Jungle Expedition
Join us on a journey into the heart of the Amazon jungle. For three weeks you will become a guardian of the rainforest, help restore the ecosystems of the Amazon and take care of yourself at the same time. You will experience nature in its rawest form and come to understand what it means to be part of a living whole.
„My stay in Ecuador deeply moved me and changed my life. I love the wilderness, but also street art and music — and Ecuador offers all of that. During the stay I found myself again, my strength, health, and wonderful friendships with kindred spirits. Thank you so much for the great organization and the time spent together in peace and fun. I am so grateful I made this journey.“
You'll get the most out of the stay if…
you long for an adventure that pulls you out of your routine and takes you into true wilderness
you want to lend a hand in protecting the Amazon rainforest and take part in reforesting Ecuador
you are looking for a deeper connection with nature and a mental reset
you want to experience a completely different way of life
Want to ask us something? Write to us, or meet us at one of our events.
I have a question first
What we will be working on
You will join projects with a direct impact on the health of the rainforest. Each activity helps protect one of the most precious ecosystems on the planet.
What awaits you:
preparing soil and planting seedlings
clearing and marking jungle trails
working with camera traps — installation, checks and reviewing footage
improving the El Refugio station
small tasks based on current needs
Don't worry — this is definitely not three weeks of non-stop hard labour. The stay is well balanced: part of the time is devoted to fieldwork, part to exploring, trips and rest. The goal is for everyone to return home enriched, not exhausted.
What does an ordinary day look like?
In the morning the rainforest wakes you up; the birds tend to be more reliable than an alarm clock. The day has its own calm rhythm.
Morning
Work in the rainforest
After breakfast we head out: planting, trails, camera traps — whatever the rainforest needs most.
Afternoon
Rest and trips
Time to recover, explore the surroundings or take shorter trips around the station.
Evening
Fire and sharing
Cooking together, a guitar, a fire and sharing the day with the others.
And some days are completely different: a full-day trip to the waterfalls, a visit to the Shuar community or the market in Gualaquiza. We adapt the programme to the group and everyone gets to voice their needs and wishes.
Adventures you will experience
Expeditions deep into the rainforest and unique experiences await you:
visiting sacred waterfalls
treks through the rainforest to natural wonders and lookouts
meeting indigenous communities and hearing their stories
exploring caves
getting to know traditional healing herbs and local medicine
visiting organic wayusa and cacao producers
Who will take you into the rainforest
We have been protecting the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador for 10 years. Our guides are experienced: they know the local conditions, the people and the environment we will be moving through, and the El Refugio station is a second home to them.
David Petrbok
Trip coordinator. He has been travelling to Ecuador since 2022 and at Forest.ink he helps steer the effort that protects 138 hectares of rainforest. He is fascinated by the link between the human psyche and nature, and he believes the rainforest is the best place to experience it first-hand.
Valérie Tošerová
Trip coordinator. She first went to the rainforest as a volunteer, and the project grew on her so much that today she helps organise it. She knows the El Refugio station and the local community, and during the trip she mainly makes sure everyone feels well and safe.
On site you will be looked after by one of us together with the local team that lives and works at the El Refugio station.
138
hectares of rainforest under our protection
10
years of work in the Gualaquiza region
300+
volunteers have been to Ecuador with us
What should I take with me?
If we had to share one piece of advice with explorers, it would be to keep an open mind and a sense of adventure. The second piece of advice would be to pack light.
How safe is Ecuador?
Ecuador is relatively safe, by the standards of any poor country.
What will we eat during the expedition?
During the expedition, we encourage our explorers to perhaps reflect on their usual approach to life. This also includes the food we eat.
How much it costs
We designed the expedition to be affordable. We want to give as many adventurers as possible the opportunity to care for the rainforest and build a personal relationship with this fragile ecosystem.
1 000 USD ≈ CZK 21 000
for the whole three weeks — roughly CZK 1 000 a day, everything included except the flight.
The price includes:
accommodation
full board
transport within Ecuador on the way to and from the El Refugio station
all trips (communities, waterfalls, caves…)
programme guidance and the support of local coordinators
The price does not include:
international flight ticket
transport between the airport and the meeting point (Cuenca / Gualaquiza)
travel insurance
Where does your money go?
We are a nonprofit. The price covers your stay and the running of the station, and whatever is left goes straight into protecting the rainforest: buying up threatened land and new seedlings. Your trip therefore protects the rainforest twice — with your hands and with the budget. We keep our books open; have a look at the annual reports.
Payment
A deposit of CZK 4 000 on sign-up confirms your place. We arrange the rest of the payment individually.
The expedition will take place near the town of Gualaquiza, in the rainforest at our El Refugio station and on adjacent land that we have already purchased with our sister organization Bosque Medicinal. The bus journey from the nearest international airports is long, so please plan accordingly with breaks.
Flights
Participants buy their own flight tickets, but we are happy to help you choose dates and connections. Return tickets Prague → Guayaquil usually cost around CZK 30,000 depending on the season. Flying to Quito is also an option, but it tends to be somewhat more expensive and means a longer journey south.
After arrival
From the airport in Guayaquil it is easy to take a taxi to the bus station. From there you will continue to Cuenca (we recommend staying overnight at Hotel Orquídea), where our coordinator will pick you up.
Tip: A long journey from the airport is normal — the Amazon begins far from the cities. We are happy to help you with planning, just drop us a line.
Physical difficulty
🌿🌿Mild to moderate. Daily walking, working with tools, humidity and heat may take a little getting used to at first. But don't worry — within a few days you'll adjust.
Mental difficulty
🌿The rainforest has a soothing effect on the nervous system, and life away from civilisation clears the mind beautifully. Throughout the stay you can rely on our clear guidance and support.
We understand. Setting off into the heart of the Amazon with people you don't know yet is a big step. We'd be glad to get in touch and find out together whether this stay is exactly what you need right now.
I have a question firstFrequently asked questions
A tip from experience: ask for the time off as early as you can — three months ahead is ideal — and combine your holiday with unpaid leave if you do not have enough days. Many participants found it helped to tell their employer they were joining a rainforest conservation project: that is a different request from “I want three weeks on a beach”. And if you are unsure whether it can be arranged, write to us and we will work it out together.
The group is big enough to feel like good company and small enough not to be an anonymous package tour. The age range is wide, from students to people of retirement age; what they share is the wish to pitch in. Most people come on their own and go home with friends — see the reviews below.
A fair question. The price covers your accommodation, food, transport around Ecuador, the trips and the coordinators' work, and because we are a nonprofit, whatever is left goes straight into protecting the rainforest. None of us makes money on volunteers; your participation supports the rainforest with both work and budget.
It rarely happens, but let us be straightforward about it: the coordinators are available to you the whole time and everything can be worked out, from adjusting the programme to an individual arrangement. And if anything comes up, we will always talk it through openly, before the trip and during it.
Travelling around Ecuador calls for a certain degree of caution, but mainly in the big cities. It always depends on the current political situation, which we monitor continuously. For most of the stay, however, we will be in the safe base of our eco-station El Refugio and working with local communities. An experienced coordinator is present on every expedition, taking care of your safety, navigation in the field and handling any situations that may arise.
If you stay within the area of our expedition and travel according to our instructions, you do not need any vaccinations. If you plan to explore other parts of Ecuador, consider vaccinations as recommended by a travel vaccination centre.
The Amazon is home to many fascinating species. During the stay we will teach you how to move around the environment safely. The animals are naturally shy and avoid people. Insects are a normal part of life in the jungle — we use natural repellents and preventive measures.
A basic level of fitness is an advantage, but not a requirement. You can expect walking over terrain, working with tools and life in the jungle — nothing an ordinarily active person couldn't handle. We lead each group at a pace that matches its abilities.
You will fly into Guayaquil. From there you will take a bus to Cuenca (the recommended option), where our coordinator will pick you up, and together you will continue to Gualaquiza and the eco-station. We will help you plan the route and recommend reliable connections.
No. There is a multilingual team on site and you can get by in English as well. Spanish is a nice advantage, but by no means a requirement.
Yes — most participants come on their own. The group bonds quickly and friendships for life are often formed here. We send you all the practical information before departure and are happy to answer anything else you need.
Besides an open mind, we have a few recommendations. Nothing is mandatory and most items can be bought in town.
- Sleeping bag (comfort temperature 0 °C or lower)
- Headlamp / torch
- Reusable water bottle
- Earplugs
- Towel
- Adapter (US-type sockets)
- Eco-friendly toiletries
- Natural repellent (DEET-free — not available for purchase locally)
- Personal medication (we recommend antihistamines, something for insect bites, stomach issues…)
- Vitamin B12 and supplements, if you take them
- Power bank
- Waterproof bags / dry bag
- Small backpack for day trips
- Clothing preferably in natural colours that doesn't attract the animals' attention
- Lightweight hiking trousers
- Short- and long-sleeved shirts and t-shirts
- Warm layers (hoodie, poncho, jacket) — at an altitude of 1,700 m the nights can be cooler
- Thermal underwear
- Swimwear
- Scarf or hat
- Several pairs of hiking socks
- Comfortable shoes or sandals
- Rubber boots (available at the station or can be bought in town)
- Sturdy raincoat
At the eco-station we cook for ourselves most of the time. We eat a mostly plant-based diet with vegetarian options available. On trips to town we eat in local restaurants, where typical local dishes are widely available (rice, fish, beans, vegetables, plantains…).
We recommend bringing vitamin supplements (especially B12) and your favourite energy bars or snacks.
Stay dates
We accept applications until Sep 7, 2026
You need time for flights and preparation, and we need time to give you our full attention.
What people say about the stay
“In the last few months, I found myself trapped in a cycle of negativity. I went through a divorce, developed unhealthy habits, struggled with sleep, stopped focusing on my business, and felt my motiva...”
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Ctirad“My stay in Ecuador deeply affected me and changed my life. I love the wilderness, but also street art and music, and Ecuador offers all of that. During my stay, I found myself again, my strength, heal...”
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Kristýna“I have already gone on an expedition to the jungle twice. The first time I was called by the need to journey deep into the jungle, to stop for a moment and lend a hand to a meaningful project. By 'cha...”
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Valérie“It was beautiful. The nature, the people, working in the garden, the market, the food, guitars, sharing, indigenous, chocolate... and trips through the rainforest to the waterfalls. No wonder it is ca...”
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Kateřina
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