Island-Hopping in the Galapagos

After two weeks of intense coursework in San Cristobal, we were rewarded with a week-long island-hopping adventure before we returned to our host families in Quito. Our adventure began in Santa Cruz, where we toured the bay and visited North Seymour, which is home to colonies of frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. From Santa Cruz we then traveled to the island of Isabela, where we explored the flooded lava tunnels created by the currently erupting volcano, Sierra Negra, as well as snorkeled through mangrove systems to see sharks and stingrays. We then returned to Santa Cruz and traveled to the underground lava tunnels found in the highlands and to a local farm home to the infamous land tortoises.

Though our travels throughout the various islands of the Galapagos were short, we saw enough endemic species and spectacular sights for a lifetime. Additionally, being able to explore the unique ecosystems of the archipelago and to witness firsthand the infamous species added a unique depth to our adventures. Not only were we vacationing in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but we were also making important connections between the real world and what we had learned prior in our courses.