MEDLIFE is an independently operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working alongside low-income communities across Latin America and Africa to improve access to medicine, education, and community development. All resources are reinvested in advancing our mission and impact.

This two-week immersion SLT combines a Service Learning Trip week in Lima's hillside settlements with a second SLT week in the Ecuadorian Andes around Riobamba. You'll experience two distinct realities — the urban settlements of Lima and the rural Andean communities of Ecuador — while contributing to Mobile Clinics and Development Projects in both.

Day 1 · Saturday — Arrival in Lima

Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) between 5–11 PM, where a MEDLIFE associate will meet you for your transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 · Sunday — Orientation & Walking Tour

Attend your SLT orientation and safety briefing, explore Miraflores on a walking tour with your Trip Leader, and enjoy free time in the afternoon.

Day 3 · Reality Tour

After breakfast, join the Reality Tour to visit MEDLIFE partner communities, learn about daily life in Lima’s underserved areas, and understand MEDLIFE’s role in improving access to healthcare. Return to the hostel for an afternoon presentation and receive your Mobile Clinic station assignments for the week.

Days 4–7 · Mobile Clinics & Project

Each day, travel to a different community for Mobile Clinics, working alongside local health professionals at rotating stations. During the week, you may also support a community development project based on local needs. Evenings include Post-Clinic Activities, with free time to explore the city when available.

Day 8 · Saturday (Flexible) — Fly Lima → Riobamba

The day after your Lima week is flexible. You can travel to Riobamba, or add an optional cultural add-on in Lima (such as the full-day Ica & Paracas Desert Escape: Ballestas Islands boat tour, Huacachina Oasis dune buggies and sandboarding, and local vineyards — lunch included) before continuing your journey. Travel to Riobamba takes approximately 3-4 hours (flight Lima → Quito plus bus). A MEDLIFE representative will meet the group for the transfer to the accommodation.

Day 9 · Sunday — Arrival in Riobamba & Welcome Meeting

After breakfast, travel approximately four hours from Quito to Riobamba, enjoying views of the Andes and rural communities along the way. After arriving, settle into the accommodation and enjoy some free time to explore Riobamba's main square. Later, attend an orientation covering the week's schedule, safety recommendations, service activities, and what to expect while working in rural communities. Meals are not included today.

Day 10 · Monday — Engaged Education Reality Tour (Riobamba)

Explore the historical, cultural, and healthcare realities of Andean Ecuador. Visit the Iglesia de Balbanera to discuss Spanish colonization and the influence of Catholicism in the region. Continue to a medical center in Llinllín de Columbe to learn about public healthcare access and local health conditions. Then, visit the San Martín community to participate in rural activities, connect with community members, and learn about Indigenous culture and events such as Ecuador's Agrarian Reform. Through community visits and conversations with MEDLIFE staff and local leaders, gain the context needed to understand the week's Mobile Clinics and development projects. Return to the accommodation for a MEDLIFE presentation and Mobile Clinic station assignments.

Day 11-13 · Tuesday — Mobile Clinics & Development Project

Travel to a different rural partner community each day. Depending on the rotation, support a Mobile Clinic or participate in the community development project. At the clinic, help unload supplies, meet local professionals, receive station-specific training, and rotate through two assignments. Assist with non-clinical tasks, health education, patient organization, and clinic logistics while observing consultations. Project groups may work on bathrooms, school renovations, home construction, or community stairs. Evening post-clinic activities provide additional opportunities for learning and reflection. Expected Patients: 40–100 per clinic.

Day 14 · Friday — Final Clinic/Project Activities & Inauguration

Spend the first half of the day supporting either a Mobile Clinic or the development project. Participants at the clinic will continue assisting local professionals, while the project group completes the remaining hands-on work. Later, all participants will gather at the project site for an inauguration celebration with community members, recognizing the collaboration that made the project possible, followed by a final debrief and reflection.

Day 15 · Saturday — Quito Full Day — Mitad del Mundo (included)

Included full-day excursion in Ecuador's capital: explore Quito's UNESCO-listed colonial center and stand on the equator at the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument, with a guide throughout.

Day 16-20 · Sunday-Thursday — Galápagos Island-Hopping Extension (included)

A five-day island-hopping extension through the Galápagos, operated with a MEDLIFE partner and expert naturalist guides. Fly from Quito to the Galápagos on Sunday, then hop between islands to see giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions and blue-footed boobies, with snorkelling, beaches and highland hikes along the way. On Thursday, fly back to Quito and continue home. Remember only carry-on luggage is included, and the islands charge an entry fee and transit control card on arrival.