Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders™
Live alongside exotic marine life in one of the last untouched places on earth.
Highlights
- Volunteer to restore the habitat of native Galapagos wildlife
- Live in a world where animals have no fear of humans
- Snorkel with sea lions and multi-colored exotic fish
- Zip line through the treetops of a forest
- Straddle the northern and southern hemispheres at the actual Equator line
- Kayak around untouched islands and see animals up close
- Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
- Meet Lonesome George, the rarest tortoise in the world
- Wander the cobblestone streets of colonial Quito
Groups are limited to 18 students.
Overview
The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are so unique that UNESCO has designated them a World Heritage Site. These 19 islands have been called a “living museum” and “showcase of evolution”. While the archipelago has been the center of attention from conservationists around the world, it is under constant pressure from environmental threats.
Come and experience one of the most pristine natural environments where conservationists are working to protect this unique ecosystem. Besides volunteering, you will also have the opportunity to hike lava fields, snorkel with seals and explore islands, volcanoes and reefs.
- Read student blog
: GLA Alum Hannah Gilbert writes about how biology comes to life in the Galapagos.
Community Service
Of the nine days you spend on the Galapagos Islands, five of those days will consist of community service. The other four days will focus on exploring the islands and learning about the biology and geology of the Galapagos archipelago.
The native wildlife of the islands is in danger because the animals’ natural habitat is under attack by invasive plants, litter, and foreign species. Students work to restore the natural habitat of the animals so that they can reproduce and grow. Our projects are in partnership with tortoise breeding centers on the islands of San Cristobal and Isabela.
Hands-on Learning
Throughout the program, you will be in a “living classroom.” We will learn about issues related to the challenges of balancing the needs of humans with the imperative for biological protection and preservation.
You will also witness firsthand the diversity of species that led Darwin to formulate his thinking on natural selection and adaptation. The entire journey will shed light into the history of these islands, human interaction and habitation, and the struggle to conserve the wildlife and fauna of this area.
Adventure
This journey through the Galapagos Islands will prove to be the experience of a lifetime. Not simply because of the rich and varied diversity of animals that you will see or their staggering numbers, but because of their sublime indifference to you while observing them. Giant tortoises – including the legendary Lonesome George, the last of his species on Earth – roam freely. Blue-footed boobies perch on rocks. The skies are filled with wheeling, courting, red-throated frigate birds. The lava rocks are piled high with motionless marine iguanas. A mind-boggling array of creatures live in a paradise of crystal blue waters, white beaches and cool mangrove stands. Students will hike up to a volcano, and explore the second largest crater in the entire world. We will swim through lagoons, snorkel through reefs and see wildlife that you have until now only read about.
Lodging
At the start and end of our journey, we will stay at a local hotel in Quito.
While in the Galapagos Islands our Home Base is a small hotel run out of the home of a local family. It is similar to a bed & breakfast; our students will share a room with one person, and each room has a private bathroom.
Students and staff eat meals with the local family. The family will share their home, culture and personal experiences of living on the islands with us.
In the Galapagos, we’ll spend the first seven nights on either Isabela or San Cristobal island (during the first three program sessions we will stay on Isabela, the last three sessions stay on San Cristobal) and both sessions will stay on Santa Cruz island the last 2 nights in the Galapagos.
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