Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants pay a USD 15 application fee for administrative expenses, that is to say, the preparation of the volunteer ID card, contact in the airport, and eventually, lodging before the trip to San Francisco. It is for this reason that this fee is non-refundable.

No, an intermediate or basic level might be enough; it depends on your personal abilities to communicate (and learn) and on the work that each volunteer is going to do in the environmental, education or health fields.

No, it is not necessary to be a university student or have a degree; the lower age limit is 18 years old or the majority on your country. Concerning physical condition, it is necessary to be in proper shape to do field work in a semi-tropical climate with a rugged geography (hills, ocean, rivers); furthermore there are, at time, outages in the public water and electricity systems in San Francisco.

The minimum period is 15 days (the trip from Quito to San Francisco takes an entire night and includes passage in a boat) and the maximum is determined by the duration of the visa which you are granted (3 months in the case of a tourist visa, but this can be extended). There is no time restriction on the part of FCSF if one is determined enough to complete the procedure of extending the visa.

It would be fine to come during any time of the year. The climate does not vary greatly (there are only 2 seasons, one rainy and the other a little drier; it is hot or warm all year, and almost never cold) and FCSF has the capacity to receive volunteers in any month of the year.

Actually we work on projects (conservation of the humid forests, for example) in San Francisco del Cabo and its sourroundings and FCSF has its origins there, so for this reason we only host volunteer programs in San Francisco.There are plans for more locations.

There are 2 options: one can stay in the house for volunteers, provided by FCSF, which is well outfitted for volunteers (one can cook, there is electricity, water and septic system, individual bedrooms that could eventually be shared with another volunteer or researcher); the other option is to stay in the house of a family, interacting with them directly and participating in their daily routine (the conditions of privacy and hygiene are somewhat lower).

The administrative assistant is in permanent contact via email with the volunteer, and through her, FCSF coordinates the reception of the volunteer in the airport, their transfer to the central office, and later to San Francisco.

There is a celular (paid) telephone service.

Curriculum vitae, application letter (containing ones personal motivations), 2 passport-sized photos, and a certificate of health (indicating any allergies or chronic illnesses, etc.).

One can send the documentation electronically, through the form online. The application fee one can pay through a bank transfer to the account: Fundación Cabo San Francisco Cuenta PRODUBANCO n° 02056004679 código SWIFT: P R O D E C E Q QUITO - ECUADOR or personally, on arriving in Ecuador.

Of course, so long as both will be volunteers with FCSF and promise to maintain their conduct in accordance with life in the community.

The UDS 400 covers the costs of:

• Reception and transportation from the airport to the central office.
• Downtown Colonial Quito Tour (one day).
• 3 meals/day.
• Lodging (in a house provided by the FCSF or with a family).
• Office material.
• Pc access in the volunteer's house.

  Volunteers must have their own health insurance. The costs of transportation are the responsibility of the volunteer, as are personal expenses.

In the case of a medical emergency the volunteer must turn to the local coordinator who will communicate with the director of FCSF. Each volunteer must have their own medical insurance, valid for the duration of their stay; FCSF does not provide additional medical insurance. In the house for volunteers there is a kit with basic medicines and first aids supplies.

Yes, the risk does exist; therefore it is necessary to take preventative medicines or anti-malarial medication (ask your physician). For prevention, one should also bring insect repellents and mosquito nets.

Depending on the project, the activities can be very diverse. Helping to give environmental interpretation courses in the school, going to neighboring populations to do botanical surveys, collecting plants, or constructing nurseries with the members of the community are all possible examples. Everything depends on the project on which the volunteer is working.You can check our "notes from the field" section to read about experiences from our former volunteers.

Depending on the interests of the volunteer, they can help in social work, making photographic documentation of all activities (to make an electronic journal of your stay, for example)…

Depending on your nationality, the potential volunteer can get information about the visa requirements for a trip of this nature from the Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Volunteering online, looking for funds, or making a donation.
All forms of helping us are possible and well received. The different initiatives can be discussed through email with members of FCSF.

In the case that documents exist which need to be translated, we will be grateful to receive your help in this way.

No, but a project to install a center with internet access is under way. The closest city with internet access is Muisne or Atacames.

The house is equipped with mattresses in the bedrooms, there is a bathroom, kitchen with a complete set of dishware and cooking utensils, desks and a computer for use by the volunteers. There is a cellular telephone but a signal to make calls is not guaranteed.

Yes, there is potable water, however it is not recommended for drinking without boiling first (the stores in town sell bottled mineral water, which is safer to drink). At times, the service of running water suffers from a lack of pressure in the system or fails completely.

The volunteer program includes all meals (with a family in San Francisco) however, as the house for volunteers has a completely equipped kitchen, each volunteer can also (at your own cost) bring food and prepare it in San Francisco. There are no supermarkets in San Francisco, only small stores; for this reason it is recommended that you bring food to cook from Quito.

The basic diet is comprised of fish, shellfish, rice and plantain in various preparations. In San Francisco there is no availability of soy derivatives, but there are a limited variety of fruits and vegetables. It is necessary that dietary restrictions, of any kind, be communicated previously.

In principle no, because it requires prior preparation of a place in which the volunteer will stay.

The work schedule is not fixed and no one controls it, everything depends on the activities that are programmed for each volunteer, though the schedule must be in accordance with completion of the proposed goals of the volunteer’s project.

No, they are not refundable because the administrative costs are fixed. If the volunteer decides at the last minute not to travel, they will already have been used.

Groups no larger than 10 persons are accepted for stays in the house for volunteers. In the case of larger groups, stays with families in San Francisco must be coordinated.

There are poisonous animals (generally snakes) but they are not aggressive and it is rare to encounter one in normal distances around San Francisco.

In this region there are 2 types of seasons: one rainy and one “dry”. In any time of year it is necessary to bring light clothing, preferably cotton, because the region is very humid and the temperatures fluctuate between 15° and 25° C, more or less. It is recommended that one wear pants (not shorts) because there is a lot of tall vegetation that provides a haven for insects.

To leave San Francisco there is transportation by sea (in small boats) and by land in a kind of bus (“la ranchera”), though the latter option is much longer and more uncomfortable. To make the trip by sea one has to walk about 40 minutes along the beach to the town of Bunche and there take a boat to for about half an hour to Muisne; boats also leave from San Francisco directly, but the journey is a little more risky. From Muisne, buses leave for Atacames (1 ½ hours at a cost around USD 2) a city with restaurants, internet, etc.

There are not many places in town to spend money. The stores sell food (non-perishables, fruit and vegetables, bread), soft drinks, toiletries, etc. at prices a little higher than in Quito. There are NO banks or ATMs in San Francisco or in Muisne (the closest city) therefore it is necessary to calculate beforehand how much money one might need until making a trip to a larger city. It is necessary to have lower denominations bills in San Francisco (USD 1, 5, or 10; no larger).