Help on our ecotourism farm with tourists, with farm work and help Venus improve her English. Galapagos islands, Ecuador

Ecuador

Favourited 587 times

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Feedback
11
Last activity
26/05/2021
Nº of Facebook friends
513
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Description
We are a family of 4, mother (Eugenia), father (Rolando), adult daughter (Venus) and her son (Benjamin). Other family members visit on the weekend. We live in Cascajo, a small village located 20 minutes away from Puerto Ayora, the main town of Santa Cruz island. Another daughter (Grace) manages the Workaway website and has the initial contact with volunteers.

We are an eco-tourism farm which co-exists with nature preserving all of the natural and endemic species.
We produce and sell fresh cheese every day as a family enterprise. We also sell our bananas, lemons and more. In addition, we have a tourist experience offering a tour of the farm where we explain about the animals, the plants, how to make sugar cane juice, a lava tunnel and a crater. The farm also has ecological trails, a lagoon for birds, and a farm petting zoo.

We sell coffee and cake to our tour visitors in a large room with a beautiful view of the landscape and the coastline.. For the adrenaline lovers, there are big swings!

We can only have one volunteer at any time. We cannot accommodate couples. For our volunteer, we have a private bedroom with private bathroom in a separate modern building from the main house. There is NO hot water in the bathroom. We provide 2 meals a day and small snack or tea for dinner and you will eat together with the family in the main house.

We have no internet but good mobile phone connection if your phone has an Ecuadorean SIM card.

You must love nature and countryside as we are quite isolated. You should enjoy filling your afternoon free hours independently. Buses run to town a few times a day and cost $1 or you can take a taxi for $8-10.

Sometimes my dad goes to town with his truck and can bring you to the farm. We live 7km from a small beautiful beach called “Playa El Garapatero”.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
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What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Learn to cook Ecuadorian food, learn about farm tourism and farm life. Learn about the flora and fauna of Galapagos Islands . Practice your spanish with my mother while you work and eat together. Learn about animal care, make cheese.
Help
We are looking for someone who can stay at least 1 month. You must be an English native speaker or speak excellent English to have conversations with Venus to help her improve her English. We need our volunteer to have a good attitude to visiting guests and someone willing to learn about tourism in the countryside. We need people who will take the initiative and offer to help when they see a need.

We need help with different types of work, so it is better if you can help in all of these activities because life on a farm is different every day:

- Gardening
- Animal care
- Maintenance of trails
- Make cheese
- Painting, decorating and be a creative person. Artists are more than welcome.
- Teach English
- Skills in marketing or tourism to help us with this part of the enterprise and help with guests

Our farm is not for lazy people. Breakfast is at 7:00am and work starts right after. We will be like family to you if you have a positive attitude.
Languages
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
English: Intermediate
This host offers a language exchange
I am want to practice english with volunteer, when we work we can still speking english
Accommodation
In exchange for the help you provide, we will provide 2 meals a day and snack or tea for dinner ,a private bedroom with an en suite modern bathroom but no hot water. The food is from our farm, so it is organic. There are hammocks for you to relax.
What else ...
The farm is close to Garrapatero beach 10 minutes by car, 1 hours and half by foot
We don’t smoke but we tolerate smokers. Puerto Ayora is the center of tourism for the Galapagos islands so this Paradise is there to explore on your time off.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
5 hours per day, 5 days a week with 2 days off

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (11)

20/09/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Tim)

Tim, thanks very much for great moments helping Venus. We appreciated your helpful attitude and your efforts to make our visitors feel comfortable. Thank you for being friendly and easy going with our workers and customers. We recommend Tim to others hosts and would be happy to have him come back to us.

(Excellent )

09/08/2019

Left by Workawayer (Tim) for host

I stayed at the Columpio Magico for one month with Venus, Benjamin, Eugenia and Rolando and definitely had an amazing time!
The whole family was extremely kind and welcoming, and both Venus and Grace were always very helpful in helping me plan all my trips around santa Cruz and the other islands.
The work was good and mainly around the kitchen,… read more

(Excellent )

20/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Kirsty & Jakub) for host

We had a great experience working for one month with Venus, Eugenia, Danilo and little Benjamin! It is a great way to see real local life on the Galapagos. The farm is situated a 25 min bus ride from town ($1, leaves 3-4 times a day) and has beautiful views over the island. It's a touristic farm centred around a crater where tourists can walk… read more

(Excellent )

09/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Jacob) for host

The combination of location, people, food, and culture made my time at this project relaxing, rewarding, and unforgettable. I stayed with the family for two weeks and was taken care of in many ways. The food was incredible and they always made sure I was okay. I stayed in a cabin a little away from the main house and the room was perfect. I had my… read more own bathroom and the room is huge. Make sure you bring a book, computer with movies, or something to do. I went on constant hikes on the property and enjoyed doing some writing.

While on the farm, I focused my energy on making cheese, teaching English, helping out with daily chores, and anything else that was needed. I was able to learn so much from Eugenia and Venus in the kitchen. They are true wizards. They were both fantastic teachers, helping me when I didn't understand something or when I got confused. My Spanish isn't that strong so sometimes I didn't fully understand the instructions. They were patient with me and helped me know what was going on. I mainly worked with Venus who's English is improving and improved so much during my two weeks there. Venus is a fantastic mother to Benjamin and great tour guide to the tourists. Benjamin is a curious and energetic kid who loves to play and his Engish improved greatly during my two weeks working with him.

I was able to hang out with Grace a few times during my stay. Grace is a humorous and a laid-back kind of human. I also stayed with Grace for one night in Puerto Ayora and was able to meet some of her friends and get to know the Galapagos culture in a deeper manner. Both of the sisters have a desire to learn and acquire knowledge that I admire. Mama (Eugenia) and Papa (Rolando) are just that, parents. They are extremely generous and paternal. They helped out me with rides other towns and made sure I felt part of the family. I sat with the family during their family dinners and enjoyed each moment. Cannot forget Danilo who is a considerate man and has a beautiful smile. I am very thankful I was able to practice my Spanish with him and wish him the best.

The family has a beautiful dedication to hard work. Be prepared to learn and work during your time there. I was given days off and was able to explore other islands. Unfortunately, based on my own travel plans, I only stayed two weeks. I highly recommend if you want to be part of a family, improve your Spanish, discover the islands, and help out on the farm to spend your time and energy here. My experience was beautiful and special one because of the magic of the Galapagos Islands and especially the family atmosphere and vibe I was welcomed into. Thank you all so much and hopefully see you soon.

(Excellent )

29/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Stuart) for host

STAY HERE !!! MY BEST ADVICE

This was such a great workaway!!! Especially after my nerves to learn Spanglish and how well I could get on. Grace was an amazing host who took me to all the best sites on my time off (alot). Making cheese and working the kitchen was a real joy and learning experience. The food is farm fresh and organic which is a… read more

(Excellent )

25/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (Richard) for host

I spent 3 amazing weeks in Columpio Magico! I had a very cool room-mate, Stu, our room was big enough to share and it was definitely good to have a funny company instead of being alone. The location of the farm is excellent, on the top of a hill in the middle of the island, so you have a beautiful view on Garrapatero Beach and Puerto Ayora. The… read more

(Excellent )

05/04/2017

Left by Workawayer (Max) for host

I stayed here for five weeks and it was very relaxing. It is very isolated which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what type of person you are. I read a lot of books while I was here. There are many animals to see and the big ocean is obviously beautiful. The Galapagos in general is a very interesting place. I will never forget it.

(Very good )

31/01/2017

Left by Workawayer (Reka) for host

I stayed with la familia 3 weeks (14/12-05/01).
Mainly it was me and the wonderful mother Eugenia (mi mama galapagena :)), 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.
I cleaned the terrace, we cooked for the tourists and for ourselves and when the tourists would arrive for the tour I would explain them all about it, collected the money and would let them go… read more

(Very good )

15/10/2016

Left by Workawayer (Ngaire) for host

I had such an amazing time with this family ! They were so welcoming and accommodating to be being vegetarian :) The food was amazing-I was quite spoiled.
I helped Venus practice her English and did a lot of painting around the restaurant dinning area. I also led some tours around the farm, mostly for foreign people who spoke English or French… read more

(Excellent )

12/11/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Wendy & Kate)

kate was a good teacher and tour guide too, She love to show the local people interesting things about organic farm and endemic flora of the Galapagos Island. She was helpful volunteer and respect others cultures.I think she loves to be english teacher to beginner student and intermediate too. She like to eat organic food and help to cook. Thanks… read more

(Very good )

21/09/2015

Left by Workawayer (Wendy & Kate) for host

I stayed with the family for three weeks mainly teaching English to Grace (intermediate) and the two employed farm workers (beginners) and leading tours around the farm (in English and Spanish). We had a lot of fun and it was lovely to help them improve their English so they can help better with the foreign tourists that visit the farm.

The… read more

(Very good )

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