It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful and fascinating location to volunteer than the Galapagos Islands. Your volunteer work will help to ensure that the world’s most unique archipelago  remains unspoiled for generations to come. Your volunteer experience will offer a diverse range of experiences ranging from clearing invasive species with a machete to leading disadvantaged kids through nature activities. While the volunteer activities vary day-to-day they are all merely different necessary facets on the path to accomplishing the same shared vision. This program also provides incredible opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the Galapagos through snorkeling, hiking, giant tortoise encounters, and even beach lounging!

Effort: Moderate to Challenging

Available for groups only - contact us for further details

Activities: Volunteer Work, Horseback Riding, Snorkeling, Hiking

Trip highlights:

• Plant and nurture native and endemic plant species
• Learn to use a machete to eradicate invasive plant species
• Lead disadvantaged kids through hikes, horseback rides and games to teach them about nature and the environment
• Snorkel with sea turtles, sharks, rays, sea lions and marine iguanas
• Walk in Darwin’s footsteps amongst lava lizards, blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds, finches and other species that continue to fascinate evolutionary biologists
• See and learn about giant Galapagos tortoises
• Watch frigate birds bathe in Galapagos’ only permanent freshwater lake
• Relax on a white sand beach next to sea lions and marine iguanas
• Help make Galapagos a better place for the people, plants and animals that call it home

DAY 1: TRANSFER IN QUITO AND OPTIONAL CITY TOUR

You will be met at the airport for private transfer to a hotel in Quito. Depending on the time of your flight arrival, we may have a chance to tour this beautiful colonial Andean city.

DAY 2: FLY TO THE GALAPAGOS / INTERPRETATION CENTER

A morning flight takes us to the beautiful coastal Galapagos town of Puerto Baquerizo. After a short briefing by the manager of our volunteer project, we will visit the interpretation center to learn about the fascinating natural, geologic, scientific, cultural and social history of the Galapagos. In the late afternoon, we will head to Hacienda Tranquila, the highlands location of our volunteer project. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 – 5: VOLUNTEER W/ REFORESTATION, THE LOCAL SCHOOL AND MORE

Volunteer work at Hacienda Tranquila, the only charitable organization in the Galapagos that addresses environmental, social, and community issues. Hacienda Tranquila strives to tackle problems with solutions that incorporate both human and environmental welfare. They believe this innovative approach is the only true way to forge a sustainable future for the Galapagos.

The centerpiece project is clearing invasive plants and reforesting the land with native and endemic species. Hacienda Tranquila will eventually reintroduce Galapagos tortoises onto the newly restored land and bequest their 50 hectare property of former farmland over to Galapagos National Park. However, invasive species are not only a concern for wildlife, they are overtaking crop fields of the nearby community of farmers and threatening to destroy livelihoods. Therefore, Hacienda Tranquila also helps farmers to remove invasives from their farms in exchange for the promise to nurture a garden of native and endemic plants that Hacienda Tranquila plants on the farmers’ land. All the farmers have been so pleased with Hacienda Tranquila that they always give their volunteers fruits and vegetables and often cook them lunch.

Among other projects, Hacienda Tranquila is also heavily involved with assisting the local school. Volunteers teach English classes at the school, are constructing a beautiful garden of native and endemic plants, have painted and replaced broken windows at the school, and have plans to provide the school with solar energy. During your volunteer work here, you will likely assist with all the aforementioned projects and more. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: VOLUNTEER W/ DISADVANTAGED KIDS / HIKE & BEACH

Today, disadvantaged and special needs children come to Hacienda Tranquila to learn, have fun and enjoy nature. You may lead the kids through hikes, horseback rides, and/or environmentally-themed games. You may even be able to assist in providing physical and behavioral therapy to special needs children using horses!

Today, we will finish our volunteer work by early afternoon and have time to enjoy the rest of the day by the coast. We head on a short hike up to Cerro de Las Tijeretas. Along the walk, your guide will explain to you about the native and endemic vegetation as well as the birds and lizards you are bound to see. Tijeretas offers stunning views of both the land and the sea, and it is the point where Darwin first landed to the Galapagos. This cove offers some of the islands best snorkeling, as you will be surrounded by fish of every color, as well as sea lions and the occasional sea turtle. This is also a good spot to view sea cucumbers, sea anemones, sea urchins and other marine invertebrates. On the return walk, we pass by Punta Carola, where you will have the chance to lay down next to sea lions and marine iguanas on its long sandy beach, swim, boogie board, surf (rentals not included) snorkel, or do all of the above. We will spend the night in a waterfront hotel in town, and you will have an opportunity to sample the nightlife of Galapagos’ capital town. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: SNORKELING ADVENTURE / HIKE EL JUNCO / GIANT TORTOISES / BEACH

This morning, we head out on an incredible snorkeling adventure. Our first stop is Isla Lobos, where you are bound to experience one of the most amazing sea lion encounters in the Galapagos. This is also one of the best sites in the archipelago to snorkel with marine iguanas, and the variety and colors of the fish species will dazzle you. We then head to Leon Dormido, two breathtaking rock massifs (tuff cones) jutting out from the sea. Above sea level, its rock walls are home to thousands of sea birds, and below, to millions of fish. Snorkelers will likely see Galapagos sharks, spotted eagle rays and golden rays, as well as multitudes of reef fish, starfish, clams, and marine invertebrates. There is also a good opportunity to see hammerhead sharks.

In the afternoon, we embark on a short hike to an extinct volcano crater filled with the Galapagos´ only permanent freshwater lake. The hike up provides magnificent views and an introduction to the Galapagos´ native plant species. The lake itself is home to frigate birds, common gallinules, and white-cheeked pintail ducks, among others. We will hopefully witness frigate birds washing the salt from their feathers in the lakes’ calm waters. We will then head to the Galapaguera, a semi-natural habitat and breeding center for giant Galapagos tortoises. It is truly an honor to walk amongst these giants, who can reach over 500 pounds and 175 years old. We then leave this mist-shrouded environment and head only a few miles to a sunny beach one could confuse for paradise. After a morning under the sea and an afternoon on a volcano and beach, spend a leisurely evening enjoying your last night on San Cristobal. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: FLY TO MAINLAND

Enjoying our last morning in the Galapagos, we will have some time to swim, snorkel, or walk around town before our flight back to Quito. (B)

DAY 9: TRANSFER OUT

Today, we transfer to the airport to catch our flight out of Ecuador. (B)

INCLUDED: Lodging accommodations; all meals as described (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner); adventure and safety equipment; guide on adventure activities; all land transportation.

NOT INCLUDED: Flights to and from Galapagos; entrance fee to Galapagos National Park; Ingala Transit Card, diving; tips; hotel & restaurant beverages

**PLEASE NOTE** This itinerary is subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes, last-minute weather conditions, and adjustments of Galapagos National Park policy.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION