After landing in the city's capital, you will be driven to the exciting and fun Selina Hostel in Quito (you won't get bored here!), where you can check into your dorm and meet your fellow travellers. Later, you will enjoy your first dinner together, which will be a great opportunity to get to know one another.

Please keep in mind that you will be at a high altitude (2800 meters), so take it slow the first few days and cut back on the drinking and partying in order to avoid altitude sickness.

Today you will immerse yourself in historical antique buildings and sites, replete with (some of them pretty spooky) ancient stories, aside from learning that Quito was the first city to ever be awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, your guide will take you to La Carolina, Quito's "Central Park," where you may explore this lovely green metropolitan site and explore more about the local culture. You will then head back to Selina, where you can unwind and allow these recent memories to settle in.

Prepare to be enchanted by the idyllic Galapagos islands!

You will be transported from the hostel to Quito Airport in the morning to catch your flight to San Cristobal airport in the Galapagos**. Once you arrive in San Cristobal you will be brought to your lovely Hotel. Here, you will receive a warm meet and greet welcome from your local tour guide and enjoy a delicious welcome lunch. Later, you will experience a walking tour of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to get to know the island a little bit closer.

** Please note:
Air ticket to and back Galapagos (San Cristobal Island), Galapagos National Park Fee 100USD per person (paid in cash only), and Transit Control Card 20USD per person are not included (paid in cash only).

Prepare to lose yourself in this life-changing adventure and forget about the busy outside world. You'll have the chance to coexist peacefully with nature and the native Galapagos population while you live, work, and relax. The goal is to perform 100% organic and sustainable agriculture while living in peace with nature (permaculture).

You will be transferred from your hotel to the highlands of the island for the start of a transformational adventure at Mandinga project (20-30 minutes driving distance).

Your first day at the project will be spent getting to know everyone, including its most vital members: the nature. You will quickly become accustomed to your volunteer activities, which range from preparing the land, planting & maintaining crops, harvesting, preparing fertilizers, and making compost, building with local materials, working together with local children, maintaining trails, learning about the different types of plants and animals, taking care of coffee and cocoa plantations, cooking meals with products from the garden, carpentry, sharing experiences and learnings with the community. As you can see there is plenty to learn and share, we doubt that you’ll get bored.

Every day at 08:00, the volunteer activities begin, with a snack break at 11:00. At 14:30, a vegan meal is provided. You are welcome to work in the afternoon as well as there is still much to accomplish at the finca. At around 18:00, dinner is served. You will be expected to assist with meal preparation.

You will continue your volunteer work in the morning at the project. After lunch, a driver will pick you up and you will visit Galapaguera; a turtle breeding center. After the turtle breeding center, the driver will transfer you back to Baquerizo Moreno, where you will overnight at the hotel once more.

Have a delicious breakfast before setting out on an exhilarating day trip to Kicker Rock. Additionally, you'll get the chance to go underwater in a truly spectacular and once-in-a-lifetime setting.

Daytour Kicker Rock
You will take a small boat in the morning and set sail for the lava formation in the middle of the ocean called Kicker Rock (León Dormido which means “sleeping lion” in Spanish as they say it looks like). First, you will circle around the rock formation to observe the different bird species that use the rock formation as a resting or nesting place. Afterward, the boat will anchor and you will jump off the boat to snorkel the canal in between the rock formations. Beware that the currents can be strong and that you will be snorkeling in open waters without being able to see the bottom. Here you will be able to spot different shark species (sometimes even hammerheads!), turtles, rays, and more. In some seasons you might encounter jellyfish which can sting; however, a wetsuit will be provided when this could happen. After the snorkeling, you will continue to Manglecito or a similar beach and enjoy a lunch box on board. At Manglecito, you will have the chance to walk around a white coral beach, relax and swim in shallow waters before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Included: Bilingual Galapagos National Park guide, transportation, and light lunch.

What to bring: swimsuit and towel, comfortable hiking shoes, sun protection, (reusable) water bottle, and snacks

Depending the waves and climate you will have today surf or yoga classes for 2 hours. The rest of the day free in this charming seaside town in paradise and take some time to unwind.

Get ready to head back to the project and continue your activities where you left off.

Every day at 08:00, the volunteer activities begin, with a snack break at 11:00. At 14:30, a vegan meal is provided. You are welcome to work in the afternoon as well as there is still much to accomplish at the finca. At around 18:00, dinner is served. You will be expected to assist with meal preparation.

Finish your volunteer tasks in the morning and say goodbye to this very special setting and project before being driven to Baquerizo Moreno after lunch, where you will check back in at the hotel.

All wonderful things in life must, unfortunately, come to an end, but luckily some of them can be honored with a delicious farewell meal. Before you must leave this magnificent place, take advantage of your final free day in Baquerizo Moreno, and take in one final sunset in one of the most wonderful places on earth.

We really hope that you had an amazing and memorable time in Ecuador and will always remember the special moments you had there. We appreciate your participation in this event and the opportunity to introduce you to the delights of this heavenly sanctuary.

We at Encounter My Way send our best wishes for a safe return home.

No work days on the following public holidays:

2023
07 April
01 & 26 May
11 August
09 October
02-03 November
25 December

- Arrival transfer from Airport to Hostel Selina in Quito
- 2 nights accommodation in Quito in Hostel Selina
- Discover Quito tour with guide with public transportation
- Private Transfer from Hostel Selina to airport
- Transfer from airport to accommodation in San Cristobal
- 5 nights accommodation in Standard Room at hotel in San Cristobal (including 1 X Welcome lunch and daily breakfast)
- Transfers from Hotel to Finca Mandinga
- 8 nights Shared Accommodation at Finca Mandinga (including breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Transfers from Finca Mandinga to Hotel
- Visit to the turtle breeding center Galapaguera
- Kicker Rock Day Tour (including lunch)
- 2 hours of surf or yoga lessons

Minimum age of 18
All foreigners entering Ecuador are obliged to have a valid health insurance
Basic English
Basic Spanish is an advantage, but not required

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.