2021 Bakersfield Galapagos Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: |
March 27, 2021 -
April 4, 2021
Please register by July 1, 2019
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $673 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $3,990
Pay in Full
$3,990.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$87.25
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Galapagos Conservation Expedition
Dense Amazonian rainforest, snow-capped Andean peaks, volcanic islands and raging rivers. Ecuador is a place of terrifically varied wonders, but for many the most magical are the Galapagos Islands.
From Quito, you’ll fly to the islands and begin to explore this remarkable archipelago full of different landscapes and wildlife including sea turtles, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, giant tortoises, albatrosses, frigate birds and more. Participants will have the opportunity to practice Spanish, learn from local conservation organizations, snorkel with abundant marine life, and hike active volcanoes, all the while learning about what makes these islands so special.
Conservation Expeditions
Conservation Expeditions bring travelers to the heart of the modern-day conservation movement. Whether building nurseries for sea turtle hatchlings in Costa Rica, monitoring the health of coral reefs off the coast of Belize or helping school children in Thailand to understand the importance of wild elephants to their ecosystem, these adventures make the wonders of our world, and our responsibility to protect them, abundantly apparent.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Volunteer with local scientists to assist in critical conservation efforts
Hike an active volcano
Explore the extensive wildlife in Floreana
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Date | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 27 | USA - Quito, Ecuador | Today we will fly from Los Angeles to Quito, connecting in Houston along the way. We will arrive in Quito this evening, hold a brief orientation meeting for the upcoming adventure and spend the night in accommodations near the airport. | Hosteria Airport Garden |
| March 28 | Quito - Galapagos (Santa Cruz Island) | Today we fly 600 miles over the Pacific Ocean to reach the Galapagos Islands. After landing in Baltra, we will take a ferry across the Itabaca Channel and experience a variety of ecosystems as we drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where giant tortoises roam in the mist. We'll be sure to pay a visit to the famous Darwin Research Station today as well. | Hotel Palmeras |
| March 29 | Santa Cruz - Isabela Island | The adventure continues this morning as we take a speedboat over to Isabela Island. After lunch we will snorkel on Concha Perla and experience a stunning array of marine life. Our local guide will explain the significance of the Galapagos as an oasis for marine species, and we'll see the evidence firsthand. | Hotel Tintorera |
| March 30 | Isabela | Today is our most challenging adventure yet. We'll hike up to the rim of Sierra Negra, the second largest caldera in the world and an active volcano. We'll see firsthand the geological processes that shaped these islands and spot wildlife on the way. | Hotel Tintorera |
| March 31 | Isabela | This morning we will go on bikes to visit the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Center and to the Muro de las Lagrimas. Later in the afternoon, we'll relax and swim at a beautiful beach to cap off a busy day. | Hotel Tintorera |
| April 1 | Isabela | After breakfast, we'll dive into our volunteer work with local authorities. We'll receive an expert lecture, then get into the field to lend a hand on a research project or conservation effort. Projects can range from tracking wild giant tortoises, to biodiversity surveys, to working on a restorative ecology project for endemic plant species. More details on your project will be laid out in the weeks prior to your departure. | Hotel Tintorera |
| April 2 | Isabela - Santa Cruz | Today we will enjoy a beautiful sea kayak and snorkel at Islote Tintoreras. After lunch we will return to Santa Cruz Island on a speedboat. We will sit down together as a group this evening and reflect on our experience in the Galapagos over the last week. | Hotel Palmeras |
| April 3 | Santa Cruz - Quito - USA | We'll depart the Galapagos for Quito today. Later on, we'll enjoy our final meal together in country near the airport before connecting onward to the USA the following morning. | Hosteria Airport Garden |
| April 4 | USA arrival | We will fly to the USA this morning. ¡Hasta luego! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Hosteria Airport Garden
Hosteria Airport Garden is 3-star hotel located a short drive from the international airport in Quito. Accommodations are clean, comfortable and modern, and there’s a pool!
Gran Hostal Tintorera
The Gran Hostal Tintorera is a family-friendly hotel that is walking distance from local stores and restaurants. This hotel is equipped with modern amenities and can accommodate up to 3 guests per room. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Hotel Palm Garden Galapagos
The Hotel Palm Garden Galapagos offers clean, comfortable and spacious rooms for guests. Each room can house 2-3 students per room. Some of the amenities include a pool on site, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, hot water and group sitting areas around the property. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
Our daughter was sick the last two days of the trip. WT and her teachers kept us very well informed. You had a clear plan in place to get her home safely and to the doctor if necessary. The fact that you had a hotel room waiting for her in Lima, upon return from Cusco, was quite impressive. She was able to rest the entire day before travel back to the US. Thank you.
Kathryn
Parent of Isabella, traveler on 2017 program to Peru
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Learn more here.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.