Your Typical Itinerary
During your first week in Santa Cruz and your second week in San Cristobal you will volunteering from around 8.30am to 5pm. On your third week in Isabela, most tours will take place during the morning leaving your afternoons free to explore the local area.
Week 1: Santa Cruz - Conservation
| Tuesday: | Upon arrival into Santa Cruz you will receive a warm reception at the canal prior to a visit to los gemelos and primicias ranch where you may get to watch Galapagos Giant Tortoise in the wild (please note this trip is not available during Christmas and New Year). Tuesday afternoon will include a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and Breeding Centre. Breakfast and hostel accommodation included. |
| Wednesday: | In the morning, you will visit Tortuga Bay Beach, one of the most pristine white sand beaches in the Galapagos. In the afternoon tour Academy Bay. During the trip you can observe the diversity of the underwater world and with a little bit of luck see some of the bigger inhabitants of the ocean, like marine turtles, white tipped reef sharks or manta rays. Breakfast and hostel accommodation included. |
| Thursday: | In the morning, you will receive an orientation in Pto Ayora and will get involved with conservation activities at the project. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and volunteer house accommodation included. |
| Friday: | Spend the day enjoying project work where you may have the opportunity to see large groups of wild tortoises. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and volunteer house accommodation included. |
| Saturday: | Leave the project after lunch, and spend the night at the town. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and volunteer house accommodation included. |
| Sunday: | Free day to explore the island. |
Week 2: San Cristobal - Environmental, community and social projects
| Monday: | Around 2pm, take the speed boat from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal. Upon arrival into San Cristobal around 4.30pm, you will take a taxi to your accommodation at the biological station. |
| Tuesday to Thursday: |
Project work. This will vary according to the time you are there and will be discussed on arrival to the Island. Volunteer house accommodation included from Tuesday to Thursday with three meals a day. |
| Friday: |
You will leave the biological station in the morning and then have the day free to explore the island. You will spent the night at a hostel and will need to prepare your own meals. |
| Saturday: | Free day to explore the islands. Night back at the hostel - no meals included. |
| Sunday: | Depart from San Cristobal early morning for Santa Cruz then leave Santa Cruz in the afternoon to Isbela -one of the most pristine Islands of the Galapagos. Hostel accommodation included - no meals. |
Week 3: Isabela - Tours
| Monday: | Guided visit to the Isabela Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre and Wall of Tears - this wall was erected by convicts in the first half of this century when the area served as a penal colony. Many prisioners died during the work due to the arduous labour and harsh conditions and the construction earned its infamous name Wall of Tears or Muro de las Lagrimas. Breakfast, dinner and hostel accommodation included. |
| Tuesday: | Tintoreras Islet Tour. From the Wharf you will board a speedboat that will take you for a ride around the bay or the small island of Las Tintoreras (white-fin sharks). Witness penguins, sharks, blue-legged piqueros, pelicans, iguanas and sea lions. There will be some time to snorkel (snorkel gear included) where you will be able to get a great view of the many different varieties of fish. Breakfast, dinner and hostel accommodation included. |
| Wednesday: | Enjoy a tour of Volcan Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico. Admire the beautiful landscapes and different lava formations produced by the most recent eruptions. Breakfast, dinner and hostel accommodation included. |
| Thursday and Friday: |
Free days to explore the beautiful Island. Snorkel with sea lions at Concha Perla, lay on the beach, watch flamingos, or book extra tours. Breakfast, dinner and hostel accommodation included. |
| Saturday: | Early departure to Santa Cruz to catch your flight back to Quito. Transfer not included but can be easily arranged by onsite staff. Please note: You will need to pay a $5 departure tax upon leaving Isabela Island. This tax is controlled by the island city hall, and everybody has to pay it. |
Important note: This is a outline of a typical itinerary for your Galapagos experience. Volunteer activities are subject to change, and will depend on the needs of the projects at that time.
