ECUADOR: A JOURNEY OF CONNECTION, CULTURE & RENEWAL
Slow Down. Breathe Deeply. Live Simply.
Join us on a 12-day journey through Ecuador’s breathtaking Andes, where regenerative farms, Indigenous communities, spectacular landscapes, and meaningful human connection invite us to reconnect with ourselves, one another, and the Earth.
This is more than a vacation.
It is an opportunity to slow down, live close to the land, share fresh meals, learn from local communities, hike through beautiful mountain landscapes, and experience Ecuador through authentic relationships rather than simply as a visitor.
EXPERIENCE ECUADOR BEYOND THE TOURIST TRAIL
Through GOGI Abroad’s long-standing relationships in Ecuador, we are welcomed into places and communities in a deeply personal way.
We will spend time on a regenerative farm, live alongside an Indigenous Kichwa community, explore historic Quito, visit the vibrant Otavalo Market, hike through the Andes, and end part of our journey soaking in mineral-rich hot springs surrounded by mountains.
This journey is rooted in connection, reciprocity, sustainability, culture, and community.
PALUGO FARM
Where We Arrive. Slow Down. Reconnect.
Much of our journey will be based at beautiful Palugo Farm, a fourth-generation regenerative family farm high in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Surrounded by organic gardens, native forests, mountain trails, llamas, alpacas, horses, cows, and open skies, Palugo is much more than a place to stay.
It is a way of life.
Here, sustainability is lived every day. We may harvest vegetables, gather herbs for teas and healing salves, bake bread in a traditional wood-fired oven, prepare nourishing meals, explore nearby trails and caves, and learn how food, land, animals, and community are all interconnected.
SAN CLEMENTE
Living Indigenous Wisdom
For several days, we will be welcomed into the Indigenous Kichwa community of San Clemente.
Rather than simply visiting, we are invited into daily life.
We will learn about traditional embroidery, herbal medicine, farming, cooking, music, storytelling, the Andean calendar, and community traditions that have been passed down through generations.
We will share meals, spend time with local families, walk through the village, and participate in a traditional Minga, an Indigenous practice of working together in service to the community.
Depending on local traditions and availability, we may also experience a traditional Temazcal sweat lodge ceremony and learn about the role of cuy in Andean healing and ceremony.
HIKE THE ANDES
This trip includes opportunities to get outside and truly experience Ecuador’s incredible landscapes.
We will hike near Laguna Cubilche, surrounded by sweeping highland views, and later have the option to hike through the Andes toward Papallacta Hot Springs.
PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS
Rest. Restore. Renew.
High in the Andes, Papallacta Hot Springs offers a beautiful place to pause and integrate the journey.
We will soak in warm, mineral-rich volcanic pools surrounded by mountains, with time to rest, journal, enjoy a massage, explore the surroundings, or simply do nothing at all.
FOOD, FARM & COMMUNITY
Food is an important part of this experience.
At Palugo, many ingredients come directly from the farm’s organic gardens and fields.
Fresh vegetables, herbs, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, grains, fruit, herbal teas, and bread baked in the wood-fired oven become part of our everyday experience.
Those who wish can help harvest vegetables, prepare Ecuadorian dishes, bake bread, or simply enjoy sitting around the table together.
Some of the most meaningful moments of the journey may happen over a shared meal, a cup of tea, or a conversation that lasts longer than expected.
DISCOVER QUITO & OTAVALO
We will spend time exploring Historic Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage City filled with cobblestone streets, plazas, churches, cafés, artisan shops, and beautiful colonial architecture.
We will also visit the famous Otavalo Indigenous Market, where colorful textiles, handmade artwork, jewelry, local foods, and traditional crafts fill the market stalls.
We fully believe that through service learning we are able to immerse and learn about ourselves and make meaningful connections.
THIS JOURNEY WILL ALLOW YOU TO:
Live for several days on a regenerative organic farm in the Andes.
Learn about sustainable agriculture, permaculture, medicinal plants, and traditional food systems.
Spend meaningful time with an Indigenous Kichwa community.
Learn traditional embroidery, herbal medicine, cooking, music, and community traditions.
Participate in a traditional Minga.
Hike through spectacular Andean landscapes.
Visit Laguna Cubilche.
Explore historic Quito.
Visit the Otavalo Indigenous Market.
Create herbal oils or healing salves from plants gathered at Palugo.
Experience traditional hot-and-cold water therapy at Palugo.
Soak in the mineral-rich pools of Papallacta Hot Springs.
Gather for a restorative sound bath.
Share farm-to-table meals, stories, laughter, and quiet moments beneath the Andean sky.
Build meaningful friendships with fellow travelers and the communities who welcome us.
COME EXPERIENCE ECUADOR WITH US
Come for the mountains.
Come for the hiking.
Come for the food.
Come for the culture.
Come for the hot springs.
Come for the people.
Come because you want to experience a different way of living, traveling, and connecting.
And return home carrying more than photographs.
Return with new friendships, new perspectives, and a deeper connection to the Earth, to others, and to what truly matters.
Limited to 15 participants
Keeping the group small allows space for authentic connection, personal growth, and meaningful relationships with the communities who welcome us.
