Galapagos Volunteer Programs | Most Affordable & Trusted

I participated in the IVHQ Sea Turtle Nesting Program on Isabela Island from March 31 to April 15, 2025, and it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. This program combines practical conservation efforts with cultural immersion in one of the most ecologically unique places on earth.

Meaningful Conservation Work
Our daily tasks included monitoring sea turtle nests, searching for nesting turtles, collecting scientific data, cleaning up beach debris, and removing invasive plant species that threaten the nesting areas. I worked alongside a wonderful group of international volunteers, knowledgeable local staff, and a park ranger from the Galápagos National Park. The collaborative environment made every day engaging and educational.

Scientific Discovery in Action
One of the most emotional and memorable moments came during a nest excavation. As we carefully unearthed the nest, we discovered a single hatchling still making its way out. Watching that tiny turtle begin its journey to the ocean was breathtaking—and witnessing how the scientific data was gathered during the process made the moment even more powerful.

Cultural Immersion and Hospitality
The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Staying with a local host family not only gave me a comfortable and welcoming home base but also offered a rich introduction to Ecuadorian culture and daily life. They were incredibly helpful, and the food was fantastic.

Eye-Opening Environmental Realities
One of the more surprising aspects of the experience was the amount of trash we encountered on the beaches during our morning patrols. Even though the beach looked clean at first glance, the tides brought in a constant stream of microplastics and debris. It was a stark reminder of the global scope of marine pollution.

Highly Recommended
I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone passionate about marine conservation, sustainability, or environmental science. It’s also ideal for those seeking an adventure that blends purpose with exploration. The Galápagos Islands are a natural wonder, and this program offers a hands-on way to help protect them while learning from dedicated professionals and making lifelong memories.

Where do I even start? Volunteering for three weeks in the Galapagos Islands working on Environmental Conservation could not have been a more rewarding experience. I met so many amazing people (whether it be other volunteers from all over the world or locals), I made a positive impact on the environment by working side-by-side with the National Park Rangers, I grew in countless ways, and I immersed myself into the culture of the islands. While I was nervous to go solo as a 19 year old female (mostly because it was my first solo trip - not at all because of fear of safety), but I am so thankful I put myself out of my comfort zone. My local team was incredibly responsive and supportive, and IVHQ was the most fantastic provider I could have asked for. If you are debating going with IVHQ, definitely do it!!

This was my first time volunteering and I couldn't be happier with the outcome! Pre-departure all my questions were answered by IVQH and local team on a timely matter and on the project there were always people ready to help with anything that came up. The whole experience was just great, from the project itself (helping at the giant tortoise breeding center - note: it's hard work) to just enjoying life in a remote paradise (Galapagos - Isabela) with other volunteers. Beach, bars, explore, repeat. Totally recommend!

This was one of the most fantastic experiences I have ever had. At first I was a bit anxious about volunteering in a foreign country where I didn’t know anyone, but the staff at IVHQ and the local team answered all of my questions before going and provided excellent online preparation.

All the documentation that needed to be completed before travelling was laid out very clearly, and the volunteer handbook does a terrific job of describing what to expect. I felt completely safe and supported the whole time I was on site.

Our local team frequently got together for meals and other activities so I felt like part of a team, but what I loved most was living with a local family and being part of the community. I was able to make a difference through my volunteer work, and at the same time I was able to experience personal growth through my connections with my hosts.

Most of the volunteers at my location were university students, but there were a few like myself who are either retired or close to retirement. My only regret was that I didn’t know about IVHQ sooner! I will definitely be volunteering again.

I had a wonderful experience from the first application to the follow up emails after returning home. I worked at the Galapagos Giant Tortoise breeding center for 4 weeks. My fellow volunteers are now friends for life. The work involved preparing food for the tortoises, feeding them, and cleaning lagoons feeding platforms and corrals. We searched for baby tortoises in the adult corrals, and then helped weigh, measure, and mark them. We also helped keep the grounds tidy with planting and trimming hedges. We raked the gravel areas and swept sidewalks. I took advantage of most of the tours on Isabella, and enjoyed the stay with my host family, despite my limited Spanish. IVHQ and the local organization were extremely supportive, so I was well prepared, and supported when small issues arose.

Hi all!
I was there volunteering for the sea turtle project over the course of 2 weeks in January. I have to say this is so far my absolute favorite place but it has kicked off my travel bug. It is incredibly safe with a island population of 2,500 people. The project consisted of relaxing beach walks in the morning and night looking for nests as well as beach clean ups and giving the beach a much needed refresher. With new land marks indicating different sections of the beach. During my free time I surfed a few times with the very friendly locals as well as amazing snorkeling with seals, turtles, and yes PENGUINS. All in all this was such a fun trip. Anyone who is thinking about going go to the Galapagos all I can say is DO IT you won't regret it.

I would recommend this program to anyone that is interested in traveling abroad. It was lifelong dream of mine to go to the Galápagos Islands and this program gave me that and more.
The volunteering application is a very easy process. Once accepted into the program it becomes a little bit more time consuming, but if you read the program guide completely it is really fairly easy. If you do have problems, the staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help. They are also very good about returning phone calls promptly. They also email you with information that needs to be completed as you get closer to your departure wherever that may be.
Once on the project the accommodations at the volunteer house were fairly good for me. My only complaints were there were too many cockroaches in the common area, none in my room. Also it was way too hot in the common area because the air conditioner was not working. The air conditioner in my room did work, so overall it was okay. The food selection could have been better, but overall it wasn’t bad.

I was expecting good moments in Galapagos, but it was even better.
The destination is amazing and the support from IVHQ makes it way easier to enjoy.
It was secure, but thrilling at the same time, 7 weeks was a perfect amount of time and Ivhq was always around to help me
I saw pinguins, flamingos, sharks, turtles and tortoises, I hiked in a Volcano and learn how to dive.
The sunsets were amazing, and I was able to meet amazing people
Overall, I highly recommend going to galapagos for volunteering.
Trust me is a once in a lifetime experience