Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Volunteers who have a keen interest in horticulture and restoration within a fragile ecosystem.
Support the Galapagos National Park in the operation and maintenance of plant nurseries that are located in the Highlands of Isabela Island. Volunteers play a key role in the conservation of Isabela Island’s endemic plant species, threatened by invasive plant species, pollution, and climate change, with key focuses being on research, restoration, and education.
You will have the unique opportunity to assist in horticulture restoration projects within the purpose built nursery, where you can expect to assist National Park Rangers with tasks including, but not limited to:
Volunteers gain experience in landscaping and ecological restoration through their support of the National Park Rangers through the cultivation of the endemic and threatened Scalesia plant. Additional species you’ll work with include the giant daisy tree (Scalesia pedunculata), rodilla de caballo (Volkmeria mollis), the button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus), and the cats claw (Zanthoxylum fagara).
This project requires a high level of physical fitness and comfort working outdoors with sun and warm temperature exposure.
While Spanish is not required to join this project, you are encouraged to come with a basic to intermediate level to aid in the placement work.
As an Ecological Conservation and Restoration volunteer in Galapagos, you’ll be adding value to the environment and local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
Volunteers on this project must be 18+ and must speak fluent English. It is recommended that volunteers have a basic to intermediate level of Spanish in order to communicate with fellow workers, the local community and homestay families.
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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.
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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:
| 6:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation and walk to the bus stop. |
| 7:00 AM | Bus to placement site where volunteers join a local farmer and begin work on your project. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch provided by your host at your placement site. |
| 2:00 PM | Return to town via bus, then volunteers have the afternoon free to explore the island, do some local snorkeling or take a surf lesson. |
| 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 £236) 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.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,430 Equivalent to $102/day |
| 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.
This was my second trip. IVHQ is great. It gives me confidence to know there is a second tier of help if something goes wrong during the visit.
I do actually feel like I was helpful as a volunteer. Understanding the dynamic on the project, a nonprofit doing critical work without enough funding, made it feel even more useful. The fact a species is being saved from extinction by a couple employees and volunteers is truly remarkable
IVHQ and the local team answered all my questions without a problem. They were very clear about goals and expectations, and were helpful with instructions and guidance. I can't wait to plan my next trip! To others I say, do it. The experience you will have and the lessons you will learn will have an impact on the rest of your life and can even change how you view other countries and people.
The whole trip, from beginning to end was extremely well organized and thought out by IVHQ. The local team was absolutely OUTSTANDING! Everyone there was so helpful, kind, knowledgeable and overall just wonderful and friendly. I’ve gained a new knowledge of living simply. Having only what you need and living happily in your environment. I feel deeply moved by this experience on so many levels.
I feel these programs make a difference. The resources provided by IVHQ pre-departure were great and I was prepared for the trip with the guidance I received, and the local team was well organized. Do not hesitate, life is short. You will meet some amazing people.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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