Volunteer Galapagos

Galapagos Volunteer Adventure

Galapagos Islands Volunteer Adventure

10 days / 9 nights

July 28 - August 6, 2012*
August 4 - August 13, 2012
August 18 - August 27, 2012*
Cost: $2,695
*Age Restriction: 14-17 years (high school students)

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Costs include:

- All Galapagos accommodation

- All Quito accommodations

   - Airfare between Quito and Galapagos
   - All domestic (Ecuadorian) land and water transportation
   - Two meals each day
   - Snorkeling boat trip to see Galapagos Penguins, Marine

Iguanas and Rays
- Snorkeling boat trip to see Galapagos Sea Turtles, Sea Lions,

and Sharks

   - Snorkeling boat trip to swim through lava tunnels
   - Horseback riding to volcano, Galapagos
   - Go Cart Adventure Park admission, Quito
   - Tour of Old Town, Quito

- Tour of Equator Museum

- 20-hours volunteer service, Galapagos
- $100 donation to the community of Tomas de Berlanga, Isla

      Isabela
   - $100 Galapagos National Park Tax
   - $10 Galapagos National Park Tourist Card
   - EMT / First Aid / CPR supervision
   - Chaperoned international flight available from Los Angeles &

Miami

10 days / 9 nights

Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Travel with Eco Surf International Chaperon or meet Eco Surf Staff at Quito's international airport. Most flights arrive around 10:00p.
Explore La Meriscal, Quito's "New Town" where we'll grab dinner and explore the cobblestone plazas.

Day 2
Breakfast in Quito -- organic fresh fruit and juice, free-range eggs, yogurt, bread and coffee.
Our group fly's to the Galapagos Islands.
Traditional Ecuadorian lunch upon arrival -- fresh fish or free-range chicken, lentils, organic steamed vegetables, rice, and fresh juice or soda.
Check in to our hotel 200 meters from the beach. Each volunteer has his or her own bed, 3 volunteers per room. Each room has hot and cold running water, TV, and AC. Fresh bottled water is available 24 hours/ day at the hotel. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to refill their water bottles multiple times each day to avoid dehydration from the equatorial sun.
The afternoon is spent with fellow volunteers becoming acquainted with each other and the sleepy beach town of Puerto Villamil. Enjoy the sandy streets, wander in and out of the tienditas (no building is taller than a coconut tree!), relax in a hammock or taking a swim in the refreshing tropical Pacific.
Sunset at 6:30 - most of us like to dig our toes in the white sand and admire the sun as it sinks below the equatorial horizon.
Traditional Ecuadorian dinner (similar variety as lunch) as a group that evening where we discuss tomorrow's volunteer project and planned adventure activity, followed by an evening group activity.

Day 3
Breakfast at our hotel.
The volunteer project begins. We bus up to the school past lava fields and lush tropical foliage to the school. We can hear the far off excitement of the goofy youngsters as they peak out the classroom doors awaiting our arrival. Our English Through Art volunteer project and lesson plans vary with every project.
Mid-day we break for lunch. Volunteers dine on their own at one of the many local restaurants and enjoy the remarkable cuisine simmering in Ecuadorian kitchens. Many volunteers often lounge in communal hammocks around the hotel shortly thereafter.
Afternoon is made for adventure! Our group explores this gem of an island and all it has to offer. Boat trips to snorkel with Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Sea Turtles, Galapagos Sea Lions, Galapagos Marine Iguanas, Sting Rays and White Tip Reef Sharks. Snorkel through lava tunnels and visit ancient Galapagos Land Turtles, an endangered species on the brink of extinction. Horseback ride to the magnificent Volcan Sierra Negra and take guided nature hikes along island trails to learn more about this unique ecosystem which lies in the cool-watered equator. One afternoon will be left free for volunteers to plan the extra adventure activity of their choice.
6:30p and another pristine sunset from these tropical shores.
A late group dinner marks the end of our long and the beginning of more Galapagos Islands night life.

Day 4 - Day 7
Very similar to Day 3.

Day 8
A snack for breakfast as we're up early this morning to catch a boat from Isla Isabela to Isla Santa Cruz.
Our last full day in the Galapagos so it's time to check out another island.
Arriving in Isla Santa Cruz, we drop our bags at our accommodations and sit down for breakfast.
Following breakfast we head to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The center contains a baby-tortoise house with incubators, where you can see hatchlings and young tortoises; and a walk-in adult tortoise enclosure, where you meet the Galapagos giants face to face.
After the Research Center visit, we grab lunch and a snack in preparation for a day at the beach. Turtle Bay is a beautiful white-sand beach ideal for swimming and sunbathing. Sharks, Marine Iguanas, Pelicans and the occasional Flamingo will also be joining you.
A final evening sunset and group dinner in Puerto Ayora marks our last night on the Galapagos Islands.

Day 9
Breakfast at our accommodations.
Late morning flight back to Quito allows some volunteers to scramble for those last minute souvenirs.
Arriving back in Quito, we drop our luggage at our accommodations and begin our journey to the center of the earth (the equator!). Mital del Mundo has some fun water and energy exhibits that help demonstrate the significance of the powers at the earths equator.
After Mr. Wizard finishes the demonstrations we grab a quick lunch and then for the TeleferiQo. The TeleferiQo is a sky tram that takes it's passengers up the 4,100m (13,450ft) of Volcan Pichincha. Marvel at the view of the spectacular Andean valley flanked by volcanic peaks and this historic city from atop the dormant volcano. On our way down, we stop at the Go Cart Adventure Park and take a high-speed race around the slick track.
Dinner in again among the cobblestone plazas of Old Town Quito.

Day 10
Breakfast at our accommodations. We say our good byes to the marvelous country of Ecuador with hopes for a quick return.

Click here to apply for this program.