Since the arrival of humans to the Galapagos Islands back in 1537 when the Islands were first discovered, the population of Giant Tortoises has decreased dramatically. Unfortunately this depletion has placed the Giant Tortoises on the list of endangered species. This volunteer project offers the chance for mankind to atone for their past mistakes and give something back to nature. On the Island of Isabella, participants are needed to work at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. This project is sponsored by the Ecuadorian Government. Volunteers will play a key role in helping to feed baby and adult tortoises by cleaning their enclosures, monitoring the eggs, measuring tortoises to record their growth, maintaining their health and more. This project is a unique opportunity for participants to work closely with such an important species in the Galapagos Islands ecosystem, as well as the chance to help this species to avoid extinction. All this takes place in a beautiful, unique and remote environment which can be explored in volunteers’ free time.

Volunteers need to arrive in Quito on Sunday. Volunteers will be met at the airport and 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 project itself. On Tuesday morning a transfer will be arranged for the participants to the airport. Volunteers will fly to Santa Cruz Island where they will be met by hostel staff who will accompany the participants to check into the hostel. On the way to the hostel the participant will visit Ranchos Primisias where they will have their first experience with the tortoises. Volunteers will also get to visit  Los Gemelos, a pair of natural craters approximately 30 meters deep.

After the visit, volunteers will eat lunch and have the afternoon free to explore Puerto Ayora. On Wednesday volunteers will be able to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station or Turtle Bay (a white-sand beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world). Volunteers will eat lunch and then depart by boat to Isabella Island where they will be met by the hostel owner and taken to the accommodation. From this point on Isabella volunteers will be taken to their home and they will start work at the turtle-breeding center on Thursday. On Friday volunteers will work at the Town Hall with the Director of Environment giving support to their recycling program. Every week volunteers will work 3 days at the Giant Tortoise Center and 2 days at the recycling program.

Volunteers in Ecuador can enjoy some amazing adventures and activities on the Galapagos Islands. Free time can be spent enjoying the following activities:

* Island Hop! Start at Espanola Island and enjoy the incredible natural wonders, from the immense blowhole to the thousands of nesting blue-footed boobies and the world's largest waved albatross colony. Continue to Floreana Island and see the flamingos. Enjoy Black Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz and marvel at the mangrove maze which is chock-full of sharks, rays and sea turtles.

* For volunteers who love diving, the Galapagos is a unique, world-class diving location. This underwater Marine Sanctuary is still private, pristine, and relatively unexplored. It is not the coral reefs that are the main attraction, but rather the megadiverse species of marine animals and their fearlessness of intruders into their watery world. Dive next to sea turtles, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, dolphins and numerous species of sharks, including hammerheads and whale sharks. There are also hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, many of which are unique to this fantastic underwater sanctuary.

* Visit the Charles Darwin Foundation in Santa Cruz. This is an international non-profit research organization dedicated to providing scientific research, technical assistance and information to ensure conservation success in the Galapagos Islands.

BREEDING CENTER
Volunteers’ duties involve the following activities:
-Assisting with the maintenance of the Giant Tortoise enclosures.
-Feeding the young and adult tortoises at the breeding center.
-Assisting the coordinators with any other duties assigned and needed by the center.

Depending on the time of year, other duties for volunteers involve:
-Helping with the investigation of the ecology of tortoises.
-Measuring and tagging the baby tortoises.

RECYCLING PROGRAM  

Volunteers’ duties involve the following activities:
-Educating the local population on issues such as recycling, solid wastes, etc. (schools, high schools and organizations)
-Creating a written guide to the recycling program in Isabella and the new trash dump.
-Presenting the information about the new trash-dump to various groups in Isabella.
-Implementing a recycling program on the island.
-Supporting the Department of Environment on any duties assigned relating to the Recycling and Waste Management program.

In Santa Cruz participants will stay at a hostel. In Isabella the accommodation is at a family hostel with double and triple rooms. Single rooms are available if required for an extra charge.

In Santa Cruz two meals per day are included. In Isabella three meals per day are included.