FIELD PROGRAMS · ECUADOR & PERU · 2027
Prepare yourself for the bioeconomy of the future
Healthy landscapes. Resilient livelihoods. New pathways for future industries.
Work alongside farmers, builders and community partners through immersive field education, applied research and hands-on projects. RFI programs help participants build foundational skills, confidence and direction to discover how to be a part of the change you wish to see in the world.
The bioeconomy builds economic value from renewable biological resources through processes that regenerate ecosystems, strengthen communities and avoid the depletion of natural resources. RFI puts the bioeconomy into practice. We develop, demonstrate and teach students regenerative production systems and help incubate the real-world industries that can grow from them.
One mission. Three bioregions.
Sustainable building and regenerative land management across Ecuador’s coast, the Amazon and the Peruvian Highlands. Each bioregion brings distinct ecosystems, materials and practices. These local factors shape projects and cultural learning exchanges that contribute to a shared vision for regenerative systems.
Coastal Ecuador
Los Arboleros
In the rural hills of Manabí, cacao, bamboo and tropical fruit grow through a landscape once used for cattle pasture. Los Arboleros is RFI’s 70-acre home base—a working farm where food production, forest recovery and everyday life meet. Local farming knowledge and a culture of shared work shape the experience here. Come to understand how a place can regenerate, and what it takes for people to make a living from that change.
Agroforestry · Bamboo construction · Living landscapes
Winter One
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $100 with Early Bird II
- Early Bird II deposit · $700
- October 16th, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Nov 13, 2026
Early Bird II Tuition: $1,890. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after November 13, 2026, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
One More Week Left of the Early Bird I Discount ($150)
Winter Two
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Sep 25, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Nov 13, 2026
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after November 13, 2026, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring One
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Oct 23, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Jan 22, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after January 22, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring Two
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Oct 30, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Jan 22, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after January 22, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring Three
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Nov 6, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Jan 22, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after January 22, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring Four
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Nov 13, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Feb 12, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after February 12, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring Five
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Nov 20, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Feb 12, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after February 12, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer One
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Jan 8, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 2, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 2, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer Two
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Jan 15, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 2, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 2, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer Three
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Jan 22, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 2, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 2, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer Four
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Jan 29, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 23, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 23, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer Five
Los Arboleros · Coastal Ecuador
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Feb 5, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 23, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 23, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Ecuadorian Amazon
Tena
Where the Andes give way to the Amazon, Tena sits among rivers, tropical forests and Indigenous chakra gardens. Food, medicine, building materials and cultural knowledge are rooted in the same living landscape. Near Ikiam University, local communities and researchers bring distinct perspectives to its future. Learning here means seeing those connections firsthand—from the forest floor to bamboo structures—and understanding why healthy ecosystems matter to the people who call this place home.
Amazon ecology · Chakra agroforestry · Bamboo innovation
Tena Spring One
Tena · Ecuadorian Amazon
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Oct 30, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Jan 22, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after January 22, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Tena Spring Two
Tena · Ecuadorian Amazon
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Nov 6, 2026
- Final payment · $1,190
- Jan 22, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after January 22, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Carrboro High School
Tena · Ecuadorian Amazon
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $1,050
- Nov 20, 2026
- Final payment · $1,700
- Jan 29, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $2,750. Regular tuition: $2,900. Students enrolling after January 29, 2027, must pay the full $2,900 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
MassBu
Tena · Ecuadorian Amazon
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $800
- Jan 15, 2027
- Final payment · $1,450
- Apr 2, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $2,250. Regular tuition: $2,400. Students enrolling after April 2, 2027, must pay the full $2,400 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Analy High School
Tena · Ecuadorian Amazon
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $1,050
- Nov 20, 2026
- Final payment · $1,700
- Apr 9, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $2,750. Regular tuition: $2,900. Students enrolling after April 9, 2027, must pay the full $2,900 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Peruvian Highlands
Zurite
Set in the Andean highlands near Cusco, Zurite is an agricultural community where terraces, irrigation canals and mountain watersheds shape daily life. Quechua cultural knowledge and ayni—the practice of reciprocity—connect land and community across generations. Highland farming, local building materials and community enterprise offer an intimate view of how people adapt to a place. Learn with the families and practitioners working to keep its landscapes productive, its watersheds healthy and its opportunities locally rooted.
Andean watersheds · Highland agriculture · Eucalyptus construction · Ayni
Redwood High School
Zurite · Peruvian Highlands
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $1,350
- Oct 16, 2026
- Final payment · $2,000
- Dec 18, 2026
Early Bird I tuition: $3,350. Regular tuition: $3,500. Students enrolling after December 18, 2026, must pay the full $3,500 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Peru (Summer)
Zurite · Peruvian Highlands
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $650
- Jan 8, 2027
- Final payment · $1,190
- Apr 2, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $1,840. Regular tuition: $1,990. Students enrolling after April 2, 2027, must pay the full $1,990 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
Menlo School
Zurite · Peruvian Highlands
Lincoln High School
Zurite · Peruvian Highlands
Save $150 with Early Bird I
- Early Bird I deposit · $1,350
- Oct 30, 2026
- Final payment · $2,000
- Apr 9, 2027
Early Bird I tuition: $3,350. Regular tuition: $3,500. Students enrolling after April 9, 2027, must pay the full $3,500 program fee in a single payment.
Check that the dates and program name on your form match your selection. Before paying, review the payment policy.Your deposit reserves your place and is nonrefundable under RFI’s enrollment policy. When paying through Venmo, please do not select “For purchases,” as this adds a processing fee to RFI. Include your full name, program and dates in the payment note. Thank you for your understanding.
People make the experience
What stays with you.
“Learning about regenerative agriculture was amazing, and I hope to find a way to integrate that into my future career!”
Edgar Vasquez
UC Davis participant
See the work. Meet the people.
A window into RFI.
Stories from the field show how learning, community and regeneration come together.
Reflections from the field.
Students and staff reflect on bamboo building, agroforestry and learning together.
Moments from the field.
Payment & deadlines
Program pricing & deposits.
Standard program pricing applies to Los Arboleros Farm and Tena. MassBu in Tena has a separate rate and follows the same early bird discounts.
Early bird periods vary by program. Confirm your current discount period and deadline with RFI before paying. The discount reduces your first deposit; your final payment stays the same.
| Payment stage | Standard programsLos Arboleros Farm & Tena | MassBu · Tena |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird I First Deposit$150 discount | $650 | $800 |
| Early Bird II First Deposit$100 discount | $700 | $850 |
| Early Bird III First Deposit$50 discount | $750 | $900 |
| Standard First Deposit | $800 | $950 |
| Final Payment | $1,190 | $1,450 |
Standard tuition before discounts: $1,990 for standard programs; $2,400 for MassBu. All amounts are in USD. Pay your remaining balance by your program’s final payment date.
High school programs have separate pricing and payment instructions.
Enrollment & payment policy
Enrollment is rolling and remains open while spaces are available. Each RFI program has a maximum capacity of 30 students, and programs typically reach capacity approximately 6 weeks before departure. Early enrollment provides a substantial discount for students, gives access to better and cheaper flight options, and helps RFI comfortably coordinate with local community partners and service providers before programs. Students may reserve their place using RFI’s first deposit option until the program’s standard payment date. On that date, students who have already made a first deposit must pay their remaining program balance. Enrollment remains open after the standard payment date while space is available. At that point, the first deposit option ends and the full program tuition is due at the time of registration. All payments made to RFI are non-refundable. However, cancellations resulting from extenuating circumstances (i.e. medical or family emergencies) may be reimbursed through the mandatory travel insurance. In certain circumstances, RFI may also allow a student's payment to be transferred to a future program session on a case-by-case basis. Students whose circumstances change should contact RFI as early as possible so we can evaluate the available options.
Payment methods & processing fees
Your enrollment supports quality field education, hands-on learning and local instruction. Keeping processing costs separate helps protect the resources dedicated to your educational experience.
Credit card fee: Students paying by credit card are responsible for the additional 3% processing fee. Debit card payments carry no additional fee. You may also pay by check or ACH bank transfer; contact RFI for payment instructions.
RFI account: @RegenerationFieldInstitute. Include the participant’s name, program and dates in your payment note. Check the amount due before sending payment. If your school coordinates payments, follow its instructions.
A look at life in the field
Sample schedules for standard programs.
Los Arboleros · 9-day sample
Los Arboleros · 8-day sample
Tena · 8-day sample
Prepare for your program
Helpful links & FAQs.
Explore the resources below as you prepare for your field experience. For program-specific guidance, contact our team.
Ready to find your program?
Choose your session, explore the details and take the next step.
Stay connected to the field.
Follow the people, projects and everyday moments that make RFI.
@regenerationfieldinstitute →
