Day 1 :
Arrive in Quito
- Quito:
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador. Meet your WorldStrides Course Leader and begin your once-in-a-lifetime experience!
- Hotel Check-in:
Day 2 :
Tour Quito
- Tour Quito:
After breakfast tour Quito with your Course Leader and see its top attractions.
- Compañia Church:
The Church was built in 1605 by the Jesuits, it is one of the most significant baroque structures of South America.
- Panecillo Viewpoint:
The most important natural viewpoint in Quito.
- Independence and Presidential Palace:
The center of the city showcasing art, history, and landscaping as well as a monument for those who called for independence from the Spanish Empire.
- San Francisco Church:
A 16th-century Roman Catholic church, the largest historical architectural structure of colonial Latin America.
- Mitad del Mundo:
After lunch visit Mitad del Mundo, the middle of the world! Stand on the equator at zero degrees latitude. Experience interactive exhibits and learn about the unique scientific considerations at this location.
- Enjoy dinner and return to your hotel:
- Evening Activity:
Consider the geologic origins of the islands and why they are scientifically significant before participating in an evolution activity.
Day 3 :
Santa Cruz Island
- Breakfast and hotel check-out:
- Flight from Quito to Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands:
Santa Cruz is the second largest island of the Galapagos.
- Twin Craters:
Explore a pair of volcanic sinkholes call Los Gemelos. Their formation was caused by a large collapse of land rather than a volcanic eruption.
- Highlands of the Island:
Travel into mist-covered forests and see many different ecological communities. Stop at a ranch and observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
- Lava Tunnels:
Tour Lava Tunnels and engage with an activity on volcanic landforms and tectonic plates
- Lunch and hotel check-in:
- Darwin Research Center:
Founded in 1959, this educational research center works with the National Park Service on conservation and sustainability in the Galapagos Islands. Examine and learn about the climate, geography, and ecology of the area.
- Dinner:
Day 4 :
Isabela Island
- Breakfast:
- Transfer to Isabela Island:
Spend your morning touring the wetlands and investigating estuaries and endemic mangroves.
- Playa de Amor:
See flamingos eating at a local lake. Learn about Darwin’s finches and participate in an adaptation activity.
- Giant Tortoise Breeding Center:
Created to protect these amazing animals throughout their life cycle. Study species differentiation and complete a ecological relationships activity.
- Lunch:
- Wall of Tears:
Visit one of the most important historical sites on the Galapagos Islands. Hand-built by the prisoners sent to the island back in the 1940’s. Thousands of inmates were injured or lost their lives while being forced to build the structure.
- Snorkel at Concha Perla:
Walk through mangroves to a shallow bay perfect for snorkeling, packed full fish, playful sea lions, and the Galapagos penguin.
- Dinner and hotel check-in:
Day 5 :
Sierra Negra Volcano
- Breakfast:
- Sierra Negra Volcano Excursion:
Full day guided excursion through the Sierra Negra Volcano area. Hike the rim of the six-mile wide crater, then trek across the lava fields and fumaroles. Along the way, consider the unique ecological landscape and learn how to correctly identify the different types of volcanic rock.
- Soccer Match with Locals:
After a full day of exploring, enjoy a friendly soccer game with locals.
- Dinner and return to hotel:
Day 6 :
Las Tintoreras
- Breakfast and hotel check-out:
- Transfer by boat to Las Tintoreras:
Take a guided excusion of Las Tintoreras and come face to face with some of the Galapagos more interesting residents: marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, green sea turtles, resting white tip reef sharks, and more.
- Snorkeling Adventure:
Take a snorkeling adventure in the clear blue waters of the Galapagos. Learn how to identify the many varieties of fish and study their marine habitats. Consider the threat of climate change to these important ecosystems.
- Transfer to Santa Cruz Island by boat:
- Exploratory time along the Boulevard of Puerto Ayora:
- Dinner and hotel check-in:
Day 7 :
Baltra Island - Quito - Otavalo
- Breakfast:
- Transfer to Baltra Island via Itabaca Canal:
- Flight to Quito:
- Otavalo:
Explore Otavalo while participating in a fun scavenger hunt. Farewell dinner in Otavalo with a Andean Musician show
- Hotel check-in:
Day 8 :
Otavalo - Peguche Waterfall - Cuicocha Volcanic Lake
- Breakfast:
- Otavalo Market:
Witness a wide range of colorful weavings, jewelry, clothes, wood & stone carvings, and more produced by the Otavalenos, an indigenous group of Latin America.
- Peguche Waterfall:
Hike to this waterfall, considered a ceremonial site where locals carry out traditional rituals prior to the sun and harvest celebrations.
- Nanda Manachi Instrumental House:
Learn about traditional, hand-crafted Andean instruments and listen to the authentic music.
- Pachamanca ceremony:
Take part in a Pachamanca ceremony, an ancestral Andean cuisine preparation where food is cooked underground for 2-3 hours.
- Cuicocha Volcanic Lake:
Created by volcanic dome, this crystal clear water has depths up to 200-meters.
- Dinner:
- Overnight flight home:
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