Dreading the doldrums of winter already? Instead of hibernating til spring, you could spend two weeks this January volunteering, surfing, and exploring private beaches, all while living in a beach side cottage just outside of Canoa, Ecuador. The Eco Surf Volunteer program matches volunteers with local elementary schools where they work hard teaching the kids English through games, activities and sports. But, they also find time to play hard. Each afternoon volunteers are taken to the area's best surf spots to catch some waves before going on a local excursion to meet indigenous tribes, visit re-forested mangrove islands or explore animal sanctuaries.

The daily schedule for the trip begins at 7:00 AM when breakfast is served before heading to a local school. There is a lunch break from Noon- 2:00 PM, which is when the afternoon surf lessons begin, followed by dinner at 7. Volunteers also have the option to take a free, private surf lesson from Ecuador's Junior Surf Champion and his team. Each night, Eco Surf also plans social activities like beach parties, bonfires or salsa dancing. ]]> cmb 2009-11-18T12:35:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/8/32439/5455

Ever since The New York Times named the Galapagos Islands No. 3 on its "44 Places to Go in 2009," we've bumped it up on our own travel checklist. The islands, west of mainland Ecuador, inspired Charles Darwin to write The Origins of Species, so maybe the gorgeous islands will do the same for us, too. We're especially inspired by a six-night package that includes tours and airfare to the remote locale for $1,399.

The Travelzoo deal includes round-trip airfare to Ecuador from Miami (other departure cities are available for more moolah); flights between Quito, Baltra and Guayaquil; and all airport/hotel and hotel/port transfers.]]> Jennifer Kester 2009-10-08T11:28:56-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/26/52947/4261

So you agree the gorgeous Galapagos Islands are in danger but you aren't lucky enough to win the Jeapordy! contest which would take you on a weeklong tour to the islands with host Alex Trebek. Then you're going to need to find some other eco-friendly way of getting close to the turtles and all the other Galapagos reasons-to-go, right?

We're considering the possibility that Natural Habitat Adventures might be an okay way to go, given that National Geographic Adventure rated them in the top ten tour operators in the world and they have a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, two organizations that we have a fair bit of trust in. ]]> amandak 2009-03-26T10:26:27-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/25/143542/383

Answer: What you could win starting March 30th.

Did you know that the long-running American game show, Jeopardy!, is turning 25 this year? Amazing. Which means we've been honing our Jepoardy! quiz skills since we were five.

To celebrate this birthday, the show is putting together a rather cool contest offering 25 viewers a weeklong trip with dreamy host Alex Trebek to the Galápagos Islands.

In the first-ever travel expedition with Alex Trebek, sweepstakes winners and their guests will travel aboard the National Geographic Endeavour for a 10 day/9 night voyage, touring one of the most scientifically important and biologically interesting areas on Earth.

To enter the sweepstakes, viewers should watch Jeopardy! weekdays from March 30th to May 1st and then visit www.jeopardy.com to submit the correct Final Jeopardy! category from that day’s episode. 25 chances to win in 25 days!

The trip is actually a partnership with partnership with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. For more info and to enter, visit Jeopardy's website. One person who will probably not be entering this contest? Sean Connery.

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· Jeopardy! Galapagos Adventure[Jeopardy!]]]> juliana 2009-03-25T14:39:48-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/13/17649/4644

Walking through a splendid old-growth rainforest is an unforgettable trip experience. But where will you go when there are no more rainforests to walk through? Joining a United Planet trip to Ecuador for a volunteer vacation bumps up your karma and gets you access to one of the world's most pristine cloud forests.

A cloud forest is an evergreen tropical rainforest characterized by, well, a bunch of clouds. The super-moist environment encourages flowers and moss to grow, but any deforestation can kill those delicate plants as quickly as they spring up.

On United Planet's two-week trip, based two hours outside the capital of Quito at the Pahuma Ecological Reserve, volunteers will help spot flora and fauna in the protected forest, tidy trails and plant in local organic gardens. After all, it's not only the Galapagos that need help.

Related Stories:
· Travel Green Above Queensland's Rainforest [Jaunted]
· Volunteer Travel: One Week Wonders [Jaunted]
· Volunteer Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· It's Summer Somewhere coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: miguelo.perez]]]> egw 2009-01-14T11:30:48-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/9/135142/6560

This week, we're mapping some of the world's greatest train trips.

Earlier this year, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez declared his intention to string South America together by establishing a transcontinental train. While this type of border-crossing trip is still a matter of navigating the national railways of each country--where they even exist--it also means that hidden gems along the tracks tend to stay (a little more) hidden than the needle threading along the Eurail routes.

But the "Devil's Nose" in Ecuador isn't a train you take to get somewhere: It's pure sightseeing.

The Riobamba-to-Alausí route was so named because of the nearly sheer rock cliff the train was forced to ascend in order to get to the Andean city, a process it accomplishes by... well, watch the video, you might enjoy it. Those of strong stomach might enjoy a platano from a local farmer on the way up on the roof of the train. We'll just be cowering in our seats with one finger on the shutter button.

Related Stories:
· A Train to Cross All South America? [Treehugger]
· Theft and the Devil's Nose [Heldencrow.com]
· Ecuador Field Trip: Escape to Mindo [Jaunted]]]> egw 2008-09-09T14:30:24-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/11/18418/9816

Two of the Lost Girls are sharing their trips with us this week. Amanda just returned from Ecuador while Holly ventured to Antarctica.

One of Quito's greatest selling points? Within less than a day's travel from the city, you can reach the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountains, the Pacific beaches, active volcanoes and of course, the country's namesake attraction: the equator.

My BF Jeff and I decided to skip out on the big painted stripe at Mitad del Mundo. (It's disappointing, we'd heard, since GPS now indicates that the actual equator is hundreds of feet away from the touristy hooplah.) Instead, we hopped a bus to a town called Mindo.

We'd attended an informal barbecue the day after our arrival and everyone--our hosts Andrew and Lau, their ex-pat friends, backpacker buddies and dozens of local Ecuadorian attendees--had recommended it as one of the best short trips from the city. If you can't make it all the way to the Amazon basin, Mindo will give you all the rainforest you can handle.]]> The Lost Girl 2008-03-12T14:05:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/