VOLUNTOURISM IN THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK – PART II

A sea lion sleeping on a bench in the Galapagos Islands.

In Part 1 of 2, Voluntourism in the Galapagos National Park, I shared how combining travel to another country and helping others at the same time is a great way to learn about someone else’s culture and use acquired skills to improve the quality of life of others.

In Part 2, I will share our daily schedule of what activities you can expect to engage in should you decide to volunteer with non-profit organizations: Jutan Sacha, Global Volunteers Network or, UBELONG.

Monday

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.

An image a seedling cups
Filling plastic cups.

8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group collected leaves to use for compost while the other group worked in the nursery filled plastic cups with soil in preparation for the planting of seedlings and coffee.

12 p.m.: Lunch with the group.

1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!

2-4 p.m.: Cut down mora as a group to make the area available for future planting.

4-6 p.m.: Free time!

6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.

Tuesday

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.

8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group built and repaired fences while the other group collected fruit for the kitchen.

An image of volunteers.
Volunteers repairing a fence with new barbed wire.

1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!

An image of a woman lounging in a hammock
Siesta time in the hammock.

2-4 p.m.: The group cut down mora to make the area available for future planting. One note on dressing appropriately for cutting mora. Wear long sleeves and socks or else mora will give some love back in the form of cuts and scrapes.

4-6 p.m.: Free time!

6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.

Wednesday

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.

8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group collected leaves to use for compost while the other group worked in the nursery filled plastic cups with soil in preparation for planting.

An image of compost
Collection of leaves to make compost.

12 p.m.: Lunch with the group.

1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!

2-4 p.m.: Cut down mora as a group to make area available for future planting.

4-6 p.m.: Free time!

6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.

Thursday

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.

8-1 p.m: Volunteers can go on a tour to visit and learn about tortoises, swim at Puerto Chino and hike up to Crater Lake for some amazing views of the island. On a clear day, you can see Espanola and Santa Cruz island in the distance.

An image of a giant tortoise at a biological reserve.
At the Natural Giant Tortoise Reserve.

1-2 p.m.: Free time!

2-4 p.m.: Group hike with educational lectures on the ecosystem and wildlife.

6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.

An image of volunteers in a group photo
We made it to the Pacific ocean after an eco group hike from the biological reserve.

Friday

7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.

8-12 p.m.: Light work in the nursery watering plants and repairing barbed wire fences to keep the cows out from going into the nursery and eating the plants. Volunteers depart throughout the day to go into town for the weekend.

An image of a cow
Cows are so cute until they eat your days work of filling plastic cups of plants.
An image of a barbed wire door
Even though a door was built, apparently cows can fly and jump fences.

Saturday and Sunday

When we weren’t knee-deep in conservation work ridding the area of mora on San Cristobal Island Monday through Friday, we spent time in town getting up close with the sea lions and turtles.

Saturday and Sunday was our time to explore the island.

Some volunteers would leave Friday evening and take a taxi into Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and spend two nights in a cheap hostel and return Sunday evening for a group dinner.

Not bad for the all-day million dollar views and animal encounters.

If you are looking for ideas on places to see in town and what I did on my weekends off, please read my blog post on Visiting San Cristobal Island on the Cheap.