• Placement with a carefully selected host family
• Enrollment in a local Ecuadorian high school (excluding summer programs)
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a YFU Ecuador Area Representative while on the program
• Comprehensive insurance

Ecuador’s high school system is divided into three areas: social studies, biological sciences, and mathematics. Students take 13 to 14 courses related to their career goals. Most YFU students choose social studies, but you may choose another area of specialization. Most regions in Ecuador have an extended school break during which YFU students spend their time getting volunteer experience with local organizations. Ecuadorian students usually study English, so you may make friends by having them help you with Spanish and by helping them with English!

All students applying for the semester program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (for Spring programs). This orientation is a required part of the program to prepare students for their overseas experience.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

There will also be a one-day mid-year orientation for year students and a two-day re-entry orientation for all students. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

Another great way to meet locals is to participate in extracurricular activities and service opportunities in your local Ecuadorian community! One way students will be able to meet others in the community is through volunteering, which will help students to also learn about Ecuador’s true culture. Students usually either volunteer for a month while in school or can expect to be required to volunteer for one month during their school break.

Semester program students will also have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost. In the Fall, students can participate in the Jungle Trip and the Ruta Del Sol. In the Spring, Students can join in the Ruta Del Sol, Volcanic Trip, and Galapagos Islands Trip. These trips are optional and come at an additional fee; more information on pricing and logistics to come closer to the time of the trip.

Jungle Trip: This trip will start in Quito. From there, students travel to Punta Ahuano, where they take canoes on the scenic journey to the hotel “La Casa del Suizo” on the shore of Napo River. Students will see many kinds of animals and navigate the Napo River, one of the most important rivers in the country.

Ruta De Sol Trip: On this trip, students have the opportunity to visit the main beaches of Manabí and Guayas provinces. This trip will start in Quito, going to Puerto López and visiting Playa de los Frailes, Isla de la Plata, Montañita, Salinas, and Punta Carnero and will finish with a City tour in Guayaquil and return to Quito.

Volcanic Trip: Starting at the Latitude 0º, this trip explores the highlands of Ecuador. The trip includes areas such as Cayambe, Otavalo (with its famous Indian market), San Pablo Lake and Cotacachi, the Cotopaxi National Park and Volcano, Limpiopungo Lake, Chimborazo Volcano, Riobamba, Alausi, Ingapirca, and Cuenca.

Galapagos Islands Trip: Students can opt to take an excursion to the Galapagos Islands, which is an eight-day trip that will allow you to tour the islands of Baltra, Mosquera, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, and Santa Cruz. Trip participants will stay aboard a yacht and in small hostels with a bilingual naturalist guiding the tour.

• 2025 Fall Semester Program: Students born February 26, 2007 – June 28, 2010.
• 2025 Spring Semester: Students born June 28, 2006 – November 28, 2009.
• Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Spanish. Previous language study is not required, but students are expected to be willing and motivated to learn Spanish.

Students will be placed with families in cities such as Quito, Ambato, Cuenca, Riobamba, Latacunga, and Ibarra in the Sierra region and Santo Domingo, Machala, Portoviejo, and Manta in the Costa region.

• Placement with a carefully selected host family
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a YFU Ecuador Area Representative while on the program
• Comprehensive insurance

If ecology, biology, anthropology, or Spanish fascinates you, join other YFU participants from around the world in this five-week program in Ecuador. You’ll live with an Ecuadorian host family and enjoy getting to know the culture from an insider’s perspective. Living with a family gives you a chance to truly explore and understand another culture. You will also receive Spanish Language lessons so as to even further immerse yourself in Ecuadorian culture. These lessons are a few hours a week and are designated to each student based on their incoming level of Spanish.

Upon arrival in Ecuador, students will have a one-day orientation to help ease the adjustment to a new culture. Students will also participate in a one-day re-entry orientation before departure from Ecuador to reflect with other exchange students about their experiences. All orientation costs are included in tuition.

Day Trips: Students in the Summer program in Ecuador will get the opportunity to travel to places like the colonial section of Quito, the colorful indigenous market at Otavalo, and the equator line for an additional cost.

Explore the Rainforest: A four-day, three-night tour of the rainforest with activities that include canoeing and observing monkeys, reptiles, exotic plants, and other wildlife in the region. Students will also learn about the rainforest from trained local guides. Please note that the rainforest trip will only be offered if there are a minimum of five students on program.

Galapagos Islands Trip: Students can opt to take an excursion to the Galapagos Islands, which is a five-day trip that will allow you to tour the islands of Baltra, Mosquera, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, and Santa Cruz. Trip participants will stay aboard a yacht with a bilingual naturalist guiding the tour. This trip is optional and comes at an additional fee; more information on pricing and logistics will come closer to the time of the trip.

• 2025 Summer Program: Students born January 26, 2007 – May 26, 2010.
• Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Spanish. Previous language study is not required, but students are expected to be willing and motivated to learn Spanish.

Students will be placed with families in Quito for the Summer program.