As one of the primary tourist destinations in South America, the Galapagos Islands provide a major source of income for the indigenous population and speaking English has become invaluable. This is not only worthwhile project, but also a rare opportunity to travel one of the most inaccessible destinations on the planet.
Volunteer Role
The high demand for English teachers leads to a shortage of teachers in the poorer and more remote areas of the Galapagos. Volunteers are therefore needed to fill the void, and offer a new and refreshing approach to teaching English.
As many of the children don’t regularly attend school, they need to be taught basic Spanish, Mathematics, and English. Classes are prepared by the volunteers in relation to the children’s ability.
Volunteers can teach English to children between the ages of seven to eleven, this will usually be done in the mornings from around 7am until 1pm, to allow your afternoons free for you to explore the local area. Volunteers are offered a lot of flexibility in terms of teaching methods; for example, you may organise excursions outside of the classroom to add a new dimension to the learning process. It is recommended volunteers bring innovative materials with them that will add variety to the classes, such as: Board or card games, Books, Writing and drawing materials etc.
Volunteers are not restricted to these roles and can become involved in other areas as and when required e.g. sports instruction, arts and crafts etc.
What’s Included in the Programme
- Airport transfers to and from Quito
- Shared volunteer accommodation on Santa Cruz (one day on arrival)
- Shared accommodation in a hostel on Isabela Island
- Transport between Baltra airport and Puerto Villamil
- Food - two meals a day for duration of programme
- Detailed orientation
- Project support and 24-hour emergency assistance
What’s Not Included in the Programme
- International flights
- Return transfers from the Islands back to the hostel in Quito
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement
- Airfare, or taxes, and National Parks entrance fee ($110) to enter the Galapagos
- Lunches
- Soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits
- Any activities over and above your planned itinerary
Please Note: You will need to budget USD$110 to pay the park entrance fee as you pass through customs. This is required by all visitors to the islands and cannot be included in the programme cost. You will also need to budget around $30 for return transport from Isabela to Santa Cruz for those taking part in the Giant Galapagos Tortoise volunteer project.
Prices and Durations
Galapagos Island Teaching Volunteers - 2 weeks $1,229
Galapagos Island Teaching Volunteers - 3 weeks $1,519
Galapagos Island Teaching Volunteers - 4 weeks $1,809
Galapagos Island Teaching Volunteers - 5 weeks $2,079
Galapagos Island Teaching Volunteers - 6 weeks $2,369
