Internship ecotourism and sustainability
We are looking for experts in tourism or with tourism background, looking for new ideas and related to new activities at the Galapagos Islands. This internship implies helping with coordination of activities and new ideas and projects. Basically creativity will be very much appreciated; all activities will be coordinated and discussed with the activities director. Examples of possible work and activities during internship would be;
- Supervising work and projects carries out by international volunteers with the local community
- Providing knowledge to local workers, this can be done by means of English classes or simply teaching strategies to improve local touristic spots.
- Contacting local travel agencies in order to extend cooperation and evaluate opportunities of expanding activities, especially focusing on eco tourism with community participation.
- How to find ways to improve (eco) tourism, from which local community can benefit, while taking care of environment and improving practices on the Islands.
Requierements:
- Knowledge of Spanish Language (intermediate level at least). Students are encouraged to take some Spanish classes in with LH in Quito, before they come to Galapagos
- Minimum stay 2 months. Maximum stay 3 months
- Preferred background tourism, business administration students or related. All students applying should at least have finished first three years of study.
Geography of Galapagos:
The Galapagos Archipelago is located on both sides of the equatorial line approximately 970 km (600 miles) west from continental Ecuador. Local time is -6 GMT. It is formed by thirteen greater islands, six smaller islands, 42 islets and several rocks, which cover a total area of 7,850 km2. The largest island is Isabela, with a total area of 4,590 Km2 which presents the highest point of the archipelago, volcano Wolf, 1,690 meters. 97% of the total area of the isles belongs to the Galapagos National Park, the rest belongs to inhabited and developed areas like the island of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana, in addition to Baltra an island occupied by the Ecuadorian Armed forces. The Galapagos Archipelago is also a province of Ecuador, whose capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on the island of San Cristobal. Puerto Ayora, on the island of Santa Cruz, is the city with the highest tourist activity. The islands total population including floating population is around 16,109 inhabitants.
Geology
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The Isles were formed around 4 or 5 millions years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions, emerging from the ocean surface. Today, the Galapagos are considered one of the most active volcanic island groups in the world. Many islands are only the tips of some volcanoes and show an advanced state of
erosion, others are completely immersed. Recent eruptions as the Marchena in 1991 or Fernandina in 1995, are evidence that the other islands are constantly forming. Other islands like Baltra and North Seymour, have evidence of having been formed by tectonic movements, in which the bottom of the ocean was pushed towards the surface. |
Conservation
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The Galapagos Islands form the most diverse and complex Archipelago in the world, in which the conditions remain relatively untouched. Due to its distance from the continent and because it was never attached to it, the existent flora and fauna evolved extraordinarily up to what they are today and have remained unchanged until man arrived to them for the first time. The species of plants and animals inherent to the islands didn't have any predators for thousands of years of evolution, for which animals show no fear in the presence of humans and other animals. This is what makes Galapagos such a very special and fascinating place and of so much interest for science, tourism and photography. Visitors will never forget this experience with nature. |
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Meanwhile, this same particularity is the cause of its delicate and fragile balance, thus the importance of the control of the introduction and spreading of foreign species, as well as a strict tourism control and other extractive human activities such as fishing. The management and protection institution on the isles is The Galapagos National Park with the collaboration of entities, as Charles Darwin Foundation and others. The wild life is made up mainly of birds, mammals and reptiles. There are no amphibians in the Galapagos. Its rich marine life makes this place an incomparable place and is one of the most important scuba diving destinies in the world. At present, the animals introduced many years ago by settlers, as goats, pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and rats which, having no competitors they have expanded, becoming one of the main problems for the conservation of the islands fauna. The same occurs with plants, thus, the institutions involved in conservation are also taking care of control and extermination of plants and animals. |
Climate
The Galapagos Island are located on the equator, and are being characterized by having two different seasons. The warm season is from January till May, during these months sunny days are as frequent as heavy rains, which usually take one or two hours. The average temperature is between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius. The cold season starts in june and end in December, basically with less rain and less warmth, the average
Language
The official language spoken in the Islands is Spanish, some native people also speak Quechua, a local language. Few people speak English, therefore it is recommended to take some Spanish lessons before coming to the Islands for tourism or volunteer work.
Money
The currency used in Ecuador and on the Galapagos Islands is the US Dollar.
Time difference
On the Galapgos Islands during summertime there is a difference of 8 hours with European mainland, and in the Winter Period the difference is 7 hours. For US and Canada there is a no time difference for the eastern states and 2 hours difference with Western States.
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