Ecuador
SCIENCE IN PARADISE! 3-Week Science and Service Program
TRIP OVERVIEW
Join us on an adventure in two of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world: the
Session : July 2 – July 20 (19 days)
Through partnerships with local NGO’s and a Biological Research station, students
Average size of group : 16 students / 3 staff
the world.
upper Amazon basin and the Chocó cloud forests of the western flank of the Andes. will learn practical skills through the guidance of professional field researchers and scientists. In the process we will travel to some of the most beautiful landscapes in
Tuition for 19 day program : $4,995 (plus RT airfare for group flight from Miami and Galapagos flight) * This Program Offers Staff Escorted Group Flights
Science Elements*
20 1 2 Su mmer Ser v i c e A d v en t u r es | EC UA DOR
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• Attend seminars on field techniques, tropical ecology, conservation, and biodiversity. • Students will participate in field study. Examples include: bird or beetle counts and identification, camera traps to identify macro-fauna populations (spectacled bears, pumas, ocelots, etc.), and forest biomass increase studies.
Service Projects* • Earn 25-35 community service hours • Work on environmental, reforestation, and wildlife preservation projects
Adventure and Cultural Activities* • Mountain Bike adventure • Visit artisans’ homes and lively market towns such as Otavalo • Boat tour of the Galapagos Archipelago • Snorkel with seals and sea lions in the Galapagos *Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year, however, they will be similar to those listed. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.
ITINERARY Days 1-7: Quito, Orientation, and Biological Field Station We fly directly to the colonial capital city of Quito for two days of orientation. From there, we travel to a field station in a beautiful Andean cloud forest where students will learn about biological field techniques. We participate in hands on field studies such as bird identification, and macrofauna populations counts for spectacled bears, pumas, and ocelots. Days 8-11: Papallacta Hot Springs, Mountain Bike Adventure, and Otavalo Next stop, Papallacta hot springs and a downhill mountain bike adventure! After a beginner/intermediate level mountain bike adventure surrounded by spectacular views, there is no better way to relax than a soak in the stream-fed hot springs with your fellow riders. A trip to Ecuador would be incomplete without a visit to the bustling city of Otavalo, host to the largest indigenous artisan marketplace in the world! Otavalo’s colorful artisan market is a shopper’s paradise and a wonderful opportunity to practice your Spanish and hone those bargaining skills. Days 12-19: Galapagos Archipelago From Quito, we fly to Guayaquil and then continue directly on to the Unesco World Heritage site of the Galapagos Islands. Our professionally guided journey through this unique landscape begins on the island of Santa Cruz. We will join our Galapagos guides, board our boats, and head to Isabela, the largest island of the archipelago, where our stay is highlighted by a trek along the Sierra Negra volcano, famous for its gigantic crater measuring 10.5 by 7 kilometers in size! This exciting adventure continues on to Santa Cruz where we can view nesting sea turtles and an array of fish while snorkeling the Concha Perla. We’ll be sure to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center for an introduction to “Lonesome George”, the most famous of the giant tortoises we will see. Then we’re off to our third island paradise, San Cristobal. Time here is highlighted by snorkeling at the remains of an underwater volcano, better known as Kicker Rock. After wrapping up our action-packed and educational experience in Galapagos, we will depart back to Quito from San Cristobal. Few countries can boast the geographic and cultural diversity that Ecuador holds. Join us for an amazing journey!