My!Time!At!Hacienda!Tranquila!

Nine awesome weeks at Hacienda Tranquila. I had been searching for a conservation project
where my newly acquired skills could be used. Desperate to escape the dark, freezing Danish
winter, it had to be somewhere warm and include interesting and unique flora and fauna.

Many projects I find offer little “hands-on work”, but seem to only be interested in my money. I
had heard of these projects, and consequently rejected many. Then Hacienda Tranquila caught
my eye; actually conservation work located in the most interesting place I can imagine,
Galapagos. It was also significantly cheaper than other projects, and it seemed like my skills as a
botanical gardener would be of use.

It took fourteen days of preparation. Amongst other tasks, I created an internet site with
information on the islands, reptiles, birds, plants and other related subjects:
www.Bihrmann.com/Travel/Gal .

Zigzagging through Europe, the USA, and South America brought me to these remote islands. A
smiling Jose picked me up at the airport and helped me with my first shopping. We then visited
the project’s office, Casa Verde, where I had a chat with the Director, Geovanny, about the
project and conservation on Galapagos in general.

Jose accompanied me to the heights of the central part of the island. In this El Nino year, there
has been significantly more rain than usual and the hills are completely green. The Hacienda is a
pleasant surprise: recently renovated, spotlessly clean and with hot showers! There is a separate
room for each group of two, plenty of fridge and storage space, a cozy living room, and after a
month, a porch.

The rest of the crew had gone to the beach and continued to party on in town, leaving me alone. I
began to unpack, but the surrounds drew me out. A long walk in the hills reveals some incredible
scenery, plants and animals. The next morning, a group of interesting and friendly people turn
up, and the hacienda came alive!

The daily work of the project is a good mix of controlling invasive plants and reintroducing
native plants to their former habitat. The highlands forest was cut down by early farmers, and tall
Pampas grass, Guayabo trees and Blackberries have taken over, along with many other
introduced species. The National Park has given up, but Hacienda Tranquila proves that
it can be done; that nature can be turned returned to its original state.

Native plants are grown in the hacienda’s own nursery, and I am able to contribute with
knowledge on soil mix and propagating from cuttings. A great thing about the project is the
desire and ability to utilise knowledge and good ideas brought forward by the volunteers. We all
have different backgrounds and abilities, and there is room for all; strong, funny, educated and
relaxed.

Other significant advantages to the project include the fact that funding is available and that
things are not only on the drawing board, they actually happen. Even better, they tend to occur
within a short timeframe! This makes the hacienda and the project both well supplied and very
alive, which further fuels the productive atmosphere.

Other days are partly devoted to helping local farmers control the invasive plants on their
properties and giving a cheerful helping hand to local children that need some light in their life.
This can include horseback riding, English lessons, and spending time amongst nature. Tuesday
mornings are devoted to digging a pipeline which will, when finished, supply the local
community with fresh water.

The days may start with hard labor and finish with light work in the shade. At times, this is
followed by a swim at Playa Mann, utilizing internet facilities, and food shopping at the port.
After some time, you begin to see many familiar and smiling faces in the small port town. I have
never been flagged down by taxis before, but it happens often at the port.
The weekends offer plenty of opportunities for socializing and experiencing nature. Days are
spent on a remote beach, visiting the home of the giant tortoises, and the only freshwater lagoon,
El Junco. Some nights are spent in town, eating dinner, drinking at bars, and finishing off at the
locals watering hole, Iguana Rock.

Other days are spent taking long walks through local farmland and the nearby national park,
whose border offers a long and easy track through the wilderness. The town’s tour operators
offer dive and snorkel tours to both near and remote islands. Several beaches are in walking
distance. They are perfect, and sometimes you are the only person there!

I have worked with the project for nine weeks, only interrupted by a week of island hopping with
three other volunteers. During the time I have been at Hacienda Tranquila, many people have
passed through, but the atmosphere has at all times been friendly and relaxed.

The El Nino has finally ended and the rain is back to its regular patterns. I have seen the hills
turn green and remain spring green for two months. Now, they are starting to dry out, and San
Cristobal will soon look more like the volcanic, dry Galapagos you see in pictures.

I would like to return one day to see the surrounding “farmer’s hills” turn into native forest once
again, how the tortoises’ enclosure turns out, the scalesia forest turn from four trees into
hundreds, and enjoy the spirit once again. Of the more than 50 countries I have visited, this tour
is amongst the best ever! Not only have I seen and experienced exceptional native flora and
fauna; I have helped to rehabilitate it!