Ecuador Mission Trip

November 6-19, 2026

Application Deadline: August 21

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Step Into a Legacy of Faith

This trip to Ecuador is about stepping into the story of what God has been doing for generations. Partnering with local believers and ministry leaders like Rick Borman, a missionary supported by COTW, we’ll witness firsthand a legacy of faith that continues today. One of the unique parts of this trip is traveling with him to a very remote jungle village among the Cofán people, where Rick’s father was the first to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Cofán. His work unfolded during the same era that his friends, Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, were attempting to bring the Gospel to the Waorani people. Walking into these places today is a powerful reminder that God has been faithfully at work here for decades.

This trip is about more than projects or travel. It is an opportunity to witness God’s work in another culture, encourage the global church, and allow the experience to shape your own faith.

The Missions Experience

Each mission trip includes a blend of ministry, cultural experiences, and learning from local missionaries. Below is a sample schedule to help you picture what the experience will look like.

Travel & Orientation

Day 1-2
The team begins the journey with a travel day to Ecuador before arriving at El Refugio, our home base for the trip, and where we’ll spend most nights. After settling in, the group gathers for orientation, where we prepare for the week ahead. This time includes learning about Ecuadorian culture, the communities we’ll serve, and the ministry partners we’ll be working alongside.
Worship & Exploring Quito

Day 3
On Sunday, the team worships with a local congregation in Calacalí before visiting the historic center of Quito. Sharing in worship with believers from another culture is often one of the most meaningful moments of the trip. Exploring the historic city also gives us a deeper appreciation for Ecuador’s rich history, vibrant culture, and beautiful architecture.
Serving at El Refugio

Day 4-6
Over the next several days, we’ll serve through hands-on projects at El Refugio, rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty. Projects vary each year but often include construction, maintenance, and practical service that support ongoing ministry. Working together on these tasks also creates opportunities to build relationships with local partners and contribute to the work God is already doing.
Ministry in Cofán Villages

Day 7-8
Next, we’ll travel by canoe toward the Amazon to visit the Cofán villages of Dureno and Totoa Naqui, staying in a remote cabin. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch by a jungle stream before arriving. In the villages, we’ll help lead Bible lessons and activities for children and connect with families, supporting ministry partners who have been sharing the Gospel here for generations.
Ministry in El Chaco

Day 9-10
After departing Dureno, the team travels to the mountain town of El Chaco, where we’ll stay in a hostel. While there, we partner with a local church through services and youth gatherings. Team members often share testimonies, and we spend time worshiping alongside the church community.
Return to El Refugio

Day 11-12
The team then returns to El Refugio to complete service projects. These final ministry days allow the team to continue serving while also reflecting on the experiences from the week. It’s a meaningful time to strengthen friendships, encourage one another, and celebrate the work that has been accomplished.
Reflection & Departure

Day 13
Before departing, our team gathers for a special reflection, sometimes called a “shoeless morning,” to honor the sacred moments we have shared during the trip. Together we share stories, pray, and reflect on how God has worked in our hearts and in the communities we visited. After packing and a final debrief, we begin the journey home.

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The trip costs $2,100 per person.
Please note: This price covers all meals, lodging, in-country travel in Ecuador, and the program fee. It does not include personal expenses such as airfare, transportation to and from your U.S. departure airport, or personal spending money. (Total estimated cost with airfare and personal expenses: $2,700-$3,000.)
Participants are responsible for booking their own round-trip travel to and from Quito, Ecuador.
After being accepted to the team, you’ll be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit of $500 to secure your spot within one week of acceptance.
This trip is physically demanding. Participants must be able to hike short distances, navigate uneven terrain, and perform basic manual labor. Age restrictions may also apply to ensure safety and readiness for the trip.
Tim Trezise, the CAMP-of-the-WOODS Missions Director, will serve as your trip leader. Tim has a contagious passion for the gospel and for global missions and is a close friend of Rick Borman, founder of Hacienda El Refugio. Over the past 15 years, Tim has led COTW members and LIFT students on mission trips to serve in Ecuador.
No, you don’t need to know Spanish to join the trip. However, you will be immersed in a Spanish-speaking culture. Translators will be available at times, but not always, so learning as much Spanish as possible beforehand is highly recommended. The team will also receive some basic Spanish instruction during the pre-trip meetings to help you prepare.
We partner with One Collective (El Refugio).
Hacienda El Refugio is a training and retreat center in Ecuador that facilitates experiences to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ through rest and outdoor adventure.
This is the same organization that the LIFT Program has partnered with for over 10 years. CAMP-of-the-WOODS also supports Rick and Sue Borman, who serve with Hacienda El Refugio and are among our mission partners.
Prior to the trip, the team is expected to participate in 5 to 6 Zoom meetings dedicated to team building, spiritual preparation—including Bible study and reading Through the Gates of Splendor—and logistical planning. These sessions will also address necessary documentation, visa requirements, and recommended medical preparations.
You’ll spend most of your time staying at El Refugio retreat center in comfortable bunkhouses. During the trip into the Ecuadorian jungle, you’ll spend two nights in a remote rustic cabin. In El Chaco, you’ll stay for two nights in a hostel.
During the trip, we’ll enjoy most meals together at our lodging, ministry sites, or local restaurants. At El Refugio, meals will be prepared for us on-site. During our journey into the Ecuadorian jungle, we’ll cook meals together in the cabin where we stay. In El Chaco, we’ll eat at a local restaurant connected to the church community. Safe drinking water is available at every site we visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trip Highlights

See moments from past trips and imagine what your experience could be like.

Team Worship & Reflection Time at El Refugio

Traveling to Remote Jungle Village of Cofan

Playing Soccer with Children in Remote Village of Totoa Naqui

Teaching Children in Village of Totoa Naqui

Past Participant’s Stories

“The Lord is so kind! I was deeply blessed by the opportunity to visit Ecuador and grow alongside my brothers and sisters there. The trip was a beautiful balance of serving and working hard, while also being so encouraged to rest and spend time with the Lord. He moved in my heart and refreshed my soul in ways I didn’t even know I needed. I’ve come home with a renewed spirit and a fresh perspective for ministry—and I couldn’t recommend this experience more.”
- Natalie L.
“I experienced much through mixing concrete for the first time to serving at youth ministry in the jungle. God showed me his love for all people and that we are in equal need of the gospel.”
- Connor F.
“We had a sweet time meeting with the women of the church in El Chaco. Even though there was a language barrier between most of us, we were still able to share testimonies and pray for and encourage one another. I have continued to keep in touch with one woman from there and we have been translating scripture and prayers to send each other.”
- Laurie S.
“I remember standing at the Cofan village gravesite where Rick and Ron Borman’s parents were buried and seeing on their gravesite, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ That was a powerful moment for us.”
— Marcos C.
“We trekked through the jungle with our team to find a remote church nestled deep in Cofan territory, where we participated in a worship service that glorified God in English, Spanish, and the native Cofan language. Worshiping alongside fellow believers in such a setting gave me a renewed vision of the global Church and the beauty of praising God in many tongues. I came away with a clearer understanding of what it means to be united in Christ—a unity that transcends language, culture, and all the things that often divide us from a human perspective.”
- George A.
“Hearing the villagers sing hymns that Rick Borman’s parents translated into the Cofan language was so impactful because I was witnessing the fruit of their lives and how God is praised in every tongue.”
— John G.
“Our ‘shoeless’ morning spent with God on top of a hill with amazing views of the Andes mountains left me humbled that the God that created these mountains would spend time with me.”
— Rich A.