Ecuador – Giant Tortoise and Sea Turtle Conservation in the Galápagos

The Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of mainland Ecuador and is one of the world’s leading locations for wildlife viewing. Its isolated landscape is home to a wide range of animal and plant species, many that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos’ species later inspired his theory of evolution.

This project has been instrumental in the conservation of these ancient animals that were very close to extinction. At one time, a quarter million of these giants roamed these South American islands, but over time, that number diminished to around 3,000. Several factors were responsible for the decline, beginning with sailors and settlers hunting them for food.

As a volunteer on this project, you will work closely with the Galápagos National Park in their efforts to continue to conserve this indigenous species! During your time at the tortoise center, you will be a full-time member of the center’s staff, aiding in the conservation and care of these fascinating, ancient creatures. Volunteers taking part during the months from January to May will be assigned to work at either the tortoise breeding center (as described above) or with sea turtles, depending on the placement availability and the season. We will consider your preference when determining your placement, however, availability will be the deciding factor. Sea turtle nest monitoring tasks include walking the beach while looking for nests, turtles, and hatchlings. Actual sightings may be rare.

Tortoise center tasks may include:

• Feeding and caring for the tortoises
• Cleaning and maintaining enclosures
• Explaining the rules and regulations of the center to tourists.
• Additional assignments as needed

Sea turtle conservation tasks may include:

• Searching for sea turtle nests
• Searching for sea turtle hatchlings

A typical day: Your schedule is based on 20 hrs/week and can be extended to a regular 40 hr work week. You will work from Monday – Friday, from 7.30AM – 11.30AM. This may change depending on the tasks at hand.

Important Note for the 2024 season: The year 2024 marks an El Niño phase, influencing temperature fluctuations in the Equatorial Pacific. El Niño events, occurring approximately every seven years, disrupt the Humboldt Current, leading to warmer waters along the shores of South America. While we haven’t monitored sea turtle nesting during El Niño on this beach before, we expect potential effects on tides and nesting locations. Despite uncertainties, long-term data collection is crucial for understanding and managing future events. If you choose to volunteer during this time, you’ll contribute to essential baseline turtle nesting data, observing unique wildlife behaviors during El Niño, including changes in sea and land species.

Internet: Wi-Fi is available.

Laundry: Laundry facilities are available.

Accommodations: You will stay in a private room, either in a shared volunteer house or nearby host family. This will be assigned based first on availability and then on your preference and sometimes, it could be both. Both accommodations have western – style flush toilets and shared common areas, including a kitchen and dining room. Volunteers can also choose to stay with a host family. At your homestay, you will also stay in a private room with western – style flush toilets.

Food: At the volunteer house: Lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town. Breakfast is not included, but you have the use of an equipped kitchen for cooking. Homestay: You will have breakfast and dinner with your host family. Lunch is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town.

A volunteer visa is no longer required. Volunteers enter Ecuador on a tourist visa for 90 days and the local team will provide you with a Galapagos visa.

Please note this project’s minimum requirements:

• CV
• Basic level of Spanish
• A genuine passion for wildlife conservation
• Volunteers must be flexible and interested in working either with the sea turtles or the tortoises depending on the season and placement availability.
• Volunteers may be placed in a volunteer dorm or a local host family based on preference and availability.
• An ability to openly communicate rules and regulations to tourists and follow instructions
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Flexibility in work schedules and tasks to accommodate day-to-day needs of a local institution
• Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high allergens, sun and temperature exposure.
• Disclose life-threatening allergies before applying for consideration because of the remote location, enabling us to assess the destination’s suitability and manage potential risks.

The Galápagos Islands are one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for wildlife viewing. Made famous by the scientist Charles Darwin, these South American islands are home to species that many people are familiar with, such as the blue-footed booby birds and giant tortoises. There is much to be seen on a trip to these islands, and a few suggestions are listed below.

Darwin Lake
Also on the island, Darwin Lake is a saltwater lagoon that has twice the amount of salt on the surrounding ocean.

Tagus Cove
From the cliffs surrounding Darwin Lake, volunteers can take a panga ride to Tagus Cove where there is the opportunity to see, and even snorkel with, indigenous marine life such as Galapagos penguins!

Tortuga Bay
For volunteers who wish to island hop, Isla Santa Cruz, to the right of the island, is an excellent choice. Tortuga Bay is one of the most popular and beautiful beach destinations in all the Galápagos Islands and is in southern Isla Santa Cruz. There are sharks, marine iguanas and occasionally flamingos in the Bay.