Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands Itinerary

Sample itinerary from 2008. 2010 Itinerary available soon.

May 3

Day 1-Departure from Detroit

Participants will arrive in Guayaquil in the evening. If you come on the same flight as the instructor, you will have an organized transfer to a hostel. Those who come on their own, will take a taxi to the hostel.

May 4-5

Day 2-4-Guayaquil and the Ecuadorian Coast

Trip by bus to visit Cerro Blanco dry forest Machalilla National Park and the Aguas Blancas , a model village for sustainable small-scale economy. This is the chance to get initiated into tropical ecosystems, see native wildlife and to get a glimpse of modern-day Ecuador. Accommodation in various towns along the coast.

May 6

Day 5 -Galápagos: Guayaquil-Santa Cruz Island

Flight to Galapagos. Transfer by bus and ferry to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the commercial and tourist hub of Galapagos. There will be a highland visit on the way. We will visit a plant conservation study site around an extinct volcano crater and experience the first encounter with the ancient giants: the Galapagos giant tortoise. Accommodation that and subsequent nights (until May 8) in a local house with shared cooking duties. Dinners partly provided, partly on your own in town.

May 7

Day 6-Daytrip to Bartolome Island

This island harbors the landmark of the Galapagos Islands: the pinnacle rock, a steep volcanic cone standing guard over a picturesque lagoon and turtle nesting beach. Look forward to a hike up the steep slopes of an extinct tuff volcano that is dotted with small splatter cones. Swim and snorkel with colorful fishes and, with a bit of luck, watch penguins zoom by (PENGUINS ???!). Visit the turtle nesting beach where you might spot small sharks in the shallow water or a lone baby tortoise trying to emerge from its nest.

May 8

Day 7-Day trip to Seymour or South Plaza Island

On this trip, you will get to see more of the famous Galapagos wildlife from close up. Both islands are teeming with wildlife: marine iguanas and curious sea lions block your path, land iguanas scurry around, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds do their courtship display right in front of your eyes. Beautiful sea birds sail through the air and sometimes sea lion cubs ride the swell like expert surfers. This is Galapagos as you may know it from wildlife documentaries.

May 9

Day 8-Beach and watersports day

A beach and water sports day. Visit the pristine sands and clean waters of Tortuga Bay in the morning and train your arm muscles doing sea kayaking in the afternoon. Possibly visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the exhibits and reptile rearing station and learn about the various efforts to study and protect the islands.

May 10

Day 9-Volunteering in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Volunteering in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Get ready for a day of work for the conservation of Galapagos. Invasive weeds are threatening the integrity of the Galapagos ecosystem. We will help in removing weeds and replanting native vegetation .

May 11-12

Day 10-11-Santa Cruz to Isabela Island-

We will take a small boat to get us to Isabela Island, the largest and most volcanically active of the archipelago to stay for two nights. Activities include a visit to the tortoise rearing station, walks to the beach and a day trip up volcano Sierra Negra, which should still show signs of the 2005 eruption. For the volcano trip, we go on the back of trucks, by horseback, and by walking up to the massive caldera and an impressive moonscape of a giant lava flow.

May 13

Day 12- Isabela Island - Airport- Quito
Early morning departure from Villamil for flight from Baltra Airport to Quito. Upon arrival at Quito, either transfer by bus to Bellavista Lodge in the cloud forest, or staying one night in a hostel in Quito.

May 14

Day 13- Cloud Forest and Andean Highlands

This day is a chance to see both the grandeur of the Mountains and its native ecosystem and the life of the native population in the villages and towns. Get an impression of the daily life in modern Ecuador. Overnight stay in Quito.

May 15-18

Day 14 to 17 to the Upper Amazon Rainforest

For 3.5 days, the jungle will be our home. On Day 1 we will fly to the jungle town of Coca and then take a motorized canoe down the Napo River. After arrival at the rustic, but comfortable jungle lodge, there will be enough daylight left for a short jungle walk or a swim in the beautiful lagoon. Day 2 and 3 will be spent on jungle walks, a climb up the jungle observation tower, canoe rides on small lakes, an early-morning visit to a salt lick to see parrots etc. Our native and English-speaking guides are experts in spotting the elusive wildlife. On Day 4, we will leave the lodge before sunrise to get back into civilization and arrive in Quito around lunchtime. In the afternoon, you will have an optional city tour (extra cost) to get to know the capital Quito.