Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are an outstanding area of scientific interest made famous through Charles Darwin and his theories on the evolution of species. They are a magnificent and remote archipelago situated 600 miles from the mainland of Ecuador. Not surprisingly, volunteering in the Galapagos is a popular destination for our career break and gap year volunteers.

The Galapagos comprises an amazing archipelago of 13 main islands, six smaller islands and many further islets, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Some 18,000 humans inhabit five of the islands (San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana and Baltra) and 97% of the islands' total area is designated as National Park.

Animals and plants once somehow migrated across the sea. Over the course of time they adapted themselves to Galapagos conditions and came to differ from their ancestors on the mainland. Many of them are found nowhere else in the world.

Remarkably, there are no predators on the Galapagos Islands, so the animals are fearless. This makes close encounters with them a daily occurrence. Charles Darwin recognised this in 1835 and his observations played a substantial part in his formulation of the theory of evolution. The Galapagos have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They offer some of the most interesting places in the world for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Tourists pay a park entry fee in addition to an inflated price for a boat cruise to the different islands. Most of this money, however, is kept by the private tour operators and the islanders rarely benefit. Most of them are dependent on fishing and farming. They often struggle to make ends meet.

General Information

• 	Spanish is spoken in the Galapagos Islands and volunteers would need to have a basic understanding of the language to succeed on most of the projects. All Galapagos volunteers attend a two-week, intensive language course in Quito before flying to the Galapagos Islands. This would give all non-linguists sufficient language skills to get started on the project of their choice. You have your own private tutor, so regardless of your level you will be challenged. The course is geared towards conversational Spanish. It combines a mixture of lively tutorials, grammar, salsa dancing, haggling in the market, cooking lessons and making cocktails! Beginners are also welcome to borrow one of our comprehensive Learn Spanish CD courses in the UK before departure. These provide approximately fifty hours of tuition.

  Language Training

• 	Weekends on the Galapagos are always free to enjoy surfing, swimming, snorkelling or catching a boat to neighbouring islands. Whilst in Ecuador, Monika, our co-ordinator will be able to help organise trips. Ecuador is famous for its indigenous artisan markets, which are rich with traditional crafts. For those interested in expeditions, white water rafting, horse-riding, mountain bike tours, mountain expeditions and guided trips to the Amazon are available and easily organised through Monika. Travel is easy and inexpensive in Ecuador, with a great bus network covering the whole country. All Outreach International Galapagos volunteers will receive good discounts at our recommended travel agents.

  Travel & Expeditions

• 	There are no rules about time off, but in most cases weekends are free and many volunteers choose to travel after their projects. You are however expected to work on your projects full time and only take leave with the permission of your project manager and Monika, our co-ordinator. All projects are linked to initiatives involving Ecuadorian staff, so you will quickly adapt to the local style of working. The key here is to be flexible and to use initiative. Outreach International demands a serious commitment from all volunteers, but at the same time recognises that the nature of voluntary work demands a flexible approach, and we want you to have an enjoyable and rewarding time. With Outreach International's focus on one particular Island, you will normally have regular contact with other Outreach International volunteers. Often the closest bonds are made with fellow Galapagos volunteers. Your Galapagos work permit will give you significant discounts on travel cost between islands.

  Time Off & Volunteer Interaction

• 	Parents, families and friends of Galapagos volunteers can always have immediate contact with both the UK Head Office and the Ecuador Field Office. Our coordinator will know where each volunteer is at any time, and will visit you on your project. Monika Montes is our coordinator based in Quito and she is supported by Paulina Ratti who lives with her family on San Cristobal. Both Monika and Paulina will do all they can to make sure you are safe and well supported. Outreach International attaches great importance to back up and support, but at the same time does not want to over-monitor you. As part of your personal analysis and debriefing you are asked to write a short article concerning your work and experiences. At the end of your placement you can request official certification from Outreach International acknowledging your contribution to the project as a record of your work. Outreach International will also be able to provide future employers with references for Galapagos volunteers who successfully complete their project placement. The projects are recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. An important aspect of the UK office support is to assist and advise volunteers on how to raise the money to finance their voluntary work in the Galapagos Islands. The UK office will have discussions concerning finance with individual volunteers once they have had their selection interview and been accepted on the programme. We also run regular fundraising awareness days at our base in Somerset.

  Support from Outreach International

• 	Your first two weeks will be spent in Quito with a wonderful host family who are closely related to Monika, our co-ordinator. The volunteer projects on Galapagos are a central part of the community. You would therefore have a key role in this, become involved in island life and the social activities of the town of Baquerizo. The island is warm, welcoming and slightly lost in time. The inhabitants fully appreciate the efforts of volunteers and go out of their way to help you make it a home. Accommodation is normally in spacious, private rooms in a house owned by a local family overlooking the ocean. They are a short walk to the projects, the ocean and a variety of beaches. Some volunteers live with Paulina Ratti, our Galapagos co-ordinator. Meals are taken with the family. The diet is varied and there is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, some of which has to be brought in from the mainland. "Monika is, and has been, marvellous. Equally, Paulina, who can't do enough for us. The young group I have been linked with have been quite wonderful to the 'granny' of the group. I love each one of them. Vicky and Pippa are here of course - such characters. I shall miss them hugely when they go. Pam Le Clerc. Galapagos career break medical volunteer

  Food & Accommodation

• 	All volunteers are covered by the Outreach International public liability insurance. In addition to this you are given unlimited medical cover through a purpose made policy. It gives you full repatriation and has a 24 hour emergency hotline. Although expensive we believe it is the best policy available. It also gives you £1000 worth of baggage cover. It is compulsory to have proper medical cover. The cost of this is covered by the fee that we charge. Ecuador, of which the Galapgos Islands are part, is a healthy country. Providing you are sensible and follow our guidelines you should not expect to have any medical difficulties. It is essential however that you read our 'Travel Health' booklet thoroughly and take proper advice when exploring at weekends. There is a small hospital on San Cristobal but in the event of a serious accident you may have to be air lifted to Quito.

  Health & Insurance

• 	Outreach International will book your flights for you through STA or Wexas Travel. We encourage all volunteers to depart together so you can get to know each other on the journey. Volunteers often like to return to the UK at different times. For this reason you all have the option of returning at a date to suit yourself. You also have the option of booking up your own independent flight. You will be met at the airport by our coordinator so it is important that you arrive at your destination at the same time as fellow volunteers. The cost of international flights is not included in the Outreach International charge. We do however pay for the flight from Quito to Galapagos. Volunteers staying for up to 90 days will be given their volunteer visa upon arrival in Quito. If you are staying longer than 90 days you will need to obtain a visa before departure. We will provide the necessary paperwork, support and guidance for this. You will however need to go in person to the Ecuadorian consulate in London to obtain this. A special work permit is needed for Galapagos. We will obtain this for you but it is fraught with bureaucracy so please apply in good time.

  Flights, Visas & Project-related Travel

• 	The UK office will also offer support in the form of regular fund raising awareness courses and annual Teaching English as a Foreign Language day course. These are free of charge to all volunteers. For full details of our costs please refer to our costs page. The costs cover full health, baggage and liability insurance, support and documentation for your visa application (volunteers staying longer than three months may be asked to pay a visa extension charge), work permits, project related travel, return flight from Quito to Galapagos, two week intensive Spanish course in Quito, a short trip, food and accommodation and of course full in-country and UK support. In Ecuador this is provided by Monika Montes, the full time member of staff based in Quito and her assistant Paulina Ratti who is based on Galapagos. It also covers the costs of UK training, briefing, fund raising advice and administration. The cost of volunteering on Galapagos is higher than the other projects. This is because: The cost of living is higher on the island than in mainland Ecuador. Food is imported from the mainland. There is an additional flight from Quito to San Cristóbal. There is a compulsory Galapagos entry fee to pay. We have a special Galapagos representative, in addition to Monika on the mainland, who organises the logistics and provide volunteer support. It is only possible to volunteer on Galapagos for a maximum of three months.

  Spending Money & Cost