Ecuador: Galapagos and Service Expedition

Group flight arrival to Quito. Transfer via private bus to our Quito accommodation, selected specifically for its comfort and group-coherent space. Safety briefing, snacks, and settle into bed.

Begin the day with group orientation and language activities as we situate ourselves in this exciting new setting. Spend a day visiting the famous Plaza de Independencia and El Panecillo to take in breathtaking views of this sprawling metropolis. We also visit the Quito Teleferico for an epic gondola ride. Check out Mitad del Mundo (equator) and have a special lunch in Calacali hosted by a famous local chef who specializes in organic local foods. Evening group reflection and homestay orientation/role playing takes place along with some language activities.

We rise early to transfer via private bus to Lago Cuicocha for a hike around the spectacular crater lake. Learn about the geological and cultural histories of the area as we take in amazing views and stretch our legs! We meet our homestay families in the nearby town of Cotacachi and settle into our new homes (at least two students per household). 

Over the next five days, we engage in community service projects with local  schools, indigenous partners, and community organizers. Past projects have included construction, maintenance, and general upkeep of the local school that hosts all elementary students under one teacher. There is also an indigenous kindergarten next door where we can interact with students, paint, or do other crafts. We balance our hard work with meaningful exchange and language opportunities alongside the locals. 

On our final full day in the community, we will hold a Pambamesa Lunch where different members of the community bring their land products to share as a way to thank you for all the work done during this week. We will also hold a final celebratory dinner with our new friends. 

Adventure activities during our time in Cotacachi include an excursion to Otavalo to explore the largest artisan and indigenous market in Latin America! We will also visit a local tannery to see how locals process leather- try your hand at shoe or wallet making! Other workshops include organic jam and jewelry making. We will visit an Alpaca farm to learn about the wool-making process. 

After transferring back to Quito, we take a short flight to Santa Cruz in the Galapagos, our island archipelago home for the next week.  We take a boat ride across to  Isla Isabela. We partner with a local tortoise breeding program for service projects- past projects have included general maintenance of the breeding ground and repairing fences. We learn from an expert about conservation efforts on Galápagos and see the development of coastal ecosystems; we examine plant adaptations to different environments we visit. 

Adventure activities during this time include traveling inland to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano, the world’s second largest volcanic crater! We will also visit and learn the complex history behind the Wall of Tears. We will visit Los Tuneles, an amazing snorkeling site where penguins, turtles, manta rays, sharks, and sea lions are almost always present in crystalline waters surrounding an intricate complex of lava tunnels. This is one of the best snorkeling sites in Galápagos both aesthetically and for viewing sea life. We will also visit the Tintoreras islet for additional wildlife viewing. 

For this next portion of our Galapagos adventure, we transfer to Isla Baltra and Isla Santa Cruz. Our guide will provide us with an overview of the region including historical and scientific context to the archipelago. We learn about the coastal and marine ecosystem. We visit a non-populated island via boat tour. We check out Tortuga Bay, so named for the black sea turtles that nest there.

We visit Lava Tunnels, Twin Craters, and the Giant Turtles Ranch during this portion of the trip- all world-famous Galapagos landmarks! We will spend a morning at the Charles Darwin Research Station to receive an unforgettable lesson about the island’s history and significance among current environmental challenges.

Service and adventure activities are punctuated by group reflection activities throughout our Galapagos stay. On the final night of the program, we hold a celebratory dinner on the island and hold a program closure activity to consider the interesting and impactful experience of the last two weeks. Flight out of Baltra back to Quito.

Fly back to Quito from Galapagos and celebrate our adventures with a last night dinner and reflection. Depart for home the next morning. We are sad to leave, but excited to share our stories with our family and friends. ¡Adios, Ecuador!

When flights become available, please contact us for the latest airfare pricing or visit our Flight & Travel Arrangements page for more information about travel days. Note: Internal flights for this program will be an additional cost.