Galapagos Experience

  Ecuador

Galapagos Islands

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All year round

Description:
Island hop, volunteer and travel! All in one experience! Participants on this program will be working during their first week at the Santa Rosa Reserve in Sta. Cruz Island doing conservation work. During their second week, participants will be in San Cristobal Island working with community, conservation and social projects. You will end your program in the fascinating island of Isabella - visiting the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, Las Tintorera Islet (white-tip sharks) and more!

Participants must arrive to Quito on Sundays. Volunteers will meet at the airport and be taken to the hostel in Quito. On Monday, volunteers will be met by Lead Staff and taken to the office. At the office the volunteer will receive a comprehensive orientation about Ecuador and the program itself. On Tuesday morning a transfer will be arranged for the participants to the airport. Volunteers will fly to Baltra airport (north of Sta. Cruz Island). In Sta. Cruz the projects staff will meet participants. From here on, your experience in the beautiful Galapagos Island will start!

* Optional Activities - for an extra charge and in your free time explore the different activities that the islands have to offer:

- Island Hop! Start at Espanola Island and enjoy natural wonder after natural wonder, from the immense blowhole, to the thousands of nesting blue-footed boobies, to the world's largest waved albatross colony. Continue to Floreana Island and see flamingos! Enjoy Black Tortuga Bay on Sta. Cruz and witness a mangrove maze chock full of sharks, rays and sea turtles.
- If you are a diving fan, The Galapagos is a unique, world-class diving location. This underwater world is still private, pristine, and relatively unexplored. It is not the coral reefs that are the main attraction, but rather the unique mixture of marine animals and their fearlessness of intruders into their watery world. You will be diving next to sea turtles, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and numerous species of shark, including hammerheads and whale sharks. There are also hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, many of which are particular to this fantastic underwater sanctuary.
- Visit the Charles Darwin Foundation in Sta. Cruz. This is an international non-profit research organization dedicated to providing scientific research, technical assistance and information to ensure conservation success in Galapagos.

Highlights:
Schedule:
Week 1 - Santa Cruz/Galapagos Foundation Conservation projects
Week 2 - San Cristobal/SC RanchEnvironmental, community and social projects
Week 3 - Isabella/ Isabella Tour OperatorVolcan Sierra Negra, Volcan Chico, Las Tintoreras and more!

Project/Organizations/Institution Description:

* Galapagos Foundation
The Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with no political or religious affiliation that was created in 2001. It works with professionals with an interest in solidarity and social issues, the majority of whom are residents of Galapagos and committed to the future of the islands. The foundation works with the Galapagos community, using alternative and responsible approaches to strive for sustainable development.

* San Cristobal Ranch
The aim of the Ranch is to bring as much benefit as possible to the local people, especially the children. There is widespread international support for protection of the animals and the environment in Galapagos but not quite as much attention has been paid to the human population. Profit that is eventually generated by the Ranch, will be used toward the maintenance and upgrade of the property. Also a portion will be contributed directly to the community, in ways that are in alignment with the ranch's goal of benefiting the people, especially the children.

* Isabella
Participants will be performing tourists activities during their time in this Island.

Participant's Duties:

Week 1. Santa Cruz
+Arrival: Tuesday (reception at the canal, visit los gemelos and primicias ranch where you can watch Galapagos Giant Tortoise in their wildlife state!) Tuesday afternoon visit the Charles Darwing Station and Breading Center Santa Cruz, night at Pto. Ayora
+Wednesday morning visit Tortuga Bay Beach, which is one of the most pristine white sanded beach in Galapagos, in the afternoon tour through the Academy Bay. During the trip you can observe the diversity of the underwater world and with a little bit of luck see some of the bigger inhabitants of the ocean, like marine turtles, white tipped reef sharks or manta rays.
+Thursday morning orientation at the foundation offices in Pto Ayora and starting at the project at the same day.
+Friday: Project.
+Saturday leave the project after lunch, spend the night at the town.
+Departure: Sunday (to San Cristobal) at 2:00pm

The activities that participants will be performing are the following:
- Production of native and endemic species
- Reforestation
- Removal of foreign plant species
- Organic farming
- Production of compost and organic fertilizers
- Care of domestic animals
- Monitoring of Giant Tortoises depends the season of the year (3 months per year and depending on the foundation planning).There is no guarantee that volunteers will work in this sub-project.

Week 2. San Cristobal
+Arrival: Sunday at 4.30pm spend the night at the hostel in Town
+Monday morning orientation at the office of the ranch at the town and starting at the project at the same day
+Tuesday Project
+Wednesday Project
+Thursday Project
+Friday project and spend the night at the hostel.
+Departure Saturday morning 7:00am to Santa Cruz, spend the night in Santa Cruz (night included with no meals) and Sunday departure to Isabella

The activities that participants will be performing are the following:
- Reforestation
- Restoring native forests and endemic plants
- Control and eliminate the introduced plants
- Plant nursery
- Educate community to plant local vegetation
- Help local families to collect fruit in the ranch to provide to a children's dining room
- Teach local children how to plant and maintain the gardens
- Hipo-therapy: volunteers with physical therapy experience can work with special children

Week 3. Isabella
+Arrival: Sunday 4.30pm
+Departure: Saturday back to Santa Cruz to catch flight from Baltra back to Quito
*If there are no flights available for return to Quito on Saturday, Lead will arrange them for Friday.

+Sunday: Travel to Isabella by speedboat; get to know one of the most pristine Islands in Galapagos! Check in at a family hostel.
+Monday: Guided visit to the Isabella Giant Tortoise Breeding Center and Wall of Tears
+Tuesday: Tintoreras Islet Tour. From the Wharf you will board a speedboat that will take you for a ride around the bay or the small island of Las Tintoreras (white-fin sharks). From here you will be able to see penguins, sharks, blue-legged piqueros, pelicans, iguanas, and sea lions. There will be some time to snorkel (snorkel gear included) and you will be able to get a great view of the different variety of fish in the area.
+Wednesday: Volcano tour. In this tour participants can admire the beautiful landscape and the different lava formations produced by the most recent eruptions.
+Thursday: Free day to enjoy the Island- snorkel with sea lions at Concha Perla, lay on the beach, watch flamingos and more!
+Friday: Free day to enjoy the Island- snorkel with sea lions at Concha Perla, lay on the beach, watch flamingos and more! Book extra tours
+Saturday: Early departure to Santa Cruz to catch your flight back to Quito.

Qualifications: No qualification is needed!

Cost in US$: $1,590 for 3-week program. Flight Quito-Galapagos $420

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

LEAD Adventures Ecuador's Mission Statement: Since its creation in 2004 LEAD Adventures has been extremely successful launching programs in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships abroad. Up to date we have efficiently managed over 2,000 inbound participants individually and in-group programs. Our programs are targeted to young minded people from all over the world that want to experience the great destinations Ecuador and South America have to offer.

Year Founded: 2004