Environment & Culture in the Galápagos
Known as “that land of craters” to Darwin, the Galápagos surpass expectations on first sight.
The views you’ll get descending upon Baltra by plane offer a glimpse of our Earth at its geological extremes, with Pinnacle Rock cutting into the horizon. On the ground, this kaleidoscope of landscapes becomes real, and the black rock becomes your pathway to a new understanding of the world.
-
Day 1: Fly to Ecuador
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner if arriving before 8pm
-
Day 2: Quito
Take a walking tour of Quito
With your Field Director you will see:
- Independence Plaza, the central square of Quito
- Government Palace, Quito's presidential palace
Visit Santo Domingo Monastery, built in the 16th century and now a church, convent, and museum of religious art
Take an excursion to the equatorial line and straddle two hemispheres at once
Visit the Intiñan Museum and learn about other places located along the equator
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 3: Quito • Baltra • Santa Cruz Island
Fly to Baltra
Visit the Santa Cruz highlands to see wild tortoises
Enjoy lunch
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Enjoy dinner in Santa Cruz
-
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
Visit Puerto Ayora
See the natural habitat of:
- Sea lions
- Finches
- Crabs
- Iguanas
Enjoy lunch
Visit La Grietas
-
Day 5: Santa Cruz Island • San Cristóbal Island
Take a ferry to San Cristóbal Island
Hike Tijeretas Hill
Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Cristóbal
-
Day 6: San Cristóbal Island
Enjoy snorkeling at La Loberia
Enjoy lunch
In the afternoon, choose between:
- A short walk to Punta Carola where you will see sea lions, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies
- Or time to shop
-
Day 7: San Cristóbal Island • Quito
Fly to Quito
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 8: Quito • Otavalo
Visit Otavalo Market
Visit Cotacachi waterfall
Enjoy lunch in Otavalo
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 9: Arrive home
Add more days
-
Day 9: Quito • Riobamba
Travel to the Riobamba region, an Andean village with cultural activities and shopping opportunities
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Riobamba
-
Day 10: Riobamba • Palacio Real
Travel to Palacio Real
Participate in cultural exchange activities with the local community
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Riobamba
-
Day 11: Riobamba • Guamote • Quito • Depart for home
Participate in cultural immersion activities and learn more about the community that lives here
- Meet children at their school
- Observe farming, handicrafts, cooking
- See an Ecuadorian chiva bus, a brightly decorated bus
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 12: Arrive home
-
Day 1: Fly to Ecuador
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner if arriving before 8pm
-
Day 2: Quito
Take a walking tour of Quito
With your Field Director you will see:
- Independence Plaza, the central square of Quito
- Government Palace, Quito's presidential palace
Visit Santo Domingo Monastery, built in the 16th century and now a church, convent, and museum of religious art
Take an excursion to the equatorial line and straddle two hemispheres at once
Visit the Intiñan Museum and learn about other places located along the equator
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 3: Quito • Baltra • Santa Cruz Island
Fly to Baltra
Visit the Santa Cruz highlands to see wild tortoises
Enjoy lunch
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Enjoy dinner in Santa Cruz
-
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
Visit Puerto Ayora
See the natural habitat of:
- Sea lions
- Finches
- Crabs
- Iguanas
Enjoy lunch
Visit La Grietas
-
Day 5: Santa Cruz Island • San Cristóbal Island
Take a ferry to San Cristóbal Island
Hike Tijeretas Hill
Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Cristóbal
-
Day 6: San Cristóbal Island
Enjoy snorkeling at La Loberia
Enjoy lunch
In the afternoon, choose between:
- A short walk to Punta Carola where you will see sea lions, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies
- Or time to shop
-
Day 7: San Cristóbal Island • Quito
Fly to Quito
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 8: Quito • Otavalo
Visit Otavalo Market
Visit Cotacachi waterfall
Enjoy lunch in Otavalo
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 9: Arrive home
Add more days
-
Day 9: Quito • Riobamba
Travel to the Riobamba region, an Andean village with cultural activities and shopping opportunities
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Riobamba
-
Day 10: Riobamba • Palacio Real
Travel to Palacio Real
Participate in cultural exchange activities with the local community
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Riobamba
-
Day 11: Riobamba • Guamote • Quito • Depart for home
Participate in cultural immersion activities and learn more about the community that lives here
- Meet children at their school
- Observe farming, handicrafts, cooking
- See an Ecuadorian chiva bus, a brightly decorated bus
Enjoy lunch in Riobamba
Enjoy dinner in Quito
-
Day 12: Arrive home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
Your experience includes
-
Round-trip airfare
Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group
-
Accommodations
Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.
-
On-tour transportation
Land and water transportation
-
Regional-style meals
Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.
-
End-to-end support
Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.
-
Full-time Field Director
Your Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.
-
Expert Local Guides
Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.
-
Guided sightseeing
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.
-
Entrances
Santo Domingo Monastery, Intinan Museum, Charles Darwin Research Station
-
Worldwide support, safety and security
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.
-
Flexible payment options
Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.
