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The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, dense rainforest and sublime islands - all in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada. While in the Galapagos, we will visit Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela Islands. While on the mainland, we will tour Quito, the capital of Ecuador (and the highest elevation national capital in the world at 9,350 feet!), take a day trip to the Mindo rainforest, and visit the famous Otavalo market.
The Galápagos Islands are an ecological treasure. In 1959, the archipelago was declared a national park in order to protect the flora and fauna that Darwin observed while formulating his theory of evolution. Critical to his studies were the islands’ iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants and 13 species of finches, whose beak sizes and shapes provided invaluable insights into the process he called natural selection. At the Charles Darwin Research Station, We'll see the breeding center for the giant tortoises from which the islands took their name. We'll also discover the unique wildlife of neighboring islands on boat excursions. Photo opportunities are endless! (Please remember that the islands’ ecosystems are fragile. Park regulations are designed to protect the area for future generations.)
FYI: Ecuador has used the U.S. dollar as its official currency since 2000. Both U.S. coins and Ecuadorian coins, which are equivalent to the value of the U.S. coins, are used.
As is always the
case for me, safety is the number one priority, followed by fun and learning. To
that end, we travel with Education First (EF), a company I have worked with for over
ten years, and which has exceeded my high expectations for safety, quality
educational experiences, and value. EF has been around for over 40 years, and is
one of the largest student travel companies in the world, with over 200,000
students a year traveling to one of their many destinations. You can find
out more about the company at
https://www.eftours.com/
Students traveling without their families are are constantly supervised.
Whenever we are doing an activity, we have representatives from the
company with us in addition to our chaperones. In the case of snorkeling, for
example, we have several dive masters with us at all times.
Over the years, I've taken well over 1000 students with me on various adventures (I
led a group to the Galapagos/Ecuador in 2015, and I've been running a Florida
Everglades/Keys trip since 2005, a Costa Rica trip since 2007. I have also
taken students and their families to China, Cuba, and will be leading a trip to
Japan in Spring of 2018), and I know what a wonderful experience it can be for
them. I also have three children of my own, all of whom have traveled with me
many times, so I know how important the issue of safety is for you, and I take
it very seriously.
The trip is scheduled for July 1 to July 11, 2020.
The trip is open to all PVPUSD students, their parents, relatives & friends. This is intended to be a family trip, so please speak to me individually if you would like to sign your student up to travel solo.
The cost of the trip is currently $4,565 per person for students. Adult price is $600 more. The earlier you sign up, the better price you will get. Early registration can save you hundreds of dollars per traveler!
Early Registration is open! See below for how to register.
The price includes all airfare, transportation, hotels, meals, activities etc., etc. The only money you would need to bring is for souvenirs! This is truly an awesome price for an 11 day, everything-included, Galapagos adventure!
There are three easy ways to register for the trip. When registering, reference TOUR NUMBER: 2074996FF
Online: Click Here to Register online (FASTEST & EASIEST WAY TO REGISTER!)
By Phone: Call EF at 1-800-665-5364. Our Tour Number is 2074996FF
We travel with EF, a company we have worked with for over ten years, and which has exceeded our high expectations for safety, quality and value. EF has been around for over 40 years, and is one of the largest student travel companies in the world, with over 200,000 students a year traveling to one of their many destinations. Learn more about the company at: www.eftours.com
More Information: Click Here for our itinerary. You can also contact Dr. Oschman at scotoschman@gmail.com with any questions you might have about the trip.