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Dec 18 - Dec 28, 2024
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Nature’s Laboratory: Wild Finds in the Galápagos With Your Family
Program No. 20873RJ
Alongside your family, explore volcanic landscapes, snorkel bright blue waters and learn about exotic animals (and maybe meet a few!) as you discover the Galápagos Islands together.
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11 days
10 nights
27 meals
10B 8L 9D
3
Baltra Island, Board Boat, Mosquera Islet
Galápagos Islands
4
Sullivan Bay, Rabida
Galápagos Islands
5
Punta Espinoza, Elizabeth Bay
Galápagos Islands
6
Urbina Bay, Tagus Cove
Galápagos Islands
7
Puerto Egas, Bartolome
Galápagos Islands
8
Sombrero Chino, Dragon Hill
Galápagos Islands
9
Santa Cruz Highlands, Wild Tortoises, Charles Darwin Station
Galápagos Islands
At a Glance
Spread your wings to South America as you explore one of the best places for exotic wildlife spotting in the world – the Galápagos! These tiny islands off the coast of Ecuador are home to friendly flamingos, the only reptiles that can swim (marine iguanas!), giant tortoises, cute penguins and cheeky Blue-footed Boobies all just waiting for you to find them. As you explore the awesome volcanic landscapes with your family and our expert naturalists, swim in a deep caldera and search for sea lion hangouts on nature walks as you all uncover the wild secrets of the Galápagos together.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
The program begins with flying into Quito, a city at 9,600 feet elevation in the Andes Mountains. Some participants find it helpful to fly into the city a day early to acclimate to the elevation. Daily activities in the remote Galapagos Islands require wet and dry landings, walking on volcanic terrain, and optional swimming and snorkeling in strong currents.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Get up close to the exotic animals that make the islands famous, such as marine and land iguanas, Darwin finches, flamingos and giant tortoises.
- Grab your goggles! Swim and snorkel with colorful fish, rays and playful sea lions.
- Venture on fun hikes with an expert on the local terrain to learn first-hand about the incredible volcanic formations on the island, including lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones.
General Notes
This is a Family program for participants, their adult children and grandchildren ages 8 and up. Because the ship has double-sized cabins, when two adults travel with one child, they will be accommodated in two cabins (child and one adult share a cabin and other adult has single cabin). Every effort will be made to room them in adjoining cabins, but can't be guaranteed. During land portion of program in Quito, all three participants will be in one room. Itinerary and islands visited are assigned by Galapágos National Park and can be changed without prior notice. Please refer to the website for the vessel and visitor sites included in your program. The expedition-style Galápagos vessels on this program hold 16 passengers in air-conditioned cabins with en suite facilities.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Jorge Carrera
Jorge "George" Carrera is an accomplished Ecuadorian group leader and a veteran with decades of field experience. He recalls as a child, being drawn to studies focused on history, geography and politics. Later, while studying for a degree in the travel industry, he also developed a passion for art, archaeology, ethnic studies and cultural anthropology. Jorge has traveled extensively throughout Ecuador and spent time in some stunningly beautiful locations, ranging from Andean landscapes to lowland forests and coastal beaches.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Jorge Carrera
View biography
Jorge "George" Carrera is an accomplished Ecuadorian group leader and a veteran with decades of field experience. He recalls as a child, being drawn to studies focused on history, geography and politics. Later, while studying for a degree in the travel industry, he also developed a passion for art, archaeology, ethnic studies and cultural anthropology. Jorge has traveled extensively throughout Ecuador and spent time in some stunningly beautiful locations, ranging from Andean landscapes to lowland forests and coastal beaches.
Lourdes Pesantes
View biography
Lourdes "Lulu" Pesantes' love of the Galapagos Islands began while growing up on Santa Cruz, where she attended school and volunteered at the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park. She attended college in Quito then returned to work at the Galapagos National Park. She saw the fulfillment of a lifelong dream when she qualified as a Galapagos naturalist leader and began leading field trips and teaching about local plants, animals and geology. Lourdes' favorite pastimes include snorkeling, wildlife observation and photography.
Patricia Alvarez
View biography
Patricia Alvarez hails from Quito, Ecuador's vibrant Andean capital. She studied hotel administration and tourism at the Instituto Técnico Particular (INSTUR) and has been a certified expedition leader since 1990. As a child, Patricia found herself drawn to art, culture, and archaeology. Her interest in Ecuador’s cultural heritage grew stronger in this city steeped in history, dating back to the Quitu and Inca civilizations. Patricia has a special interest in gastronomy and is an avid collector of masks and folkloric artefacts from around the world.
Sandie Salazar
View biography
Sandie Salazar’s lifelong love of the sea inspired her to study marine biology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. In 2003, she earned a scholarship from the Organization of American States and traveled to Baja California to pursue her master's degree. She wrote her thesis on Galápagos sea lions in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). Sandie served as a CDF research associate and led their marine mammal research 2006-2008, becoming a park guide in 2009 to be more involved in Galápagos conservation.
Suggested Reading List
(21 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Nature’s Laboratory: Wild Finds in the Galápagos With Your Family
Program Number: 20873
Understanding Galapagos: What You'll See and What it Means
An excellent introduction to the flora and fauna of the Galapagos and a stellar overview of evolutionary biography on the islands. Accessible for readers from all backgrounds.
Darwin and Evolution for Kids, His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
An interactive, illustrated biography of Darwin for kids ten and up (and their families). The book, which includes hands-on activities, covers Darwin's career from his youth to his mind-expanding voyage aboard the Beagle to the development of the theory of evolution through natural selection.
Inside the Beagle with Charles Darwin
MacDonald gives detailed accounts of daily life aboard the Beagle, animals and places encountered, as well as excellent illustrations and a balanced discussion of Darwin's ground-breaking scientific theories. Ages 8 and up.
Galapagos, Islands Born of Fire
A stunning celebration of the landscapes, wildlife and habitats of the Galapagos by a photographer who was raised in the archipelago. Tenth anniversary edition.
Galapagos Islands Explorer Map
A detailed map of the Galapagos archipelago for the traveler at a scale of 1:400,000, including illustrated biographies of famous visitors, a brief wildlife guide with color photographs, a map of Darwin's route.
Galapagos, A Natural History
This comprehensive guide to the natural history of the Galapagos is practically mandatory reading -- the single best introduction to the geology and climate, habitats, plants, birds, animals, ecology and evolution.
The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
Sis illuminates Darwin's grand life: his travels, ideas and impact, using watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations. The richly embellished pages feature a gorgeous gatefold spread as well as diary pages, maps and charts.
Galapagos Wildlife
This fold-up, laminated card includes color drawings and short descriptions.
The Boy on the Back of the Turtle
Humorist, novelist and family man on a quest, Quarrington offers an entertain-ing account of a Galapagos voyage in the company of his seven-year-old daugh-ter and seventy-year-old father.
Evolution's Workshop
A vivid history of the Galapagos and the role of the islands as a crucible of evolutionary ideas, written by a Pulitzer Prize winner. Larson covers Darwin and the discovery of the islands, the visits of Hancock and Beebe, the influence of the United States during WWII and the establishment of the national park.
Galapagos, The Islands That Changed the World
Also available on Blu-Ray, this stunning three-part BBC documentary captures the rugged beauty, allure, wildlife and history of the archipelago like never before.
Galapagos Wildlife, A Visitor's Guide
With chapters on visitor sites, history, conservation and habitats, this compact photographic guide introduces birds, reptiles, marine and other life of the archipelago.
Galapagos: The Enchanted Islands, Through Writer's Eyes
Hickman weaves original accounts by Galapagos whalers, gentleman pirates, fitful castaways, settlers and scientists, including Ambrose Crowley, Herman Melville, Charles Darwin and William Beebe, in these tales of the colorful human history of the archipelago.
Birds, Mammals and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands
This strikingly compact, comprehensive field guide features 500 color photo-graphs, distribution maps and information on status, habitat and behavior.
Boobies, Iguanas and Other Critters
This beautifully illustrated book provides an overview of the Galapagos for ages 10 to 14. Clear, detailed and accurate, it explains the volcanic formation of the islands, ecology, wildlife and scientific research.
Insight Guide Ecuador and Galapagos
Presenting the natural history, politics, culture, wildlife and attractions of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with style and authority.
Charles Darwin
A new addition to DK's acclaimed Biography series, this is a detailed and accessible chronicle of Darwin's life, sure to grab the interest of younger readers. With more than 100 full-color photographs and illustrations.
Voyage of the Beagle
The wide-eyed tale of a young man on a five-year voyage that changed his life -- and our way of thinking about the world. First published in 1839, this book is still essential reading. Darwin's South American chapters are an excellent introduction to the Galapagos, Beagle Channel, Chile, Tierra del Fuego, the Chilean fjords and the Brazilian coast. With maps and appendices.
The History of Ecuador
this compact book includes chapters on Ecuador today, Ecuador's indigenous and colonial past, the oil boom and other events.
The Galapagos, A Natural History
Editor of the Galapagos Conservation Trust magazine and author of Lonesome George, Henry Nicholls charts the human and natural history of the archipelago from its fiery origins through famous visitors and current conservation challenges.
Galapagos, World's End
A wry, wonderfully evocative account of a 1924 scientific expedition, including an excellent chapter on the human history of the Galapagos by Ruth Rose. A contemporary reviewer wrote, "Galapagos is a glorious book. It is high romance, exact science and wild adventure." Originally published in 1924, it includes several color plates and maps.
