At a glance
- This is a volunteer opportunity with Projects Abroad. Devxchange will assist you in choosing the right fit, raising funds with your own campaign page, issuing tax receipts to donors if project meets CRA criteria as a charitable activity. Devxchange will also assist you in onboarding with Projects Abroad.
- Live on the Galapagos Islands as a conservation volunteer. Care for Giant Tortoises and plant tree saplings.
- Exclusive access to the Galapagos National Park. A truly unique opportunity to learn, help and explore.
- You’ll stay on San Cristobal Island and live with other volunteers in shared accommodation.
Details
- Conduct surveys to monitor wildlife species
- Help control invasive animal species
- Assist with the eradication of introduced plant species
- Help with community clean ups and education programs
Includes/Excludes
Food and accommodation
- Food (three meals a day)
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Full induction and orientation by an experienced staff member on arrival
- Transport to and from your work placement
- In-country support and 24-hour back-up from our team of full-time local staff
- Emergency assistance from our international emergency response team
- Project equipment and materials, including access to our database with thousands of resources
- Training and workshops from our experienced local staff
- Regular social events and community activities with other volunteers and interns
- Access to our local office with internet connection
- Certification of project completion
- Access to our alumni services and discounts
- Visa support and advice
- Fundraising support, including your own personalized fundraising website with DevXchange
- Tax Receipts for your donors if activity meets CRA criteria for charitable activity.
- Pre-departure preparation by your own specialist Volunteer Advisor
- Personalized MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination
- A free cultural awareness course
- Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch
- Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable
Not Included
- Flights
- Visa Costs (where applicable)
- 10% Admin fee for donations involving tax receipts.
Itinerary
Are you passionate about protecting our planet? Do you want to experience living in one of the most unique environments on earth? Are you looking for environmental volunteer opportunities? Then this is the ideal project for you!
This project is also a great fit for you if you want to pursue a career in wildlife conservation one day. You’ll have relevant experience to add to your CV, and interesting points to talk about in interviews. Getting actively involved will also show your commitment to conservation work, and you’ll learn directly from conservationists.
You don’t need previous experience to work in wildlife conservation with us. We’ll teach you everything you need to know, and you’ll work alongside experienced conservationists. You’ll also have support from our Projects Abroad staff should you need anything.
Our Galapagos Island Conservation Project runs year round, and you can join at any time from a minimum of two weeks. We do advise you to stay as long as you can, as it’s very likely you won’t want to go home after only two weeks!
No one day will be exactly the same as you’ll be working on multiple different animal conservation initiatives throughout your time in the Galapagos. You can expect to participate in most animal conservation projects listed above in any given week.
An average week day will begin with breakfast at your shared accommodation lodge. You will then head to the Projects Abroad office, where you’ll be transported to your work site. Your activities will begin at around 8am, unless you’re going bird watching. This activity requires an early start of 5am.
Once you finish up with your work around 1:30pm, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax. Stroll along the beach, enjoy dinner with your fellow volunteers, or find a spot to watch the sun go down. You’ll also have the weekends free to explore and experience this tropical paradise. Learn how to scuba dive, visit nearby islands, or enjoy well deserved siestas in the sun!
Food and accommodation
You’ll share accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns during your stay in San Cristóbal. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together. You can also request to stay with a host family in San Cristóbal.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your program fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Free Time and Leisure Activities
Our projects in Ecuador are based in the Galapagos Islands. This region is famed for the research Charles Darwin did here with its many unique animal species. It’s the ideal location to explore the natural beauty of Ecuador.
While you’re volunteering here, it’s worth checking out the beautiful beaches where seabirds circle above and sea lions laze about on the sand. You can also go snorkeling or scuba diving along the coast.
Hiking around the base of one of the many volcanoes that make up the Galapagos is spectacular and thrilling! You can also follow the Darwin trail or trek through the Punta Pitt.
There are plenty of museums and art galleries for you to learn more about the culture and history. You can also chat to locals and buy souvenirs at bustling markets.
What’s great about joining our projects is the chance to connect with other volunteers. So you can choose to explore the Galapagos independently or you can travel with the new friends you make along the way.
