08:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.
08:30 – Departure by bus to the equator line and the IntiÑan Museum.
09:30 – Visit the IntiÑan Museum, where you’ll witness fascinating demonstrations of the Coriolis effect. Learn about indigenous Andean and Amazonian cultures.
11:00 – Bus to Quito's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
13:00 – Lunch at a local restaurant.
14:30 – Explore Quito’s historic Plaza Grande, see the Presidential Palace, and learn about Ecuador’s independence. Continue to La Compañía de Jesús, the breathtaking “Golden Church,” known for its ornate gold-covered interior. Afterwards, visit a family-run chocolate producer to learn about cacao processing and sample delicious handmade chocolates.
17:00 – Return to the hotel and dinner at the hotel.

Rancho San Carlos Tababela 

Meals: BLD

05:00 – Early breakfast at the hotel or grab a breakfast bag.
05:30 – Depart for the airport.
05:45 – Check in for your flight to the Galapagos Islands and complete the required biosecurity luggage inspections.
07:45 – Flight departs from Quito to Baltra Island in the Galapagos.
10:15 – Arrive at Baltra Airport, where your local guides will greet you and begin your Galapagos adventure.

Morning: After landing, we’ll travel from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island and the town of Puerto Ayora. The journey takes us from the arid lowlands through lush highland cloud forests—keep your eyes out for giant tortoises along the roadside!

12:15 – Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant by the harbor in Puerto Ayora.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll load our bags and prepare for our next journey—a 2.5-hour speedboat ride to Puerto Villamil, located in the south of Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands and home to incredible biodiversity.

14:00 – Depart by boat for Isabela Island.
16:30 – Arrive at Isabela Island and transfer to your hotel (Gran Hostal Tintorera or similar for 3 nights).
18:30 – Dinner at the hotel.

Meals: BLD

08:30 – Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 – Depart for Los Túneles, one of the Galapagos’ most iconic sites.
We begin our full-day adventure by picking up snorkeling gear at the dive shop before heading to the harbor. From there, we board a fast boat bound for Cabo Rosa on the western coast of Isabela. The area known as Los Túneles features dramatic volcanic formations—lava tubes and collapsed bridges that now form intricate, natural tunnels over crystal-clear turquoise waters.

11:00 – Arrive at Los Túneles.
Step off the boat onto the surreal lava landscape for a short, easy hike. Your guide will interpret the unique geology and wildlife of the area. Keep your eyes open for Blue-footed Boobies, which nest in the area and may even perform their famous courtship dance. Other wildlife sightings might include flamingos, albatrosses, iguanas, penguins, and royal frigate birds.

Snorkeling takes place at two designated sites, chosen by your guide based on daily conditions. Expect up-close encounters with an astonishing variety of marine life, including:

• Sea turtles
• Golden rays
• Spotted eagle rays
• Seahorses
• White-tipped and black-tipped reef sharks

A lunchbox will be provided onboard the boat.

17:30 – Return to Isabela’s harbor and transfer back to the hotel.
19:00 – Dinner at the hotel.

Meals: BLD

Notes:

Over the next three days, the group will be divided into three smaller groups of approximately 10 participants each. Everyone will rotate through the following activities:

• Los Túneles Day Tour
• Kayaking & Snorkeling
• Wetlands Exploration & Service Learning Mangrove Replanting 

Daily schedules are approximate and subject to change based on weather, tides, and local conditions.

07:30 – Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 – Walk to the harbor and split into two groups for morning water activities:

Kayaking – Paddle across the calm bay, weaving between volcanic rock formations in search of Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and other marine wildlife. Your guide will share insights into the unique coastal geology of Isabela Islands.

Snorkeling in Concha Perla – This tranquil lagoon is a haven for marine life and perfect for close encounters with sea turtles, sea lions, and schools of colorful fish. The boardwalk leading to the water is often lined with napping sea lions—an iconic Galápagos moment.

12:00 – Return to the village for lunch.

Afternoon:

16:00 – Walk back to the hotel.
17:30 – Evening presentation about the Mangrove Project—a local conservation effort that helps protect this crucial ecosystem.
19:00 – Dinner at the hotel.

Meals: BLD

07:30 – Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 – Depart for the Mangrove Reforestation Project.
Spend the morning at your project site, where you’ll take part in active conservation efforts to restore coastal mangrove habitats.

Mangroves are critical to the health of coastal ecosystems—they stabilize shorelines, protect against erosion, and serve as nurseries for juvenile fish and other marine life. With rising sea levels and increasingly intense tidal forces, these habitats are under threat. By replanting mangroves, students contribute directly to local ecological restoration and global climate action, as mangroves are also powerful carbon sinks.

13:00 – Return to the village for lunch.

14:00 – Take a short bus ride to explore Isabela’s wetlands, a fascinating transition zone between freshwater and marine environments.

As you walk along the trails and boardwalks, look for:

• American flamingos, black-necked stilts, pintail ducks, and black gallinules in the shallow lagoons
• Mullet, parrotfish, filefish, and sea turtles swimming in the mangrove channels
• Marine iguanas basking on lava rocks and sea lions lounging along the paths

16:30 – Visit a lagoon to observe flamingos and other wetland wildlife, followed by a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center.
Here, you'll learn about the conservation work being done to protect and reintroduce tortoises native to the volcanoes of southern Isabela.

17:15 – Return to the hotel.
19:00 – Dinner at the hotel.

Meals: BLD

08:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.
08:30 – Depart by bus for the harbor.
09:30 – Board the boat for a scenic ride to Santa Cruz Island.
12:00 – Arrive in Puerto Ayora and transfer to your hotel

13:00 – Lunch at Primicias Ranch in the Santa Cruz Highlands.
Enjoy a fresh local meal in the lush, misty highlands—an area known for its cooler climate and unique vegetation.

14:30 – Walk among giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Primicias is a private reserve where these iconic Galápagos creatures roam freely. You’ll observe them up close as they graze, rest in ponds, and slowly lumber through the vegetation.

16:00 – Explore the nearby lava tunnels, eerie underground passages formed by cooling volcanic flows. You’ll walk through these natural corridors while learning about the island’s volcanic origins.

16:30 – Visit Los Gemelos, the “Twin Craters.”
These massive sinkholes are part of a collapsed magma chamber and are surrounded by the lush Scalesia forest, a unique ecosystem home to a variety of bird species. Your guide will explain the importance of this highland vegetation and its role in Galápagos biodiversity.

19:00 – Dinner and overnight at Lava House or Similar  in Puerto Ayora for 3 nights..

Meals: BLD

07:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.

07:30 – Take a short water taxi ride across the bay to the trailhead for Las Grietas, a stunning volcanic fissure filled with cool, crystal-clear water. The walk to the site winds through lava rock, cacti, and a salt lagoon—a great chance to observe the island’s dry zone ecology.

Once at Las Grietas, you’ll have time to swim and snorkel in the narrow canyon, where freshwater and saltwater mix to create a unique habitat surrounded by towering volcanic walls.

09:30 – After a refreshing swim, stop briefly at a nearby salt lagoon, where you can often spot birds like stilts and herons before returning to town.

13:00 – Lunch in Puerto Ayora.

14:00 – Depart by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz for an afternoon of meaningful community service.

14:30 – Meet with a local community-based NGO founded in 2017 following a powerful citizen-led movement to protest illegal fishing in Galápagos waters. This organization has since become a leader in conservation and social justice on the islands.

You’ll be working alongside their team on a coastal cleanup and marine debris analysis project.

• Learn about the impact of plastic pollution in one of the world’s most sensitive marine ecosystems.
• Collect trash from beaches and coastal trails.
• Sort, analyze, and catalog the types of plastics found—contributing to scientific data that helps shape conservation strategies and policy.

This project goes beyond cleanup—your participation supports real-time research and empowers local efforts to protect the Galápagos for future generations.

18:00 – Bus back to the hotel.
19:30 – Dinner.
Meals: BLD

07:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 – Begin your hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galápagos. The trail winds through a landscape shaped by lava flows and framed by palo santo forests, prickly pear cacti, and saltbrush shrubs. The mix of habitats makes this a great area for spotting wildlife and appreciating the unique geology of the island.

As you reach the beach, take in the striking contrasts—jet black lava, powder-white sand, lush green mangroves, and vibrant turquoise water.

09:30 – Arrive at the large tide pool near Playa Mansa for snorkeling. This protected area offers a chance to swim alongside marine iguanas, who may glide right past you under the surface. Look carefully in the mangrove shallows—you might spot baby sharks darting between the roots. Keep an eye out for octopus, sea cucumbers, and other fascinating creatures that call this calm lagoon home.

After snorkeling, enjoy some time to relax on the beach, take photos, or wade in the shallows.

11:30 – Begin the hike back to Puerto Ayora.

13:00 – Lunch at the hotel.

14:00 – Free afternoon
Take this time to rest, explore town, visit a local café, or shop for souvenirs and local crafts. You’ve earned a little downtime!

19:00 – Dinner at the hotel.

Meals: BLD

07:00 – Final breakfast at the hotel. Please have your bags packed and ready before breakfast.
07:30 – Transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight back to Quito. Upon arrival at the airport, we’ll check in, go through biosecurity screening, and head to the gate.
Each student will receive a box lunch to enjoy at the airport or during the flight.

11:38 – Flight departs from Baltra to Quito.
16:15 – Arrival in Quito, where we will collect our bags and transfer by bus to the hotel for dinner and a chance to rest before the journey home.

19:00 – Group dinner at the hotel and rest at the hotel.

21:00 – Late evening transfer to the airport for overnight/redeye flights home.

Meals: BLD