Overview

Experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure awaiting you on the pristine Galapagos Islands! Join our team of volunteers and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of these islands while making a tangible difference. We welcome you to join collaborative efforts alongside the dedicated Galapagos National Park team to safeguard the rich biodiversity of this extraordinary region.

You will work side by side with park rangers, conservationists, and volunteers to promote species protection measures on Isabela Island by engaging in one or both of the following projects:

1. Tortoise Breeding Centre: Join forces with the Galapagos National Park team at the Tortoise Breeding Centre. Assist park rangers in the essential care of adult tortoises and hatchlings, ensuring their safe growth and daily care. Engage with visitors, share information on conservation efforts and learn about the vital role that they play in this delicate ecosystem.

2. Sea Turtle Conservation: Dive into hands-on conservation work by participating in beach patrols dedicated to protecting sea turtle nesting sites. Gather valuable nesting data, mark nests for follow-up monitoring, and contribute to the preservation of their threatened habitat. Beyond patrols, lend a hand in beach cleanup efforts, removing invasive plants, and combating erosion to safeguard the precious environment where sea turtles thrive. This project only takes place from January to May, which should be taken into account when planning.

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure, and let us guide you through your volunteer service! Discover new ways of life, learn more about conservation, and create memories on the famous Galapagos Islands that will last a lifetime!

DCIM101GOPRO

Details

Both projects offer the opportunity to learn about key species of the Galapagos Islands, support their population growth, and raise awareness regarding the importance of species and habitat conservation efforts.

You are welcome to spend your entire stay on Isabela Island working on one of these projects or split your time between the two. Please note that a minimum of two weeks for each project and a minimum of four weeks in total are required.

Bartolomé Island – Galapagos

Activities

Project 1: Tortoise Breeding Centre

  • Cleaning and maintenance of enclosures
  • Data collection and behaviour analysis
  • Preparing food and feeding the tortoises
  • Looking out for nests and eggs in enclosures
  • Informing visitors about the giant tortoises and how they can support conservation measures

Project 2: Sea Turtle Conservation

  • Collecting data to determine the nesting patterns of the Green Sea Turtle
  • Marking nesting sites and monitoring activity
  • Collecting waste found on beach patrols
  • Analysing nest success after hatching
  • Removal of invasive plants
  • Measuring beach erosion

Accommodation

During your stay as a volunteer, you will be accommodated in the volunteer house, which is centrally located in Puerto Villamil.

You will have your own room with a private bathroom, air conditioning in the bedroom, and a common area with a porch, kitchen, and living room that you will share with other volunteers.

About us

NATUCATE is a German agency, specialized in voluntary work, field guide training, nature-oriented educational courses and internships with a focus on nature and species conservation as well as animal protection. Moreover, we create and organize individual sabbaticals; commitment for nature conservation and personal development being in the centre. Sustainable and responsible traveling, so-called ecotourism, as well as nature and adventure travel are further areas of expertise.

Our projects, courses and tours, fulfilling high sustainability standards, enable people – from graduates to best agers – to make an active contribution to protecting and conserving endangered species and ecosystems and, at the same time, to broaden their personal horizon.

Dates, Services, Cost

Dates

Volunteers are allowed to join any Monday of the week, all year round.

Services

  • Placement in the programme
  • Assistance with travel arrangements
  • Assistance with booking flights
  • Assistance with selecting travel insurance
  • Risk coverage certificate
  • Pre-departure information pack
  • Accommodation during the programme
  • Meals and drinks as per itinerary
  • English-speaking support by long-term experienced staff
  • 24/7 support throughout the programme
  • Galapagos Visa
  • Ferry crossing

2024/2025 Rates:

4 weeks: € 2,900
6 weeks: €4,000
8 weeks: €5,100
10 weeks: €6,200
12 weeks: €7,300

Find out more or reserve your place!

About Natucate

Natucate — our name intentionally combines the English words ‘nature’ and (to) ‘educate’, because it is our aim to reconcile nature and education. We offer nature tourism and voluntary service abroad and concentrate on the domains nature conservation, environmental and animal protection. Natucate does not only target school-leavers, students and graduates, who may want to gather valuable experience, but it is also aimed at working people and over 50s, who are looking for a way to broaden their horizons in an unforgettable and at the same time meaningful way.

Our advice and travel service is specialised in the organisation of selected projects for voluntary service, but in addition we also work out longer individual tour proposals and if requested arrange them, if they fall within the context of nature/adventure tours.

Not only do the participants gain a lasting impression of nature but they can also immerse themselves in the culture of the host country. Our programme includes education and further education, combined with practical experience and outdoor activities.