Ecuador: Wild Galápagos Eco-Service

Depart from the USA and arrive in Quito, Ecuador. Meet your Program Leaders in the arrivals hall who will be with you for the duration of the program. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Settle into your hotel for the first night in Ecuador, relaxing after your long flight. You’ll share rooms with your fellow Rustic travelers with private bathrooms.

Depart from Quito and head to the Yunguilla community to experience a different part of Ecuador. About an hour north of Quito, the community aims to live in harmony with the surrounding environment by focusing on sustainability and conservation. Immerse yourself in the community by helping with reforestation efforts, organic gardening, jam and cheese making, and community tourism. Explore the cloud forest to experience the lush flora and fauna, and hopefully spot some unique bird species that can usually be found in the area. These two days will be the perfect way to experience Ecuador off the beaten tourist track.

Say goodbye to the community and head back to Quito for a city tour, making a stop at the Middle of the World monument to commemorate your arrival at the Equator before heading to the famous Panecillo Hill with incredible views of the city. After a day of exploring Quito’s colonial streets and museums, head back to the hotel.
Discuss what you learned while living in the Yunguilla community and get excited for the next phase of your adventure: the Galápagos!

Wake up early as we head to the airport for the 4 hour flight to the Galápagos! Upon arrival, we will waste no time seeing as much as possible with a visit to Las Primicias tortoise refuge for a unique experience to see Giant Tortoises in their natural environment. After a delicious lunch at Las Primicias whilst observing the tortoises from afar as you eat, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Center to learn all about the natural history and global importance of the Galapagos Islands.

The next 6 days will be dedicated to seeing as much of the Galápagos as possible! An early morning ferry will bring us to Isabella island, the youngest and most active of the archipelago. The geographical diversity is just one of the many things that make the islands so special. Our first night on Isabela will be spent at a glamping site in the highlands where we will experience the unique biodiversity of a pacific volcano.

Today is an action packed day starting with a thrilling bike ride down the volcanic slope to Puarto Villamil right to the door of our hotel for the next few nights. After a tasty lunch, we will head to the picturesque Concha Perla bay, for a kayaking tour around the rocky shore in search of treasured sightings of Galapagos penguins, sea lions, blue footed boobies and marine iguanas. In the evening we will relax in the beautiful surroundings of our hotel and prepare for tomorrow’s volcano hike.

This will be a full day boat adventure, exploring the island from the sea. Keep an eye out for tropical fish, sea turtles and black-tipped reef sharks! After snorkeling, relax on the white sand beaches of Isabela.

What better place to learn to hang 10 than on a gorgeous Galapagos beach? With low to medium height, punchy waves perfect for learning to surf safely, we will hit the beautiful ‘La Playita’ beach for some lessons on surfing techniques. This is the perfect opportunity to get that unforgettable and compelling experience of riding a wave in the company of pelicans and sea lions that love to play in the waves just like us! After lunch, we’ll make a visit to a tortoise breeding center to see the tortoises preparing for a release into the wild to replenish depleted populations.

Today we will visit a real gem of the islands, Las Grietas, which are large geological formations immersed in pristine waters for perfect bathing and aquatic animal observation. After a typically scrumptious Galapaguenan lunch, the group will head out for an afternoon of relaxation and games on the white sands of Tortuga Bay. In the evening, a final walk around Puerto Ayora and dinner at a popular restaurant follow.

After a final morning of shopping, say goodbye to the Galápagos islands and fly back to Quito. On our last ride through the hills we will have time to reminisce about all the incredible experiences you had in the Galápagos.

Say goodbye to Ecuador and your guides as you head back home. Adios!