prepared for a lot of lifting, digging and sifting (if you're part of the May group) so bring clothes that can get dirty and can afterwards be left for the community!

The second weekend was spent at the Coast. Here we had the opportunity to relax, learn to surf and have fun with friends! The UV index in Ecuador is normally 11, so my one biggest recommendation is BRING LOTS OF SUNSCREEN!! Even if you don't normally burn, you will burn if you don't wear sunscreen, trust me.

Finally we returned to Pujili for a few more days at the volunteer site and for a heartfelt goodbye to the community. We then headed to our last stop in the "Discovery" part of the tour in Ecuador: Mindo. Mindo was definitely my favourite place we visited in Ecuador. Here, we not only got to live in mushroom shaped cabins, but we also got to do activities I otherwise would probably never have done in my lifetime: water rappelling and tubing down a fast river.

We then travelled to the Galapagos islands (which is a 2hour flight from Quito) where we spent 1 day on the main island, Santa Cruz, and 4 days on another island: Isabela. In the Galapagos, we had the opportunity to explore the most incredible beaches, kayak, hike a volcano and of course go snorkelling. I have travelled to many beautiful places in the world, but I have never seen a more diverse and incredible ecosystem as the one in the Galapagos. We saw sharks, stingrays, blue footed boobies, penguins, turtles, sea lions, tortoises, marine iguanas, and the most beautifully coloured fish! Everyday we were accompanied by a naturalist guide. Every guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Olivia, our HLD Galapagos guide, was also a great person to have with us in the Galapagos as she had previously lived there. She knew exactly where the top places to eat and the best activities on the islands were, and she insured that we had the most incredible week imaginable!

If you're still undecided about signing up for a program with HLD after reading this review, I have one final thing to say: DO IT. It will hands down be the most incredible experience of your life. You won't regret it!

I had the opportunity to Travel to Ecuador this past summer with Help Learn Discover to shadow doctors in a hospital, volunteer in a community and travel around the country! It was one of the most memorable month i ever had! I met some incredible people and made some once in a life-time memories

While in Ecuador, I got to spend the day in the OR, watching surgeons preform surgeries, learn to draw blood, do stitches, shadow doctors in many other fields of medicine and learn about Patient care. This was such a great experience in introducing you to the different fields of medicine.
We then helped build homes in Pujili where I got to work alongside of the community members receiving the home. Getting to see them every morning with a great big smile on their faces and knowing that we had a part in building a future for themselves,makes the experience even more special.
As part of the 28 days we got to explore the beautiful country of Ecuador! We did activities such as Hiking trough the rain forest,tubing down the amazon river,rappelling down waterfalls, horseback riding around a volcano,surfing and swinging at the end of the world.

I would not only recommend HLD to anyone interested in the medical field but to anyone who wants to travel to make a difference! Getting to shadow doctors in their field was incredible! The volunteering portion was also very life-changing and so much fun! HLD has a strictly volunteering program for anyone not interested in the medical field.

In this short post, I would end by saying that I hope that if you have not traveled the world to serve, rather than a tourist and you have thought about it, I urge you to go. There is so much to learn about yourself, but so much more to learn about community and goodness as you live, learn and serve together!

HLD is truly unlike any other volunteer trip you will come across. The 3 facets of Help, Learn and Discover that these programs revolve around ensure that you receive a completely fulfilling experience. In addition, you have AMAZING guides and the company of the extremely dedicated founders Juan and Jose. I have been on this trip twice - once as a volunteer and then again as a leader and each trip has been life-changing. With HLD, you work alongside passionate individuals to offer assistance to impoverished families, learn more about medicine, dentistry or biology and discover a beautiful part of the world.

I had the privilege of adding extra weeks on my second trip which allowed me to travel to Peru and the Galapagos. I will never forget the memories I made on these trips. I love that the groups are fairly small which means that you really get to know all of the individuals that come on your trip. Juan and Jose really unify the group and make you feel like family.

I HIGHLY recommend Ecuaexperience. It is the experience of a lifetime and will not disappoint.

Ecuaexperience was the trip of a lifetime for me. Run and organized by two hardworking and caring brothers, this program was able to offer me everything I could think of and so much more! The experiences of helping build the homes for chosen communities and the travelling around and doing amazing activities is something I will never forget. Over the years I have spent a total of 3 months in Ecuador because it always keeps pulling you back for the satisfaction you feel of helping so many great people. Each and every month I was there was a new experience and I enjoyed it more and more each time! By far this is the best program I have been apart of and I can't thank Juan and Jose enough for putting together such a remarkable program to participate in! Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime!!!

HLD has truly been a life changing experience for me. The trip encompasses my three main passions in life: helping others, expanding my knowledge (especially in the medical field), and discovering the beauty of the world through travel. I never imagined going into my first trip that I would still be travelling with the company going on 4 years later. The bonds and friendships that have formed through my experience with HLD are invaluable and I am thankful everyday for the impact Ecuador has had on my life. I have always felt extremely safe and well-taken care of during my time in South America.

HELP: Being able to fundraise the money for the homes we build adds so much more value to the project. Working alongside the families is a truly amazing experience and you will find yourself finishing the project with the community leaving as much of an impact on you as you have made on them.

LEARN: The experiences gained during medical rotations is unparalleled to anything I have been able to gain in Canada. Seeing surgeries first hand, learning about patient history, and gaining clinical skills (drawing blood, suturing, ECG's) are an aspiring medical students dream and HLD's pre-medical program certainly did not disappoint. I was able to see a hysterectomy and a brain biopsy up close as I was scrubbed into the operating room.

DISCOVER: Who would have known that such a small country had so much ecological and biological diversity! From the highlands, to the jungle, to the coast, and the rainforest, Ecuador truly has it all. After travelling multiple times to this country, I am still in awe by the beauty of it. Activities like tubing in the Amazon, jungle hikes, waterfall rappelling, and horseback riding at the base of a volcano brings out the fun in the natural playground of Ecuador's land. I had the pleasure of also extending my trip to the Galapagos and Peru. Both trips I would highly recommend adding onto your trip. The Galapagos has always been a dream destination for me and I hope to be back their someday. Pristine beaches, turquoise water, and wildlife that I describe as "Sea World in real life" are just some of what to expect from these beautiful islands. Peru was also high on my list of travel destinations. This trip was filled with adventure (sand boarding, hiking Machu Picchu, paragliding, and endless llamas), delicious cuisine, and breathtaking scenery.

If you have taken away one piece of valuable advice from this lengthy review: Travel Ecuador with Help, Learn, and Discover! Don't hesitate, because you will not be disappointed.

This trip has been immensely fun and very educational. The 4 weeks weeks I have spend in Ecuador were diverse to say the least. There are three main components to this "Ecuaexperience", as the title suggests; Help, Learn & Discover. Before anything else, I would highly recommend this program to any students or individuals contemplating whether or not they want to partake in Ecuaexperience.

The first week, out of the four, consisted of shadowing doctors and learning various medical procedures; in other words the "Learn" aspect of the program. Understandably so, we were required to learn some basic anatomy and procedures before heading to the hospital. In my opinion learning about the surgeries/procedures before witnessing them allowed for a better understanding and also allowed us to ask questions to the extremely knowledgeable tutors that helped us along the way. Learning from a textbook is one thing, observing is a whole different matter. For example, observing a hip replacement surgery may seem like a smooth procedure, whereas in reality it is quite rough and requires a fair amount of brute force. In other words, practical observation provides an immersive experience that allows an individual to realize if they would like to pursue a similar career path. For some fellow students this experience reignited their passion to follow their dreams and work even harder in school to pursue it. I can say with confidence that this experience has impacted every individual along side me in one way or another!

The latter part of the second week along with the last five days consisted of us "Discovering" Ecuador itself. We had the opportunity to travel to various cities across Ecuador. We got to hike in the Amazon Forest and go tubing in the Napo River! We also got to tour around Quito and observe the main landmarks of the city. My personal favourite was Canoa Beach, which consisted of surfing, an "Amazing Race", and enjoying time with the life-long friends that were made throughout the amazing trip. Surely I am missing many other cities; there are many more places that a prospective individual will discover.

The backbone of the trip was definitely Pujili where we helped build houses and interacted with the community. I remember we were taken to the previous residence of the families that are going to move into the new houses. The living conditions of these previous houses are minimal to say the least. The mud and straw-roofed "house" consists of one room where they eat, sleep and do other essential activities such as cooking. Furthermore, proximity is a major problem. The schools are very far away that make attendance a hassle. By providing homes closer to schools ensures a higher probability of academic success. And I truly believe that the education of children is a leading cure of poverty. Getting a chance to improve circumstances for the families, especially the children, is an extremely rewarding experience.

Once again, I highly recommend this program to anyone that is interested in this amazing opportunity. Jose and Juan (frontrunners for this program) do a phenomenal job running the program as smoothly as could be. This has been an incredible trip, to say the least!

Help, Learn, & Discover was the best trip and decision of my life! This program was truly a great experience and the best combination of traveling, learning, and volunteering. I always felt safe, well fed and housed, and loved that the brothers who started the program are there with you throughout the whole trip. For the medical portion - the surgeries you get to observe and the knowledge you gain is unreal and it is an unbelievable opportunity you wouldn't get anywhere else. The tutors are so knowledgeable and super excited to help you learn as much as you can on your trip! I think the pre-med or any of the other healthcare programs is a great way to get a "taste" of your desired career choice. For the volunteer portion - nothing is more satisfying then building homes with the money you raised for deserving families. What is so great about HLD is their transparency; the owners never touch any of the fund-raised money and better yet all the supplies are bought by us in the town we are building to help support their economy! For the travel portion - the best way to put it is that you will not be disappointed! You honestly get to see Ecuador in its entirety on the trip from the Amazon to the Highlands to the Coast, the sights are breathtaking and the activities are thrilling! I did the Bio-med program so I also got to go to the Galapagos. All I can say is those islands are incredible and if you are thinking about adding it to your trip - Do It!! Last but not least HLD was a great opportunity for me to make some life long friends and some unforgettable memories!

I have had the privilege to be a part of the Ecuaexperience team for 3 years and could not be more thankful for the life changing experience they have provided me.
The program is a great way to see if the medical field is the career path you want to pursue. You get hands on experience as well as up close interactions within hospitals. Opportunities similar to what this program provides is hard to come by in Canada and US.
It is also a wonderful way to experience a beautiful country. The program does a fantastic job in organizing fun activities that allow for cultural appreciation. You have the opportunity to be fully immersed within Ecuadorian day to day life and explore unique sites to Ecuador.
I had the humbling opportunity to help build 60 homes during my time with the program. This is the most authentic experience you could ask for in terms of volunteering. You are building the homes along side the individuals that will be receiving them and you are fully involved in the building process. A comforting and unique trait to the program is knowing the all your fundraised money goes directly to the building of the houses and no where else.
I also had the opportunity to take part in the additional weeks within Peru and Galapagos and would highly recommend exploring these incredible destinations with this amazing organization.
Lastly, this programs introduces you to individuals that you form life long friendships and connections.
This program will fulfil and surpass your expectations.

I went on the 28 day pre physio program. It was amazing and I learned so much. The medical part of the experience was more than I could have ever hoped for and the people who I worked with were very knowledgeable and willing to teach me. The sites we saw discovering Ecuador were all very interesting and super fun. The trip packed in so much during the time we were there and it was defiantly the trip of a lifetime.

Help, Learn, and Discover was an amazing and safe way to see a completely different country and learn directly from medical professionals. The program does a wonderful job of incorporating exploration of Ecuador, direct medical experience with patients, and a deep connection to the people and communities that it helps into a month long trip. Besides being a great resume builder for any student (especially those looking to work in the medical field), the trip also provides a once in a lifetime experience that no other program similar offers. Ecuaexpirence will allow you to gain important and relevant medical knowledge, help people that need it the most in rural Ecuador, and make lifelong connections and memories.

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!
I went on the 18 day Pre-Med trip, but I wish I stayed longer!!
Through HLD, I was able to deepen my knowledge in and passion for medicine. I got to shadow doctors and be present in the ER and OR. I got to work with patients and observe surgeries in such a unique environment. By going through what healthcare professionals encounter daily, I can confidently say that Medicine is the right path for me.

Volunteering in Pujili was life-changing. The people were so kind and welcoming. It felt good knowing I was making a difference in the world. HLD instilled within me, a desire to help others.

To experience this diverse country and all its beautiful landscapes while making real friendships with other students made the trip totally worthwhile! Who wouldn't want to add "Hiking the Amazon Rainforest" to the list of things they did last summer?

If you are looking for a complete experience abroad this is for you. The Pre-Medical experience was amazing; we learned how to draw blood, stitch, compete a physical examination, diagnose abdominal pain, and more. Volunteering in Pujili was also incredible. The community members were so welcoming and grateful, and becoming friends with them was amazing. Finally, traveling around Ecuador was so cool. From the Amazon, to the Mountains, to the Coast, it is truly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. If you are on the fence about extending your trip and going to the Galápagos I highly recommend you do. Being so close to nature and spending a week in such a beautiful place was amazing. The leaders of this trip are amazing people that make you feel at home in Ecuador, and the other students are awesome as well. You'll make lifelong friends.

BEST MONTH OF MY LIFE! This trip was such an amazing and eye-opening experience. We experienced something new everyday and each day was full of activities. Working with the community to finish the houses was so rewarding when they were finally given away to the families! The accommodations in Quito were fantastic and the staff were very kind and approachable. It was incredible to work along side surgeons and other healthcare professionals in our Med rotations and diagnose actual patients! This was a trip I'll never forget.

I volunteered with HLD in July and took part in the 28 day pre-med program and it was one of the best, most unforgettable experiences I've ever had! Everything from the med rotations in the hospitals, building homes alongside the community, and travelling across the country exceeded my expectations! Definitely recommend this program for anyone interested in medicine, international volunteering, and travelling around South America!

This program is an amazing experience. It is an amazing and opening experience that allows you to shadow doctors in the field you dream to work in, fostering dreams and aspirations of students. Students also get to experience the culture and vivacity of Ecuador, which is a beautiful country. Getting to also work with a community and fundraise for them to build new homes for them is life changing and extremely impactful. Great trip! Recommend going for the 28 days.

HLD was an incredible experience! I gained so much knowledge that I was able to use in med school once I was accepted! Ecuador was so beautiful, diverse, and so fun!! I would recommend this program to everyone!

My experience with Help, Learn & Discover was nothing short of amazing! During my first trip to Ecuador in August, everything was above and beyond my expectations. HLD gave me my first look into the medical profession. Through shadowing doctors, scrubbing in on surgeries, and learning medical techniques in the Pre-Med Program, I became certain of my desire to become a doctor. After a long week of rotations, we got to explore all the wonders of Ecuador, surfing on the beaches, hiking through the jungles, relaxing in the hot springs, and so much more. Best of all, we got to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged families. We worked together to build new homes, and give hope to these families, becoming one with the community. I am a huge advocate for HLD today especially because of the difference they make! I highly encourage anyone interested in healthcare, volunteering, and travelling to go with HLD this summer; I promise you will not regret it!!!

Best month ever! I learned so much in the hospital rotations, got to travel to some incredibly beautiful places, partake in rewarding volunteerism and had so much fun with the group of travelers as we became friends. Ecuador was never super high up on my list of places to visit but I'm so glad I decided to spend the month there!