GALAPAGOS
PRESERVING NATURE'S WONDERS
Encounter exotic species of island and marine life found nowhere else in one of the most iconic ecosystems in the world.
Program Overview
On this program, you’ll experience one of the world’s most pristine natural environments, where Charles Darwin developed the Theory of Evolution. Join conservationists in preserving this UNESCO World Heritage site and its unique ecosystem. Explore the Galapagos archipelago, witness exclusive habitats and geological formations, snorkel with sea lions, and encounter the iconic Galapagos tortoises. A favorite among Global Leadership Adventures alumni, this Animal & Wildlife Conservation program is perfect for adventure seekers, animal lovers, and teens passionate about protecting the natural world.
This Animal & Wildlife Conservation program is a favorite of Global Leadership Adventures alumni and is a perfect choice for adventure seekers, animal lovers and teens who are passionate about preserving the natural world.
On GLA’s Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders™ program you will:
- Help restore the natural habitat of native Galápagos tortoises
- Explore the natural wonders of two stunning Pacific islands
- Snorkel with sea lions and spot iguanas, sea turtles and blue-footed boobies
- Stand at the equator, where the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet
Program Menu
GALAPAGOS
PRESERVING NATURE'S WONDERS
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Days 1 - 2: Getting Oriented
Fly into Quito, Ecuador’s capital, where GLA staff will greet you! We’ll drive to a hotel near the airport for our first two nights, preparing for the Galapagos with leadership activities and team-building. Time permitting, we may visit Mitad del Mundo, a monument marking the Equator line.
Day 3: Journey To The Galápagos
We’ll fly to the Galápagos and head to Santa Cruz, the archipelago’s second-largest island. After settling in at our Home Base, we’ll walk to the Charles Darwin Research and Breeding Centers to learn about the islands’ unique ecosystem, preparing us for our upcoming service work.
Day 4: Service Orientation
Today, we’ll get oriented at a tortoise reserve in Santa Cruz’s highlands. We’ll help restore the landscape, a vital habitat for giant Galápagos tortoises. It’s hard, messy work, but essential for preserving the islands’ unique ecosystem.
Days 5 - 7: Service & Adventure
Over the next three days, we’ll continue removing invasive species in the mornings and explore the Galápagos in the afternoons. Highlights include Las Grietas, Los Gemelos craters, a lava tunnel, and Tortuga Bay, where we’ll relax, spot wildlife, and do leadership activities on the beach.
Day 8: Journey To San Cristóbal
Today, we travel to San Cristóbal, one of the oldest Galápagos islands. After settling into our Home Base and enjoying lunch, we’ll hike to Mann Beach to relax, enjoy ice cream, and snorkel if conditions allow.
Day 9: Conservation, History, Hiking, & Snorkeling
After breakfast, we’ll hike to the Cristóbal information center to learn about conservation, then snorkel at Tijeretas Beach. In the afternoon, we’ll meet a local woman leading recycling efforts, learning about her work and joining a hands-on recycling workshop.
Day 10: Service & Snorkeling
Start the day with a walk to La Loberia Beach for snorkeling, possibly with sea lions and turtles. After lunch at a local restaurant, help at a school with painting or refurbishing projects. End the day on the beach, watching the sunset and reflecting with peers.
Day 11: Service & Reflection
Today we will wrap up our final day of service and say goodbye to the community members we have connected with along the way. We will spend the evening wrapping up our time on the islands, discussing how this once-in-a-lifetime experience has impacted us.
Day 12: Salsa & Shopping In Town
On our final day, we’ll enjoy a salsa lesson, explore Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and relax with our GLA community. After dinner, we’ll reflect on leadership, local challenges, and conservation, followed by deeper discussions in Mentor groups.
Day 13: Travel to Quito Airport
Today, we will catch our flight back to Quito. Take a final look at the stunning Galapagos islands from above as we lift off over the Pacific.
Day 14: Departure
After an early breakfast and final goodbyes, we’ll head to the airport. The GLA team will help you check in and see you off on your return flight home! ¡Adiós Ecuador!
Program Map
GALAPAGOS
PRESERVING NATURE'S WONDERS
Community Service
Join the effort to protect the Galapagos’s native wildlife from invasive species. Get hands-on experience at a tortoise refuge center on Santa Cruz Island by removing invasive plants that threaten the islands’ habitats. Restore ecosystems with native plants and preserve this unique environment for future generations of wildlife. We’ll also support the local community by spending an afternoon helping improve the infrastructure of a school on San Cristobal Island.
Hands-on Learning
The islands are a living classroom where you’ll explore the challenges of balancing human needs with biological preservation. Discuss issues like development pressures from residents and tourism, and encounter diverse species that inspired Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Delve into the complex relationship between humans and wildlife as you explore the islands.
Adventure
Navigate the Galapagos archipelago by boat, immersing yourself in vibrant marine life as you snorkel alongside curious sea lions and sea turtles. Spot blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas in their natural habitats. Explore a tortoise breeding center and marvel at baby Galápagos tortoises. Swim in the emerald-green waters of Las Grietas, a dramatic earth fracture formed by ancient volcanic activity. On the mainland, stand at the Mitad del Mundo monument and straddle the equatorial line, feeling the excitement of being in both hemispheres at once.
Lodging & Meals
Home Base changes throughout the program as we travel from island to island. In Quito, the gateway to the Galápagos, our group stays at an airport hotel. On Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands, we’ll stay in simple, well-maintained accommodations. Each Home Base offers shared, gender-segregated rooms and common areas where meals are served. Meals are healthy and locally sourced, including meats, beans, rice, vegetables and fresh fruit.
Overview Video
Check out this exhilarating video as you prepare to journey through one of the planet’s most untouched paradises, the very birthplace of Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking Theory of Evolution. Join forces with dedicated conservationists to safeguard this UNESCO-designated treasure and its unparalleled ecosystem. Traverse the diverse landscapes of the Galapagos archipelago, each island boasting its own unique habitats and geological wonders found nowhere else on the globe. Dive into thrilling adventures as you explore two distinct islands, frolic with playful sea lions underwater, and encounter the legendary Galapagos tortoises up close. This Animal & Wildlife Conservation odyssey is a cherished favorite among Global Leadership Adventures alumni and new travelers alike, tailored for intrepid souls, wildlife enthusiasts, and young champions of nature preservation.
GALAPAGOS
PRESERVING NATURE'S WONDERS
Dates & Tuition
14-Day Program
2026 Session Dates
June 20 – July 03, 2026
July 06 – July 19, 2026
July 23 – August 05, 2026
Program Details
More Information
Program Location: Ecuador (Galapagos)
Program Theme: Animal & Wildlife Conservation
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“Both of my sons have participated in this program, traveling to the Galápagos with GLA for two weeks. They both had an amazing time and highly recommend it. From the student’s perspective, the trip is a great chance to push themselves outside their comfort zone and experience some real independence, traveling internationally without their family. In country, the group becomes their family. GLA does an incredible job of building camaraderie (my eldest still communicates with his group years later), ensuring the students are safe, and keeping parents informed of their childrens’ activities. From the pre-departure planning through the trip, I always felt that my children were in capable, organized hands. My kids learned a lot and experienced much, and got service hours to list on their college applications as a bonus–plus teens are really excited to be involved in preserving such a unique and important place. An incredible opportunity, grateful to GLA for all they do to open up the world to teens.”
Laura | Parent | 2023
GALAPAGOS
PRESERVING NATURE'S WONDERS
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