Galera, Ecuador
Connect and unlock your impact: Eco-Adventure with Sea Turtles and Rainforest Conservation
Join our transformative conservation project in Ecuador! Help us protect endangered species and habitats while immersing yourself in local culture and landscapes. Together, we’ll achieve significant milestones, from boosting environmental education to saving sea turtle nests and planting trees. Your passion and support make our conservation efforts possible. Let's make a lasting impact on our planet's future!
- Diego Tejedor
- Worldpackers host since Nov/2023
Starting from
US$ 934 for 7 days (US$ 133 per day)
Check dates & pricesJoin 38 worldpackers who've loved having this experience
Available group trips
Dec 17, 2025 - Dec 23, 2025
Come Join Justin in Ecuador!
COME TO ECUADOR WITH ME! I’m beyond excited to share this experience with you all and can’t wait for you to join. We’ll learn how to live sustainably in the Ecuadorian jungle, and connect with wonderful people from around the world. Got questions? Shoot me a DM on Insta, I’ll give you all the details. This is your sign to pack your bag and jump into the adventure of a lifetime! 🌊✨
Jun 01, 2026 - Jun 07, 2026
Ecuador Rainforest & Sea Turtle Conservation with Annabelle
Join Annabelle for an unforgettable experience in Ecuador — where rainforest exploration meets sea turtle conservation! 🐢✨ During this immersive trip, you’ll live steps away from the beach and work alongside local conservation teams to protect nesting sea turtles, monitor hatchlings, and help restore coastal ecosystems. Between conservation activities, you’ll hike through lush rainforests, chase waterfalls, and connect with an incredible community of travelers who share your passion for adventure and the planet. 🌎💚 This experience is perfect for anyone passionate about wildlife, sustainability, and meaningful travel — no background required, just curiosity and a love for nature!
Itinerary
Day 1
Evening
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Arrival and welcome, tour of the facilities, team introduction
Arrival and welcome, tour of the facilities, team introduction.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner.
Day 2
Morning
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Workshop
Workshop on the Galera San Francisco Marine Reserve and conservation actions to protect sea turtles.
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM: Breakfast
9:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Tour of the Galerita
Tour of the Galerita nesting beach. On-site explanation of the sea turtle conservation project. Locating, protecting, and monitoring sea turtle nests (June - March). Collection of non-organic waste (year-round).
Afternoon
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Free time
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Free time
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Intro
Introductory theoretical-practical permaculture class. Planting special plants (optional).
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Bird watching
Bird observation and recording (optional).
Evening
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
Day 3
Morning
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM: Breakfast
6:00 AM – 7:00 AM: Bird watching
Bird observation and recording (optional).
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Tour of the Galerita nesting beach
Tour of the Galerita nesting beach. Locating, protecting, and monitoring sea turtle nests (June - March). Collection of non-organic waste (year-round).
Afternoon
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Free time
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Free time
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Agroforestry nursery
Work in the agroforestry nursery. Preparation of plants for reforestation campaigns (optional).
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Bird watching
Bird observation and recording (optional).
Evening
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Night walk
Night walk in the forest to observe and record nocturnal species. Installation of camera traps (optional).
Day 4
Morning
6:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Beach monitoring
Beach monitoring for locating/protecting new nests.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Environmental education
Environmental education activities at a local school.
Afternoon
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Free time
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Reforestation campaign
Reforestation campaign in Caimito and agroforestry systems work (optional). Includes cacao harvest/pruning (13 km south of Punta Tortuga).
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Return trip + Free time
Evening
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
Day 5
Morning
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM: Breakfast
6:00 AM – 7:00 AM: Bird watching
Bird observation and recording (optional).
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Travel to Quingue
Travel to Quingue (11 km) for nesting beach monitoring.
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Tour of Quingue nesting beach
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Tour of Quingue nesting beach. Locating, protecting, and monitoring sea turtle nests (June - March). Collection of non-organic waste (year-round).
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Free time
Afternoon
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Free time
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Workshop on artisanal chocolate making at a local business
Workshop on artisanal chocolate making at a local business. Option to purchase regenerative chocolate bars. Includes a demonstration of cacao seed processing: roasting, peeling, and grinding. (Supports a local chocolatero family).
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Bird observation and recording
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Return to Punta Tortuga
Evening
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
Day 6
Morning
You may choose between leisure/tourism or continuing agroforestry system work
Leisure Option
Visit nearby tourist destinations (e.g., Mompiche, 1h15, for surfing or classes). Rest on-site at Punta Tortuga is also an option.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Breakfast
Conservation option.
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Nesting beach monitoring in Quingue or agroforestry work in Caimito
Nesting beach monitoring in Quingue or agroforestry work in Caimito.
Afternoon
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Agroforestry work
Agroforestry work, wildlife monitoring, or bird observation in Caimito.
Evening
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Return to Punta Tortuga
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
Day 7
Morning
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Farewell, photos, hugs
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Return trip to Quito
What's included
What's not included
Requirements
- Intermediate English
- Over 18 years old
Activities
See the activities that will make your trip into an epic adventure.
Learning opportunities
Contribute to your project and make a positive impact while developing new skills.
Soil regeneration in degraded areas
Build slow formation terraces for the improvement of soil structure.
Sea turtle hatchling release
Protect sea turtle nests and help babies reach the ocean safely when they’re ready to hatch.
September - February
Kids and youth education on ecology
Boost local conservation awareness by joining 2+ eco activities weekly in nearby schools.
Agroforestry systems and watershed maintenance
Plant species along the watershed to prevent erosion, and prune and harvest in agroforestry systems.
Sea turtle nest detection and protection
Join beach walks with a marine biologist to spot and protect new sea turtle nests.
July - February
Nesting beach clean-up
Collect and classify plastic on nesting beaches, as plastic is a major threat to sea turtles.
All year round
Reforestation and habitat restoration
Support reforestation in the Chocó, a top biodiverse zone, by working in nurseries.
Immersion activities
Get to know the local culture and have an authentic travel experience with activities included in your itinerary.
Work in the agroforestry nursery.
Preparation of plants for reforestation campaigns (optional).
Bird watching
Bird observation and recording (optional)
Environmental education activities
Activities at a local school
Workshop on the Galera San Francisco Marine Reserve
Learn about the reserve and conservation actions to protect sea turtles.
Introductory theoretical-practical permaculture class.
Planting special plants (optional)
Tour of the nesting beaches
On-site explanation of the sea turtle conservation project.
June - March
Night walk
Observe and record nocturnal species. Installation of camera traps (optional).
Beach monitoring
Locate/protect new nests!
Reforestation campaign in Caimito
and agroforestry systems work. Includes cacao harvest/pruning (optional)
Workshop on artisanal chocolate making at a local business.
Includes a demonstration of cacao seed processing: roasting, peeling, and grinding.
Extra activities
Additional activities for you to enjoy this adventure even more in your free time.
Surfing lessons
Gear and a 2 hour session.
Surfing lessons for $25
Spanish lessons
¡Hablemos español! Learn from native speakers
For jus $15/hour
Videos
Lisa
Australia
Absolutely loved this experience and would do it again in a heartbeat! Andrea and Diego are so welcoming and friendly and I learnt a lot from them. All the activities were incredible including monitoring sea turtle nests, planting new trees in the jungle, teaching the local scouts about the reserve, harvesting cocoa, coconuts, oranges and yuka and visiting the giant mangroves. I stayed for 2 weeks and it flew by! Including a weekend trip to Mompiche, a local surf village, which was nice and relaxing. The only thing I would say is the everyday schedule is very relaxed so expect to be relaxed.☺
6 days ago
Larissa
Germany
I absolutely loved my stay at the reserve!! Andrea and Diego are simply amazing, incredibly knowledgeable and they care so much about their project! I learned so many new things and experienced amazing moments I will never forget!! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in turtle the reserve and reforestation! Another amazing bonus about this project are definitely the dogs, I simply loved them!! Thank you, Andrea and Diego for your hard work every single day!! Just a little warning: showering is going to be cold but at least you'll have a nice view:)
6 days ago
Hardeep
Canada
I had a wonderful experience at this turtle the reserve project! The hosts Diego & Andrea were incredibly welcoming and passionate about their work — it's clear they've put a huge amount of effort into developing and expanding their the reserve initiatives over the past few years. It was inspiring to work alongside them and be part of their sustainability efforts. I learned so much and left feeling truly motivated by their dedication to protecting turtles and the environment.
13 days ago
Michelle
United States
Thank you for such a truly amazing experience.
14 days ago
Jennifer
United Kingdom
Staying with Diego and Andrea was an amazing experience. They have created a wonderful sanctuary in a rural setting. It is a simple but very sustainable set up so travellers need to be prepared for that. Everything was clean and I always felt safe. Both of them are knowledgeable about the reserve and it was an honour to be able to be in their company and learn from them. we were fed good and wholesome food the week we stayed there. We had variety in the schedule and got to do activities close by like chocolate making and a mangrove tour or surfing.
20 days ago
Hardeep
Canada
I had a wonderful experience at this turtle the reserve project! Andrea & Diego were amazing hosts; incredibly welcoming and passionate about their work — it's clear they've put a huge amount of effort into developing and expanding their the reserve initiatives over the past few years. It was inspiring to work alongside them and be part of their sustainability efforts. I learned so much and left feeling truly motivated by their dedication to protecting turtles and the environment. Being immersed in the work and seeing turtles hatch was such a beautiful experience. Thank you!
21 days ago
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Exchange ideas with other confirmed worldpackers before your trip.
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Accommodation options
Shared Dorm
Four same-gender dorms are available to be shared between no more than three other travelers or project staff. Each traveler has their individual spaces for clothes and belongings, electricity sockets, plus a toilet and separate shower in each room.
Comfortable beds and bed clothes are available, and you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes: all the beds have mosquito nets to ensure a good night of sleep.
We care about nature even when nature calls, so our toilets are ecological - composting, dry toilet.
- Fixed-price laundry service
- Internet (over 100 Mbps)
- Surfboards
- Dedicated Workspace
- Hot water showers
- Lockers
Meals
Healthy and organic local food cooked by a local with lots of experience. Breakfast includes organic fruits harvested by travelers at the agroforestry system, homemade bread, happy chicken eggs, homemade yogurt, and homemade marmalade. Lunch and dinner can include vegetable soup, salad, fish and vegetables baked with coconut milk, rice, pasta, meat and cheese.
Arrival orientation
After landing at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, a host representative will pick you up and take you to the project. This trip is remote, so plan your travel carefully! There is ONE group pick-up from Quito (UIO) on Day 1. The drive is 7+ hours. If you miss it, you must arrange your own transport (approx. $200). We highly recommend you fly in the day before to ensure you make the shuttle. For your departure, a single group transfer leaves in the morning on the last day. Book your flight home for very late that night or the next day to be safe.
About the project
Our mission is to conserve threatened ecosystems like the Galera - San Francisco marine reserve and the Ecuadorian Chocó coastal rainforest by collaborating with local communities and international travelers. Through organized activities, the project aims to restore habitats and increase endangered species populations, addressing challenges exacerbated by local economic constraints. With the support of travelers, significant achievements include intensified environmental education, enhanced protection of sea turtle nests, and substantial disposed plastic collection.
Travelers are essential to the project's success, providing a helping hand in sea turtle conservation and habitat restoration. They acquire essential skills, contribute to real conservation efforts, and gain cultural experiences by living in the jungle and engaging with local communities. Through their involvement, travelers help spread the importance of ecological actions for conservation and inspire future generations to combat climate change.
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Top host
- This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.
- Languages spoken in this project
- English, Spanish
- How long does it exist
- 4 years
- Worldpackers host
- Since Nov/2023
About the destination
The region of Muisne is an amazing area in terms of local culture and biodiversity. As it is not a touristic area, our area is pretty well maintained and authentic. It is the only place in Ecuador where you can see from the same spot at the beach at the same time a humpback whale (as they get really close to the coast during certain months of the year), a group of green/olive ridley sea turtles hatching, Chocó toucan flying around (and singing) and an amazing sunset. Travelers will be surrounded by the last remnants of Ecuadorian coastal Chocó rainforest and by the Galera - San Francisco marine reserve where, according to scientific researchers, there is a biodiversity that compares to the Galápagos.
During your free time, you can visit the nearby beach, waterfalls, hiking trails, surf spots, and participate in workshops and in movie + pizza nights.
Impact & Purpose
Embark on a journey with the only non-profit organization in the area dedicated to safeguarding a unique Marine Reserve, with a special focus on protecting sea turtles, and preserving the last traces of coastal Chocó rainforest. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to protect endangered habitats and species while promoting ecological practices that encourage sustainability.
Through activities with the local kids and youth, travelers will gain and spread the knowledge and skills needed for engaging in sea turtle conservation initiatives, including monitoring nesting beaches and addressing threats such as plastic pollution. You also help (and learn) in the regeneration of cacao farms and agroforestry systems.
This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals
Life below water
Sea turtles are really threatened species that play a very important role in oceans. Sea turtles, particularly green turtles that we work with, rely on seagrass beds as a primary food source. As these herbivorous creatures graze on seagrass, they prevent it from overgrowing which can shade the coral reefs beneath, hindering the necessary process of photosynthesis that corals need to survive. By maintaining the balance of seagrass beds, sea turtles contribute to the health of nearby coral reefs, so for the population of many other species that local communities depend on.
Climate action
Travelers will work in the production of endangered species of plants for the reforestation of degraded areas. We will be restoring habitat through reforestation, ecological design and regenerative agriculture.
Sustainable cities and communities
Travelers will support the conservation of species that play an important role for the sustainability of fisheries and will help design agroforestry systems to produce local and ecological food. Travelers will also help collect plastic waste and classify it in unique and threatened ecosystems.
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