Role Overview
The Galapagos Islands are world-famous for their conservation efforts. With rising tourism, the Galapagos National Park has an increased role to play in mitigating human impact on local flora and fauna while also fostering tourism and educating visitors to the island. Learn about the balance between ecotourism and conservation,
and conduct work that will help the park understand how to better serve tourists while also improving
conservation efforts. Most people who visit the Galapagos only do so by boat; come live on the islands to get a better understanding of the local community and their role in conservation and learn about the pressures of local and visiting populations on the ecosystem.
As a Ecotourism Volunteer, and according to your specific skills and experience, you will help the Galapagos National Park in tasks related to:
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The management and monitoring of visitors and visitor sites nearby Puerto Villamil
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Translation and design of English language visitor information
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Graphic design for promotional and educational material
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Running satisfaction questionnaires to visitors from different nationalities
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Registering tourism related information, as well as generating statistical databases from your surveys
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Design of maps, signs, canvas, etc. for those volunteers with Acrobat Illustrator design experience
This volunteer position is flexible and can be tailored to your skills and interests as well as the park needs. The information collected will help the National Park to make decisions in tourism management that can be crucial for Galapagos wildlife preservation and sustainable long term tourism.
Requirements:
Conversational to intermediate level of Spanish in order to communicate with fellow workers and visitors.
Ability to communicate and act with care and patience.
Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
Flexible schedule that accounts for the day to day needs of working with a local institution.
Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high sun, element, and temperature exposure.
Ability to independently collect and register data.
Recommended to bring a laptop for data collection.
Closed-toed shoes recommended, and appropriate clothing to interface with international visitors.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided by one of our carefully selected host families or in our volunteer housing. In both types of housing, volunteers have their own room, a fan, bed, desk, dresser, and bathroom, as well as warm water and drinking water. In our volunteer housing, breakfast is not included, but you have access to our fully equipped kitchen facilities to cover your needs. Lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town, which are usually open-air seating with local cuisine. You simply sign for your meal and we’ll pick up the bill at the end of the month.
Our host families have experience with outside culture and international living and provide an amazing immersion experience. All host family houses are nearby the IOI offices and the local schools in the beach town of Puerto Villamil. Homes are fairly simple, clean, and welcoming. You will have breakfast and dinner with your family. Lunch is at the above mentioned restaurants.
We at IOI pair you with your host family, and we are available at any time to help if any issues arrive with the restaurants, your host family, the volunteer site, if you get sick and need to visit the doctor, etc.
Participation Fee
The program fee is necessary to cover your cost of living and logistics. Our overhead is covered by other means so 100% of any funds that exceed your direct cost will go towards the project you participated in.
To book you need to pay a Reservation Deposit.
That deposit WILL BE DEDUCTED from your program fee.
What’s Included
Cost includes food, full room and board, permits, Transient visa, local coordination and training at respective facility, local transport, full access to our facilities, etc.—everything minus personal expenses, travel insurance, and your airfare to Galápagos.
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