New Era Galapagos Foundation

Pre – trip briefing on the Galapágos

We will send an information pack which details everything you need to know about the island and your experience. It will have travel information about getting to the islands, homestay information, what you can expect from your family, and what will be expected of you when you undertake your project. There will be detailed information on your chosen project, including a sample timetable so that you know how much time off you will have and the hours you will be working. If anything is not covered in the information pack, you can email or phone us, and we will try to answer any questions you have.

On-island Accommodation
You will stay with a local host family for the duration of the project. Payment for food and acommodation is covered by the fee you pay, which means the local families benefit from your visit, rather than staying aboard an International cruise ship, from which the locals don't benefit. You will be provided with 2 meals per day, and will become part of their family. It's a great way to get to know the locals and gain a real Galapagos experience, whilst helping the local economy.

Transfers to and from San Cristobal Airport
We will meet you at the airport and will take you to your family on the first day. They will speak English (although not perfectly!) and will be able to make sure you are settled in for the first few days. Upon departure, you will also be taken to the airport and we will make sure you are safely aboard your flight before we leave.

Island Orientation
Upon arrival, we will show you around the local town of Puerto Baquerizo to explore the amenities and the sites of interest. There will be a briefing with William where he will tell you exactly what you will be doing. He will go through your placement with you, and will show you around the New Era building. If you have any questions or problems throughout your placement, William will be working closely with you, and he will always be around to help you if you need it. In addition to this, volunteers will get a tour of the town, introductions to the host family, information about banking, internet cafes, supermarkets and tours.

What's Not Included:

International flights
We do not pay for your International Flights to the islands, but if you would like us to book them, we can do this for you. It can be difficult booking flights from Quito to the islands themselves, as there are only a few flights per week, but we can also do this for you.

Entrance Fee
The island entrance fee is $100 which everyone who enters the island must pay. It is a one-off fee and goes directly to the island.

Extras
We can provide spanish lessons for the first 2 weeks whilst you are on the island, to get to grips with the language. These will either be at a heavily reduced cost, or if you would prefer, you can exchange English for Spanish lessons with a local - this involves speaking half an hour in English and then half an hour in Spanish. Again, William will go through this with you, and any lessons are paid directly to the teacher, not through us.