Applications now open
Presentation:
The Galapagos Foundation volunteer program seeks to immerse the volunteer in our daily activities . You will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge with the people of the San Cristóbal community, collaborating hand in hand with other volunteers and people from our associated projects, and putting into practice skills related to empathy and problem solving.
The specific activities of the volunteer will depend on the projects that we are carrying out at that moment, but our intention is that the volunteer can get to know our different areas:
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Agriculture: in our urban gardens and permaculture farm
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Gastronomy and gastronomic R&D at Muyu, our pilot project for a sustainable restaurant
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Creative cocktails and R&D in drinks at Muyu Bar
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The Foundation's offices in Playa de Oro
Our projects are inserted in the areas of food sovereignty, sustainable gastronomy, education and
environmental awareness.
If you are a student or researcher and you want to develop a project or thesis with us, we will be happy to listen to your proposal. We can study together how to connect it with our activities. Here you can find the universities with which we already have an agreement.
The program includes:
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Personalized assistance during travel preparation
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Pick up at San Cristóbal airport
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Accommodation
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Breakfast and lunch 5 days a week
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Introduction to the culture of the Galapagos Islands
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1 orientation day
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Close and personalized support from local staff 24 hours 7 days a week
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Feedback meetings regularly
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Volunteer certificate upon completion (at the request of the volunteer)
Requirements:
The volunteer must:
Be over 18 years of age at the time of starting the program
Values we seek:
Motivation and ability to motivate others
Willingness of effort and improvement
Curiosity and openness to work with people from different cultures
Duration of
the residence:
From 3 weeks to 3 months
Costs and conditions:
Galapagos Foundation only charges a small administration fee for the completion of the program. However, there are some costs that the applicant must take into account. Below we break down the conditions and expenses that you may incur:
The program includes:
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Management and reservation: Galapagos Foundation will assist the volunteer during the planning of her/his trip and upon her/his arrival and departure, providing information on issues such as taxes or arrival airports. For this, a fee of 50 USD will be charged at the time of formalizing the reservation. This fee will not be refunded in case of later cancellation.
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Accommodation and meals: Galapagos Foundation will provide, free of charge, the following services:
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A room of your own in shared accommodation, with a shared kitchen.
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Breakfasts and lunches 7 days a week.
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Laundry service.
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Travel costs:
It is responsibility of the applicant to be aware and pay for other expenses and fees in which she or he may incur in her/his trip. Below we mention the most common.
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Travel expenses: the travel destination is the San Cristóbal airport (IATA code: SCY , ICAO code: SEST ), located in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal island, within the Galapagos archipelago, in Ecuador .
General information about the itinerary and flights here
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National Park Fees: to enter Galapagos, it is necessary to pay the entrance fees to the National Park charged by the Galapagos Government Council. We will provide information and assist volunteers in the management of these payments.
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Transit control card: USD 20. It is paid at the airports of Quito or Guayaquil.
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Park entrance fee: 100 USD. It is paid at the San Cristóbal airport.
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More information about park access fees here
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Immigration procedures: Because the program period is less than 3 months, it is generally not necessary to obtain an Ecuadorian visa. However, we strongly recommend that the volunteer consult the specific conditions for entry from their country of origin, since a visa is necessary for citizens of some countries. We inform that your passport must have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry to Ecuador.
More immigration information about Ecuador here
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Health insurance: One of the requirements for entering Ecuador is to have health insurance that covers the entire period of the stay. Various international insurances are valid.
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Other expenses: Volunteers in the Galapagos Islands generally find that 50 USD (€ 36) per week is enough for other basic expenses.
Start date:
The program opens on January 1, 2021
The applicant can choose any day to start the program from the opening date, as indicated on the registration form.
Call for applicants
Open. Apply now in our registration form.
Galapagos Foundation Volunteer Program
Collaborate in the day-to-day running of the Foundation as part of one of our projects, or present your own to us.
We work every day to create a more resilient community in Galapagos by promoting sustainable agriculture, gastronomy, hospitality and tourism.
We are a growing foundation, and we are eager for volunteers with a passion to collaborate.
Universities with which we collaborate:
