2023 Bakersfield Galapagos Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | April 2, 2023 - April 11, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,290 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $728 |
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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, volunteer with 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, snorkeling alongside sea lions in the Galapagos or teaching local school children in Thailand about the importance of wild elephants to their ecosystem, these trips 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!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Volunteer with local scientists to assist in critical conservation efforts
Snorkel with marine life in Isabela
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
Hike an active volcano
Explore the extensive wildlife in Floreana
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | USA - Quito | Fly from the USA to Quito and transfer to hotel in Tababela, a suburb of the Ecuador's capitol with a beautiful night view of this glittering metropolis. We'll rest up after our long journey -- you'll need your energy for the upcoming adventure through the islands! | Hosteria Colibri Airport |
| April 3 | 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. We'll stop to enjoy the breathtaking views of Los Gemelos , or the "Twin Craters," as well as explore the island's underbelly in the lava tunnels, as we drive to Puerto Ayora. We'll stop for lunch at El Chato Ranch, where we will have our first of many delicious meals on the islands and see our first of glimpse of Giant Toroises in their natural habitat. Upon arrival to the port, we'll check into our hotel and have an orientation meeting to discuss the upcoming trip in detail. Dinner in town tonight. | Eco Hostal Isla Azul |
| April 4 | Santa Cruz | In the morning we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we will learn directly from researchers about the island's unique wildlife and the threats it faces. We'll see land iguanas, lava lizards, and several species of giant tortoise. If we're lucky, we may get to see behind the scenes of this word famous research institute and admire special biological collections. In the afternoon we will have some time to cool off in the swimming holes at Las Grietas or on the beach at Playa Aleman , both a short water taxi ride from the port. Dinner this evening in Puerto Ayora. | Eco Hostal Isla Azul |
| April 5 | Santa Cruz - Isabela Island | This morning we'll take a speedboat over to Isabela Island, settle into our hotel, and have lunch in the seaside port town of Villamil. We'll explore the town on foot to see marine iguanas basking in the sun and sea lions frolicking in the waves (or napping on public benches!) and swim at a nearby beach to cool off. Once back at the hotel, we'll carve out time to journal, reflect and relax in our new surroundings. | Hotel Loja Isabela |
| April 6 | Isabela | This morning we'll rent mountain bikes and explore The Wall of Tears, a relic of the island's prison history, playa de amor- where marine iguanas breed- and a mirador for an amazing panoramic view of the island. Later on, we'll grab our gear and go snorkeling at Concha de Perla, a stunning lagoon where we'll have a chance to see marine iguanas in their preferred habitat, schools of fish, sting rays and much more! | Hotel Loja Isabela |
| April 7 | 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. We'll head back to our accommodations to clean up and relax after a full day. | Hotel Loja Isabela |
| April 8 | Isabela | Today we will have time to explore Isabella in small groups. Students may relax by the beach, rent some surfboards or buy souvenirs. | Hotel Loja Isabela |
| April 9 | Isabela - Santa Cruz | Today we will kayak around Tintoreras, eventually gearing up again to snorkel again amongst 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. It's not uncommon to see blue-footed boobies, green sea turtles and sharks as we glide over beds of anemones and corals. In the afternoon, we'll make our way by boat back to Santa Cruz ahead of our flight back to the mainland tomorrow. Dinner in the port tonight. | Eco Hostal Isla Azul |
| April 10 | Santa Cruz - Quito | We'll make our return journey from the islands to the mountainous region of Ecuador. After settling into our hotel, we'll visit some of the most impressive sites in Quito before having a final dinner overlooking the city. In the evening, we will head back to the hotel to have our final reflection of the trip. | Hotel San Francisco de Quito |
| April 11 | Quito - USA | We will have time a slow morning today to finish packing and preparing for our afternoon international flight. We will arrive home today. ¡Hasta luego! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Hostería Colibri Aeropuerto
Hostal Colibrí Aeropuerto is 3-star hotel located a short drive from the international airport in Quito. This hotels offers private rooms and dorms, which will be occupied only by our students. Accommodations are clean, comfortable and cozy, and there’s a pool! Students will be divided into groups by gender.
Eco Hostal Isla Azul Galapagos
Our local friends at the Eco Hostal Isla Azul in Puerto Ayora provide the perfect accommodations for our travelers during their stay in Santa Cruz. Located only 400 meters from the ocean, Isla Azul’s location makes is perfect for groups looking to stay close to ferrys at Academy bay while still being near the restaurants and shops in town. Isla Azul also strives to strike the perfect balance between comfortable and modern amenities for its guests while maintaining its committed approach to respecting the environment, an ever-important mission that serves the delicate eco systems of the Galapagos Islands well. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Hotel Loja Isabela
Hotel Loja Isabela offers a charming natural environment with hammocks and is only 300 m from Puerto Villamil Beach. Hotel Loja offers comfortable rooms with private bathrooms with showers and free Wi-Fi and garden views can be enjoyed on Galápagos Islands. All rooms feature air conditioning with hot and cold water and private balconies. Loja is only 1 block from Puerto Villamil’s main street and 200 m from Galápagos National Park. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Hotel San Francisco de Quito
Step back in time and enjoy the beautiful accommodations of the Hotel San Francisco de Quito. Located in the heart of the historic center of Quito, one of the most well preserved colonial districts in all of Latin America, this unique hotel combines comfort with centuries of colonial history to provide its guests with an unforgettable stay.
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
Communication was excellent! We had absolutely all the info we needed from the moment we signed up. LOVED the blog with photos. The prep and follow up activities on culture shock, re-entry, etc. were fantastic!!! Thank you!!!
Erika
Parent of John, traveler on Peru Service Adventure
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: Premiere Travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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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.