Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Want to teach English in the Galapagos Islands? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching project enables volunteers to help local people improve their English language skills in a place that relies heavily on tourism. By volunteering as an English teacher in the Galapagos, you’ll be improving access to language learning, helping local children progress at school, and supporting local adults to secure long term employment so they can support themselves and their families. You’ll also gain invaluable classroom experience in one of the most beautiful and biodiverse locations in the world!
The lack of English language skills has been identified as one of the issues currently facing schools in Galapagos. As a volunteer on this project you will be supporting English learning in the community via classes in a primary, middle, or secondary school and/or focus group classes in the community with individuals ranging in age from children to adults. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with students, teachers, government workers, local partners, park rangers, families, tour operators and other community members. In this program you will have the choice between formal and applied teaching opportunities.
Volunteer work duties may vary but generally include:
It’s likely you will assist in a variety of placement settings throughout the week, so we ask that you remain flexible to the needs of the community. As part of this project work you can also expect to be doing 1 - 2 hours of project preparation work and educational material creation (e.g. workbooks, lessons, etc.).
Please note, you must be over 18 to join this project and able to commit to a minimum duration of 2 weeks. A TEFL certification is strongly recommended, though not required.
As a Teaching English volunteer in Galapagos, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate on this project independently. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be at least 12 years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian, would need to be comfortable with being in a classroom with young children. They will be required to provide IVHQ with a parental/guardian consent form and two character reference letters in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team.
Completing a 50+ hour TEFL certification is highly recommended for this project.
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a recent criminal background check to IVHQ.
This project is currently not accepting applications.
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Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
My accommodation and host family were perfect and I truly love them. They treated us just like family, and all of the meals they made were good.
For those considering volunteering, just do it. You will not regret one minute. I feel so much stronger now that I stepped out and did it.
I have a lot of experience with other cultures and travel but I would say to someone new at this that they should be reassured that they are supported every step of the way. It is a great first step to take in experiencing new horizons!
I loved that the team set up a WhatsApp group for volunteers right before we arrived to receive information and connect with each other. It was clear that they all cared and tried to support us in every way they could. The meals were good and I loved having the opportunity to eat lunch in the different restaurants each day - that was brilliant!
What I loved most about this experience was the people; both the people who lived on Isabela Island and the international community of staff and volunteers. Every person was a wealth of information about their culture, their occupation and their pasts. My favorite time of day was at meals - I loved my host family. My host "Mom" was a great cook. We had fun communicating and at times mis-communicating. Along with providing a nice family environment they also took me on family outings, including visiting their family farm in the highlands on the weekend.
Joining IVHQ projects as an older person has allowed me to reignite my adventurous spirit while giving me the support and confidence to challenge myself, and has given me the opportunity to find ways to contribute to the places I visit. This was my third project and as I gain experience and knowledge, the guidance and support continues to address all the questions I have to participate in the projects I chose.
I was hesitant to stay with a host family as an older person, maybe set in my ways a bit more than others. But it was the BEST thing for me. I am humbled by the hospitality, generosity and warmth of my host family who made me feel at home and welcomed. Thanks to IVHQ, I have discovered the ideal formula for me to travel, be adventurous and learn new skills. I can't wait to join another project next year.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified online
The IVHQ Galapagos volunteer program is based in Puerto Villamil, a small port village located on the southeastern edge of Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands. This is where orientation and general administration is carried out by our local team. Volunteer placements are located within walking distance around Puerto Villamil with the exception of the Sustainable Agriculture project, which is a 30 minute bus ride outside the village to the highlands.
The Galapagos volunteer program begins every Monday and you need to arrive on Isabela Island on your Monday chosen start date.
After you have registered for the program, please book your travel into Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island. From here you can either catch a ferry boat to Isabela Island (this ferry trip is included in your program fee) or take an island hopper plane from Baltra Island to Isabela Island with EMETEBE airlines (this flight is not included in your program fee).
Most volunteers arrive in mainland Ecuador on Sunday and spend this night in either Quito or Guayaquil. On Monday they then travel from mainland to Baltra Island, and then onward to Isabela Island. When you arrive on Isabela Island you will need to walk a few minutes up from the pier to the ABG (Biosecurity Agency) office where you will be met by a member of the local team who will transfer you to your accommodation (also included in your program fee) and then have a small town tour. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and begins from your Monday arrival through the morning of your last Sunday.
On Tuesday, orientation is hosted by our local team in Galapagos and runs for half a day, after which you will be taken to your placement. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Galapagos – Introduction to Galapagos, Galapagos Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities in Galapagos, Introduction to your Project and Placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.
Weekdays
A volunteer day is subject to change depending on your specific placement and the current needs of your project. A typical daily schedule might be as follows:
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation and walk to project (except for Sustainable Agriculture volunteers). |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteers join local placement staff and begin work on your project. |
| 12:00 PM | Finish up at the placement and head home to clean up and relax. |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch at one of the participating restaurants in town. |
| 2.00 PM | Volunteers have the afternoon free to explore the island, do some local snorkeling or take a surf lesson. Alternatively, if previously discussed with local placement staff, return to the placement to volunteer an afternoon shift. |
| 7:30 - 9:00 PM | Dinner with your homestay family or at one of the restaurants in town. After dinner you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish. |
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Isabela Island and other Galapagos islands such as the nearby Santa Cruz.
There is a dive site with great diving from Isabela, hike active Volcano Sierra Negra, snorkel site Tuneles and see the lava tunnels, visit islet Tintoreras, snorkel local dive spot Concha de Perla with turtles, seals, rays, etc., kayak the bay, rent a bike and visit the ‘Wall of Tears’ along the stunning coastal route passing lagoons, mangroves, and giant tortoises in the wild.
Volunteers are accommodated in a homestay with a local family, which is an incredible and unique cultural immersion experience. Volunteers can expect to share a twin room with one other volunteer or have their own private room if there is capacity; each bedroom has its own bathroom.
Isabela Island is very remote and it is important that volunteers are aware that internet reception is very spotty. There is WiFi in the office and in a few restaurants/cafes in town. Visitors cannot purchase a SIM card in Galapagos, only residents. Volunteers can purchase a SIM card on the mainland before traveling to the island, or use an international phone plan that covers them abroad. The Internet is too poor to expect to watch Netflix or have video calls while on the island.
Volunteers are provided with three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Breakfast and dinner are provided at the homestay and volunteers can expect fresh fruit, fried eggs, bread and cooked green plantains. Lunch is provided at local associated restaurants and volunteers will have a variety of menu items to choose from. Lunch and dinner meals will include protein (meat, fish), rice and some veggies (varied depending on the season) and meals often start with a soup and include a natural drink.
There is filtered water available in the local teams office and in homestays, and volunteers are requested to bring a reusable water bottle with them.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately AU$483) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | $1,950 Equivalent to $93/day |
| 4 weeks | $2,470 Equivalent to $88/day |
| 5 weeks | $2,990 Equivalent to $85/day |
| 6 weeks | $3,510 Equivalent to $84/day |
| 8 weeks | $4,550 Equivalent to $81/day |
| 10 weeks | $5,590 Equivalent to $80/day |
| 12 weeks | $6,630 Equivalent to $79/day |
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
| Capital | Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal |
| Population | 2,500 on Isabela Island and 33,042 across the Galapagos Islands |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Currency | US Dollar (USD) |
| Time zone | UTC-06:00 |
Weather and climate: Galapagos can be divided into three Climatic regions. The Pannonian Plains in the north have a continental climate of cold winters and hot summers, the mountainous Dinara Region in Central Galapagos has an alpine climate and the Adriatic coast, where our volunteer program is based, enjoys a Mediterranean climate of cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
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