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Cut adrift in the Pacific Ocean 1000 miles off the coast of Ecuador, volcanic forces deep under the sea have thrown up a unique wildlife paradise that’s so popular the Ecuadorian government are about to limit the number of visitors dropping anchor on its unique shores. This makes it the best time to visit this amazing island for yourself, and remember to take a camera so people believe your stories! You’ll be based in a fascinating biological station whose aim is to help preserve the natural habitat of the island and introduce new organic farming methods to the islanders. Tasks include planting new crops, assisting in light building and helping maintain island trails. You can also take advantage of your colleagues’ expertise on various hikes to the island’s lagoons, forests and villages and learn about the ecological and human dynamics of Galapagos.
Project details:
The Jatun Sacha Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which has been running since 1985. The Foundation is dedicated to the research, conservation, and management of ecologically important habitats, as well as environmental education and community development.
Consistent with past work, one of the objectives of this Jatun Sacha station is to develop the technology to reconstruct the native habitat in the highlands on San Cristobal, and to serve as a centre for similar projects in the highlands on other populated islands in the Galapagos chain. In addition the foundation will be working collaboratively with local landowners to develop clean agricultural alternatives for the production of vegetables and fruits to sell to local universities, restaurants, and hotels.
Why the project needs volunteers:
The highland forests of the populated Islands in the Galapagos chain have been greatly altered due to the introduction of exotic and invasive species of animals and plants. Highland conservation, development and poverty issues have been almost completely neglected by conservation, development and government agencies. As a result of the lack of fruit and vegetable production on the Galapagos Islands, boats from the Ecuadorian mainland unload fruits and vegetables to hotels, restaurants, and markets on a daily basis. Quarantine regulations are consistently ignored and at least two exotic and/or invasive plant or faunal species enter the islands each day. Importantly, the local population, lacking most government services and suffering high unemployment levels, is almost completely excluded from working in and benefiting from the tourism industry: tour operators do nearly all their business from their boats, ignoring business possibilities with local Galapague?os.
What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
General fitness and lots of enthusiasm is definitely needed for this conservation project. Volunteers also need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process!
Your role as a volunteer:
You will work on both the habitat restoration and agricultural components while at the reserve. In addition, foundation staff will lead you on various hikes to a nearby lagoon, native forests, beaches, and local villages to explain the ecological and human dynamics of Galapagos. Opportunities to work on group research and monitoring projects will be developed.
Where the project is based:
The flight from Quito to San Cristobal is about an hour, this flight will be booked for you and the cost added to your statement at the time of booking. The project is then a 30 minute taxi ride from the airport.
Objectives of the Station
Date: 2008-07-10
Outline: Having applied through i-to-i for a volunteer placement in the Galapagos Islands pursuing volunteer Conservation Work for two weeks in Summer 2008, I had anticipated a range of different experiences, many of which were surpassed or expelled as I shall endeavour to discuss. Quito & Induction: Upon my arrival in Quito, I was greeted by Gabriela Cadena and an assistant who escorted me to a home-stay for two nights. A home-stay involves living with a local family who will provide you accommodation, three full meals a day, support and will drive you to designated locations for your temporary stay in Quito prior to departing for the Galapagos Islands. My home-stay was superb and exceeded my expectations, although I had previously considered Ecuador to have been a less prosperous nation, the house was immaculate, beautifully decorated and trumped many middle class houses in England. i-to-i had clearly thoroughly researched appropriate places to stay and fully screened all potential home-stays, as the lady (Magdalena) was incredibly accommodating and made us all feel like members of the family. It is however important to note that one should have a basic knowledge of Spanish and maintain an open mind as locals can be quite religious and you may be expected to appreciate local traditions and conventions such as prayers before meals. The following morning involved an orientation with around 20 volunteers continuing to their placements around Ecuador and the Galapagos. We all travelled to Mitad Del Mundo (Equator Line in the Middle of the Earth) which was a local tourist attractions relating to the history of Ecuador and the range of unique experiments which could be conducted upon the equator line. This was followed by several hours of rudimentary Spanish classes. Having the remainder of the day free, we were able to travel Quito in groups however it is important to note that there is a certain level of crime in this area and that one should not act like a stereotypical tourist when travelling, caution is advised, although this should not impinge upon your experience at the time. Journey to Galapagos: Travelling from Quito to the Galapagos was relatively straightforward, a single aeroplane which stops at Guayaquil and continues to the Galapagos Islands, around 2-3 hours journey. Upon arrival I was greeted by volunteers from the Jatun Sacha Station at the Airport who escorted me to the main port for $1. I left my luggage at the Sharksky Station in the main Port and had several hours to explore it by myself. Although I had initial misgivings about leaving my luggage with strangers, one must note that the Galapagos is not a dangerous place and that it is simultaneously not a fully industrialised tourist resort, hence you often need to maintain levels of trust you perhaps would not elsewhere in the world. However I was fascinated by my arrival, having been in the Galapagos only several hours, I was already making phone calls home to my parents and friends telling them I was standing in front of dozens of sea lions, pelicans, frigit birds, iguanas and a host of other animals. My expectations had risen since I had only just arrived and taken almost a hundred unique photographs of the beautiful landscape and surroundings. Jatun Sacha Volunteer Station: In the afternoon, we took a taxi to the Jatun Sacha Station which costs around $15 and you will be expected to pay for this, it took around 45 minutes and went deep in to the misty highlands of San Cristobal, it left a little like being in Jurassic Park. Once I arrived at the station, I met several volunteers and was escorted to my new room for the next two weeks. Having travelled extensively and lived mainly in hotels in the past, I was slightly unaccustomed to the accommodation and many may experience a relative culture shock if they are not used to camping and living in the wild. Nevertheless everybody quickly adapts and adjusts to their surrounding environment. The accommodation is basic with bunk-beds which have mosquito nets around them and clean linens inside. The tuna cans with blue rice left around are for deterring rodents from entering the rooms. Electricity has been available for the last year and each room is fitted with plug sockets, however occasionally you can be left for a couple of days without electricity if problems occur. One must also be aware that insects are prevalent in the highlands and you will be bitten, however you can always take precautions by using plenty of insect repellent and wearing long clothes which does not expose your skin. For work you will need good hiking boots when it is dry, Wellington boots are essential due to muddy terrain and a mosquito head net should be worn at all times to avoid being bitten. Work began the next day after a morning of orientation; we had slightly lighter duties which involved the production of Galapagos Coffee. All drinks consumed at Jatun Sacha are produced by station volunteers; there is also rota for cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner. Coffee was introduced in to the Galapagos Island by the Spanish conquistadors and is in abundance on the island. This is picked by volunteers, peeled and dried, the husks are then painstakingly removed through manual labour and roasted to produce a fragrant and strong coffee (essential for staying awake), this can also be purchased and taken home as a souvenir as coffee produced with your own hands. Weekends at Port: Fridays involve long hikes throughout the highlands; my experiences involved hiking through difficult jungle terrain through streams, volcanic rocks and heavy vegetation to reach beautiful waterfalls, tortoise breeding centres and lagoons. On Friday evenings, almost every volunteer travels back to the port with taxis to stay there until Sunday evening to wash clothes for a couple of dollars, stay in hostels for $7-15 a night and enjoy the local wildlife. The beaches nearby are beautiful, untouched and rival those in the Mauritius or islands nearby Thailand. Snorkelling is highly recommended as you can swim with sea lions, fish and explore the marine life of the Galapagos. Travelling off the tourist locations by foot, we managed to find a nesting ground of Blue Footed Boobies, Giant Iguanas and Pelicans, simply by climbing lava rock formations for around half an hour. This resulted in some beautiful and memorable photos. Most volunteers meet for dinner in the evenings and go out for drinks in local bars or relax whilst watching the animals and the colourful sunset. Volunteer Work: Work finally begins from Monday to Thursday, it is important to note that other than birds, you will not encounter any animals to work with, despite what i-to-i or other agencies will tell you. Much of the work involves gardening, machete work cutting down mora (the invasive blackberry bush), planting less invasive local plants and clearing away invasive vegetation. There is also plenty of organic vegetable farming for volunteer consumption, along with maintenance of facilities such as the kitchen and compost heaps. This work can all be very time consuming, tiresome and intensive, hence you should expect a high level of physical work with other volunteers, but it can also be a lot of fun if you are working in teams or with friends. I was surprised at how quickly I managed to make friends; volunteers tend to be university students or recent graduates from top universities. Although I had expected the cliché hippie backpacker, this is hardly the case and many are highly intelligent individuals who are very easy going and sociable, most of whom I will remain in contact with through Facebook and other internet social networking sites. Extra Activities: I highly recommend taking a four day tour (or longer) as working at Jatun Sacha will not give you much exposure to wildlife other than flora and fauna, and the Port at weekends is lush with animals however a much fuller experience can be gained by extending your trip by undertaking the tour which is superb. To conclude, my experience was absolutely fantastic and I would not have traded the time for anything else. Although I was highly unaccustomed to the simpler lifestyle and environment, I quickly adjusted, made many new friends and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful Galapagos Islands. For people who are not well travelled, have limited Spanish language skills and difficulty in organising long haul trips and holidays, I would highly recommend using i-to-i as it provides an excellent degree of security for the inexperienced traveller. For those who are well travelled, experienced in camping and living independently, you may benefit from applying to Jatun Sacha directly; however this would require a high level of motivation, dedication and organisation.
Date: 2008-07-01
I have to say my time on the reserve on San Cristobal Island on the Galapagos Islands was a truly amazing experience and one I would recommend to everyone. The reserve itself consists of fairly basic but comfortable accommodation and includes toilets and cold showers, but to be honest after a days work the cold showers are actually very refreshing! When I was there, the reserve did not have electricity, but this was being installed as we left - although this could be seen as a shame as dining by candlelight was a truly atmospheric experience. In terms of the work - the working week is from Monday - Thursday, with breakfast at 7am, the first shift from 8-10, then 10.30-12 which is lunch, the afternoon shift is from 2-4 and dinner is at 6. On Fridays, the staff from the reserve leads a hike in the surrounding area where they talk about the land and the challenges of conservation on the island - these hikes were truly interesting. After the hike, practically all of the volunteers disappear into the town for the weekend and either head out on day trips, longer trips or just relax on the beach and catch up on email. Trips can easily be arranged through travel agents in the town and are recommended so you get the opportunity to see more of the fabulous islands. The work on the reserve itself is pretty tough, physical labour such as machetting the mora or blackberry bushes which have taken over the island, replanting indigenous plants, general maintenance work on the reserve, working on the vegetable gardens etc. The work is hard but rewarding - we even got to roast coffee one day, which was great to see the end of the project. In addition volunteers usually help out in preparing at least one meal a week. The food incidentally was excellent. The staff at the reserve are all dedicated, passionate and very friendly. I'd strongly recommend spending time with them as well as the other volunteers as you will learn loads as well as having the opportunity to practice your Spanish! So, in general I had a great time - it was hard work, but I made some good friends both amongst the volunteers and the staff. The only watch-out I would give is that there were a lot of very young volunteers as it was the summer holidays, whilst they were all lovely, it can be disconcerting for the more mature volunteer to be surrounded by 18-21 year olds! Some other advice would be - don't forget your bug spray and head net - there were lots of biting insects. You don't need a mosquito net for the nights as these are provided for you and you don't need to take your own wellington boots as plenty are available for you to use. Tough gardening gloves are also essential - although this didn't stop me from getting blisters, so don't forget plasters too!
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching or Community Development project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
Having arrived on the Monday, you will be taken to your orientation accommodation in Quito, this will be in a comfortable homestay and likely to be a shared room with another volunteer. You will have a group orientation meeting with the in-country coordinator on the Tuesday morning, and a trip to Mitel del Mundo in the afternoon. Your flight to the Galapagos will be booked to leave on Wednesday morning and arrive in to start your project on Thursday.
If you choose to take the language lessons add-on you will spend the remainder of the week in Quito - please contact the us for more information on what this involves. You will then start your placement the following Monday, travelling on Saturday if outside of Quito.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
If you have already booked but still need insurance then you may still be able to take our tailored policy. If, however it was more than a few days ago then try the links below:
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night accommodation is included in this payment; if you require more than one night please inform the team.
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 60.00
For thousands of years before the Incas arrived from Peru to expand their empire, advanced indigenous cultures made Ecuador their home. They fought hard to hold on but from the 1400s the Inca’s succeeded in developing its civilisation into neighbouring territories. The Incas were not immune from shifts in power and, during the same year the Spanish set foot on Ecuadorian soil (1526), the Inca Empire was divided for the first time when Inca ruler Huayna Capac went against tradition by leaving his empire to two sons rather than one. After years of fighting, Atahualpa defeated Huascar to become ruler of the empire. His position was short lived and the Inca Empire was all but confined to a place in history when in the 1530s the Spanish laid down the foundations to rule the country. Under Spanish rule, Indians and Mestizos (people of mixed indigenous and European descent) suffered forced labour and several uprisings ensued. Liberator Simón Bolívar helped secure independence for Ecuador, which was fully achieved by 1830.
Against a backdrop of violent rivalry between liberal and conservative factions, an unstable political climate dominated the 19th century and was marked by a quick succession of rulers. The 20th century brought mixed fortunes. The country’s development was hampered by the collapse of the coco market in the 1920s and the Great Depression of the 1930s but it achieved stable civilian rule and increased banana exports from 1948 to 1960. Recession and social unrest led to an anti-communist military government taking power in the early 1960s and it wasn’t until 1979 that democratic constitutional measures were put into play. Indigenous groups now have a voice and influence on politics but the country has a lot of economic ground to cover and high levels of unemployment. On an environmental level, Ecuador is rich in biodiversity but has one of the highest deforestation rates in South America.
The diversity of Ecuador does not fit neatly into four seasons. As a general note, it has a dry winter from June to September and a wet summer from December to April. For hiking in the highlands, the best time is during the cool winter. For exploring the jungle (the Oriente), there isn’t a temperate period as it’s often thick with humidity, while the sierra can get chilly and coastal areas are warm year round.
The Galápagos Islands experience hot, rainy weather from January to April and its waters are comfortably warm during this time, making it ideal for snorkelling. During the rest of the year the water is on the chilly side at around 20°C (68°F) or lower. The surfing season is typically December to February.
The biggest celebration days are Christmas, Semana Santa (Easter week), Inti Raymi (June 24), and Independence Day (May 24). Expect an influx of visitors during these periods and from June to August when the vacation season is in full swing.
There’s no better way to see the snow-capped Andes than to fly. The flight from Quito to Cuenco alone takes in the sight of volcano after volcano. With great views aside, flying in Ecuador is affordable and also convenient; you can get to where you want to go in usually no more than half an hour’s flying time. The country’s main airlines like Tame offer daily services to the main towns and cities, usually departing from Quito or Guayaquil. It’s also the best way to get to the Oriente, with other modes of transport unable to access the area. Flights to the Galápagos Islands, however, can be pricey and flying time from Ecuador is around 3 hours. Depending on your destination but particularly for flights to the Galápagos Islands and the Oriente, there is a system in place whereby foreigners are required to pay more than double what Ecuadorians pay. It’s also worth noting that seats are not reserved and are given on a first come, first served basis. Reconfirming a flight 24 hours before is imperative as it’s not unknown for airlines to refute your reservation if it hasn’t been confirmed ahead of departure.
Buses are a cheaper option and although most long distance journeys take a day or less, it can feel longer due to the road conditions. Buses usually leave from central terminals and it’s best to buy a ticket at least a few hours in advance to reserve a seat. Local buses are often very cheap but also very crowded. Taxis are a good option for short journeys or day tips out of cities if hired for the day and can be cheaper than car rental. Taximeters are in existence but not always switched on so it’s best to agree on a price before the journey begins.
www.tame.com.ec
National airline Tame.
Being part of an i-to-i project is a totally unique experience. You’ll join a global network of volunteers working side-by-side with local people and experience things that you’ve never dreamed of.
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We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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