Orientation, Lake Quilatoa and Ziplining

Leaving home behind we fly together to our first country of the semester, Ecuador, and settle into our hostel in the capital city of Quito. Nestled in the Andes at about 9,000 feet and ringed by volcanoes, we spend our first few days acclimatizing to the altitude and our beautiful new surroundings. We then continue our orientation at Lake Quilatoa, a beautiful caldera lake in the Andes, where we enjoy day hikes along the Lake Quilatoa rim trail. During this time we map out our itinerary and set both individual and group goals for the duration of the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects, identifying points in the semester where each of our five global themes will be present. After these days of fun, adventure, and acclimatizing, we gear up for our first project in the Amazon Rainforest.

Amazon Petroleum Drilling and Deforestation Study

Heading south to the Amazon rainforest we make our way to Coca where we jump into our first project of the semester focused on the mining of petroleum and gold. From experts in the field, we gain an understanding of the positive and negative effects mining has had on this part of the Ecuadorian Amazon and its communities. We visit oil derrick sites where we have the opportunity to interview employees and see firsthand the groundwater and soil pollution from irresponsible water disposal. Also during this section, we have the opportunity to witness the devastating deforestation and pollution that illegal mining is having on the Amazon.

An Introduction to Life as a Cacao Grower and Rafting

Making our way deep into the Amazon, we settle into our homestays with local Kichwa families. We begin an in-depth anthropological study of cacao growers in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Ecuador makes some of the richest, most delicious artisanal chocolate available today and we have the opportunity to examine this economic market. We not only learn how exporting chocolate upholds the local economy in the Amazon, but we work alongside the cacao growers on their farms and learn about the chocolate-making process from harvest to production, ending with a sampling of this delicious national export. We also participate in a community meeting and present a short workshop on globalization and international markets. To round out our eye-opening section in the Amazon, we head to the rapids of the Napo River, a tributary to the Amazon, for a day of whitewater rafting and cooling off from the heat and humidity of the Amazon.

Homestay and Language School in Otavalo

Leaving the Amazon behind we make our way to Otavalo where we begin our week-long language school and jump into our second homestay of the semester. In the mornings we attend classes customized to our individual language abilities and in the afternoons we have the opportunity to practice our skills through lively intercambios with our local hosts and through explorations of this charming town. During downtime, we play soccer with our host siblings, browse the world-renowned Otavalo market (one of the largest handicraft markets in Latin America), and explore the beautiful landscape of the surrounding area. As the week concludes, we say farewell to our welcoming host families and return to Quito, stopping off for a day of zip-lining through the lush canopies of the Mindo cloud forest.

Cusco Exploration and Peruvian Girl’s Education Initiative

Leaving Quito behind, we catch a short flight to Peru where we spend our first couple days in the charming city of Cusco, exploring colorful plazas and markets, cobblestone streets, and the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman scattered atop the hillside overlooking the city. As we acclimate to this new country, we also revisit our initial semester personal and group goals. We then begin our project working with a local non-profit committed to providing educational opportunities for young girls in Peru. We spend a few days at a hogar (home for children) in Urubamba, which is specifically for girls aged 3-18 years old. At the hogar we have the opportunity to get to know the girls, hear their stories and interview the women who run this special community. We also spend a day with scholarship recipients who are receiving funding from this non-profit to attend university in Peru. These girls, about our age, are often the first in their families to attend university and serve as inspiration for many.

Sacred Valley Exploration and Machu Picchu

Saying goodbye to our dear friends at the hogar, we spend the next two days exploring Peru’s beautiful Sacred Valley. Based in Urubamba, we may decide to participate in cultural activities, work on our Capstone Passion Projects, or participate in day hikes amidst the surrounding peaks. We then board a train for a stunning ride to the sacred Incan city of Machu Picchu, the “Gate of the Sun.” After spending a night in the town of Aguas Calientes, we set off on foot to the sacred temples, plazas and ceremonial baths of Machu Picchu. Hiking up Huayna Picchu (Young Peak) we catch a birds-eye view of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Llama Conservation and Education Initiative

Partnering with an inspiring organization outside of Cusco, we delve into the complex conservation issues surrounding the iconic llamas of the Peruvian Andes. This organization’s mission is to promote the sustainable uses of llamas as pack animals to support the rapidly growing tourism industry. Llamas were traditionally pack animals in rural communities, and the organization’s belief is that through once again using llamas as pack animals, rural communities will have the tools to become economically self-sufficient. Through partnering with this organization we learn about sustainable rural development and help identify solutions to the degradation of these mountain ecosystems.

Lake Titicaca Homestay and Kayaking

Our final section in Peru takes us to Lake Titicaca, the largest high-altitude lake in the world. Upon arrival, we board a boat out to the floating islands, home to the pre-Incan Uros people. The Uros have made their homes on forty-two floating islands, maintained using bundles of dried totora reeds. We learn about their unique lifestyle on the lake, before continuing on to our homestays. Upon arrival back to the mainland, we are welcomed by our host families in a village on the shores of the lake. We spend our days immersing ourselves in the lives of the community and digging deeper into public health issues facing the region. In downtime, we may choose to explore the lakeside area, play soccer with the local children or swim in the lake. To round out our time on Lake Titicaca, we head out on kayaks to explore the pristine waters, soaking up our final days in Peru.

Aysen, Patagonia and Rafting the Futaleufu River

Leaving Peru behind we catch our flight south to Balmaceda, Patagonia, where we begin our orientation to Chilean culture and customs and take in our first deep breaths of Patagonian mountain air. After a down day in the picturesque town of Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysen region, we venture out on the famed Carretera Austral, known as one of the most beautiful and breathtaking roadways in the world. Taking in spectacular scenery along the way, we wind our way to the beautiful town of Futaleufu, home to some of the greatest white water in the world. In Futaleufu, we explore our charming surroundings, spend two days rafting its turquoise waters, and then meet with the Futaleufu River Keepers where we learn about the contentious issue and ‘sin represas’ movement surrounding hydroelectric dams in Chile.

Parque Patagonia Environmental Service

Continuing south on the Carretera Austral, we make our way to Parque Patagonia, Chile’s newest national park. Our time in Parque Patagonia provides us the opportunity to glimpse first-hand what privately-funded conservation looks like in Patagonia. In a historic donation to the Chilean government, the Tompkins Foundation facilitated one of the largest natural grassland revival projects in the world, recovering land from severe overgrazing that significantly threatened the unique ecosystems of this region of Chilean Patagonia. Once declared a national park, the Tompkins Foundation returned the land to the country of Chile as a protected area. At Parque Patagonia we work in the organic garden that provides vital nutrition for much of the surrounding community while learning about organic and sustainable farming practices.

Estancia Stay and Gaucho Study

Our next stop takes us into rural Aysen, one of Patagonia’s most spectacular and often overlooked provinces. Here we stay in a village populated primarily by sheep, cattle, and hayfields. For the next week, we participate in a village stay where we have the opportunity to experience traditional living while lending our hands on the expansive farms, working in the fields and learning about three important issues facing this part of Chile: food security, urbanization, and resource extraction due to neighboring mining projects. Complimenting our learning, we have the opportunity to experience Patagonia’s more rugged side through day hikes in the mountains and feasting on traditional Patagonian asados.

Student Planned Module

Venturing south to the picturesque town of Puerto Natales we find ourselves surrounded by the snow-capped peaks and expansive fjords of the Region de Magallanes y Antartica Chilena. Here we dive in to our Student Planned Module. This section is completely planned, organized, budgeted and implemented by the students. We can’t wait to see what the group will do!

Torres del Paine National Park and Program Conclusion

As we begin to round out our time in Chile, we make our way to the world-renowned Torres del Paine, one of South America’s most beautiful national parks. Looming nearly 10,000 feet above the Patagonian Steppe, the spectacular granite pillars that make up Torres del Paine tower over the former sheep estancia, which is home to exotic birds, guanacos, and countless other types of wildlife. Celebrated as one of the best treks in the world, we spend five days hiking the famed W Trek and gazing at the incredible panoramas of Torres del Paine. 

As we soak up our final days together surrounded by the spectacular vistas and endless valleys of this region of Patagonia, we enjoy our last asados and dulce de leche, snap our final photos and reminisce on our favorite memories of the past three months. There is no doubt that our experiences during this semester will stay with us for the rest of our lives. As we savor our remaining time together, we are excited to head home to share our newly gained knowledge and insights from our firsthand look at the global issues facing Ecuador, Peru, and Patagonia.

*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: