The Galapagos
2025–26 ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

• Program Dates: March 7 – March 15, 2026
• Trip Leaders: Megan Washburn and Heidi Valk
• Preliminary Itinerary:  Please see the program itinerary here *This itinerary is subject to change.

After arriving in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, the group will fly to the Galápagos via the island of Baltra and begin a multi-day exploration of Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands. On Santa Cruz, students will camp in the highlands and collaborate with ECOS, a local conservation organization, on fieldwork related to giant tortoise ecology. Through direct involvement in data collection, students will contribute to long-term conservation efforts in one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. The group will also visit El Chato National Park Reserve, where they’ll encounter the native flora and fauna that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. Next, the program continues to Isabela Island, where students will stay in a hotel and investigate wetland conservation and biodiversity through the exploration of a hypersaline lagoon. They’ll snorkel in the island’s vibrant coastal waters and observe wildlife, including marine iguanas, sea lions, and tropical fish, while learning about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. The program concludes with a return to Santa Cruz, where students will explore the stunning Tortuga Bay and the coastal town of Puerto Ayora. There, they’ll reflect on the intersection of science, conservation, and culture.

• Program Notes:
  • All boarding students can stay in their rooms on the night of Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • Program Meeting Point: On March 7, 2026, Students and Program leaders will meet at Deerfield Campus to travel by coach bus to Boston Logan Airport, where they will fly together to Quito, arriving on March 7, 2026. They spend the night in Quito and fly to Baltra on March 8th. 
  • Cell Phone Policy: This is an “unplugged” trip where students will not have access to cell phones or the internet for the duration of their time in the Galapagos.
  • Other Important Information about the program: This program takes place in a rural setting with simple accommodations. Students should be prepared for a more basic living experience with limited amenities. The group will be camping for three nights in the highlands of Santa Cruz, and the remaining nights will be spent in hotels on Isabella Island and Santa Cruz Island.