Hello! The last destination of our program was the Galápagos Archipelago, a magical place that blooms with wildlife and opportunities for adventure on land and sea.

On our first day, we made our way to the Island Santa Cruz. Here are our students ready to cross over to the island on a (very small) ferry:

This island is home to a reserve for giant tortoises. Seeing these prehistoric-looking animals was an unforgettable experience. They estimate that this one is around 100 years old!:

Later on, we visited a giant Ceibo, one of the largest trees in Ecuador. We explored the treehouse, giant swings, and cave that are all part of this impressive tree!

We also visited the tortoise breeding center. Here’s Pepo, our tour guide, teaching us how they take care of young tortoises:

Not only did we get to witness the amazing wildlife, but we also got to visit some of the beautiful beaches that the Galapagos are famous for.

In Tortuga Bay we swam in crystal clear water and hung out with black aquatic iguanas:

We also went to Punto Achinó, a stunning white sand beach were some of us learned how to surf, as well as how to share the shadier spots with curious sea lions:

The next day, we traveled by boat to go snorkeling at Kicker Rock, the remains of an underwater volcano that is home to all sorts of amazing sea life.

Some of the wildlife we found here was unusually interested in our cameras:

On our last night on the island, we shared what we had learned, how we had grown, and talked about memories we will never forget, which we followed with an epic sushi dinner of course!

We are so grateful for each one of these students who helped made this group such an amazing, Spanish-speaking, adventurous, and inspiring family! We will cherish all of the unforgettable memories, from the most beautiful moments we shared to the hardest challenges we overcame together. We wish all of our students the very best, and we can’t wait to see what amazing things they will undoubtedly accomplish! We only hope that our time in Ecuador will provide a little inspiration and a lot of love as they continue on their journeys.
Thank you for following us, and until next time!

Chau!
Alvaro y Mattie