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Galápagos Family Adventure
Enjoy a family cruise through the remote island chain and encounter unique wildlife up close, including playful sea lions, giant tortoises and blue footed boobies.
Overview
A totally immersive experience
Experience the ultimate outdoor classroom cruising among the enchanted islands of the Galápagos aboard the luxurious La Pinta, chartered exclusively for Stanford families and ideally suited for exploring this archipelago. See the incredible wildlife that Charles Darwin observed as he developed his revolutionary theory of evolution.
Visit several of the Galápagos’ volcanic islands, snorkeling amid sea lions and sea turtles in the clear waters. Sit face to face with giant tortoises and marine iguanas and learn the dances of blue-footed boobies and waved albatrosses. Adults enjoy lectures from a Stanford scholar while kids have fun learning from their zany Young Explorer leaders, who are Stanford graduates and former Sierra Camp counselors.
Dates
June 25–July 3, 2024Duration
9 daysPrice
From $10,695 per person
Trip size
43 participantsMinimum age
6 yearsFaculty leader
A different kind of classroom
With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.
Bob Siegel
Stanford School of Medicine
A professor of microbiology and immunology, Dr. Bob teaches courses on a wide range of topics including virology, photography, Darwin, island biogeography and global health.
“Bob was very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. We loved hearing his lectures, and he was great with the kids.”
—Jennifer Von der Ahe, ’98
Share the joy of learning
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Meet our Young Explorer leaders
These razor-sharp Stanford grads and former Stanford Sierra Camp counselors love interacting with families and are experts at adapting to the personalities and interests of each Young Explorer. They fuel creativity with thought-provoking discussions and mind-bending games that keep the kids entertained while adults attend lectures. In addition, Young Explorer leaders bring the whole family together for activities such as family Olympics, trivia night and disco bingo.
Itinerary
A modern-day voyage of the Beagle
Located approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands are home to some of the most incredible wildlife on Earth. Marvel at numerous endemic species that are unconcerned by the presence of humans in this “living museum” during daily and snorkel excursions. Follow our four-night cruise aboard the intimate La Pinta with two nights at Finch Bay Hotel on Santa Cruz Island.
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Quito, Ecuador
Arrive in Ecuador's capital city, Quito, and transfer to our elegant hotel in the heart of the Old Town.
Accommodations:Casa Gangotena
Quito, Ecuador
Walk the streets of colonial Quito, considered South America’s best-preserved historical center. Stop at Independence Plaza, the presidential palace, and the monastery of San Francisco, one of the most impressive religious buildings in Latin America. Stand with one foot on each side of the equator at Mitad del Mundo. End our first day with a welcome reception and dinner at our hotel’s highly acclaimed restaurant.
Accommodations:Casa Gangotena
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerQuito / Baltra / South Plaza Island
Transfer to the airport after breakfast for our short flight to Baltra to embark on La Pinta. Our first stop is South Plaza Island, where we loop the entire island on foot, taking in carpets of scarlet succulents, often a meal for land iguanas. View colonies of sea lions and marine birds as we circle the coastline.
Accommodations:La Pinta
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerSanta Fe Island / San Cristóbal Island
Disembark on Santa Fe Island this morning and walk among the towering Opuntia cacti with very soft thorns. Home to an endemic species of land iguana and Galápagos hawks, Santa Fe is the site of the longest-running research project on marine iguanas, begun in the 1970s. Explore marine life from their perspective as we swim with acrobatic sea lions and search for sea turtles. Later, cruise to San Cristóbal Island for a visit to the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado tortoise reserve. The center is located in a deciduous forest that is home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristóbal mockingbird and the San Cristóbal lava lizard—both island endemics.
Accommodations:La Pinta
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerSan Cristóbal Island
Sea lions may greet us as we land on the beach at Punta Pitt, an eroded tuff cone. Punta Pitt is ideal for snorkeling and is also the only site in the Galápagos where its three species of boobies can be found together. Later, cruise to Cerro Brujo, during which we take in the immensity of the stunning cliffs of “Sorcerer’s Hill.” Relax on the beach with sea lions, snorkel from shore, or explore the area on a guided walk to a hidden lagoon to look for black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, and white-cheeked pintails.
Accommodations:La Pinta
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerEspañola Island
Continue our adventure on Española Island, home to swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, and Nazca boobies. Disembark and walk among the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez. In the afternoon, sink our toes into the white coralline sand among several colonies of Galápagos sea lions at Gardner Bay. Here, we may have the opportunity to observe the endemic mockingbird of Española defending its territory. Spend time in the water snorkeling and searching for king angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, rays, sea turtles, and reef sharks.
Accommodations:La Pinta
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerSanta Cruz Island
Say goodbye to our friends on La Pinta as we disembark in Puerto Ayora. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to hear about the Rearing in Captivity program dedicated to giant tortoises and see the efforts and results of Galápagos biology fieldwork. Enjoy free time to stroll the streets of Puerto Ayora before taking a water taxi to our beachfront hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Accommodations:Finch Bay Hotel
Included meal: BreakfastSanta Cruz Island
Travel into the highlands to observe giant tortoises roaming in their natural habitat at a local family farm. Be enthralled by the endemic Scalesia, members of the daisy family as tall as trees, and look for the emblematic Darwin’s finches as we stroll through the forest near the twin sinkholes known as Los Gemelos. Return to our hotel and toast our adventure at a memorable farewell dinner this evening.
Accommodations:Finch Bay Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerPuerto Ayora / Baltra / Guayaquil
Bid farewell to the Galápagos as we transfer to the airport for our return flight to Guayaquil. Check in to optional dayrooms at our hotel to relax before departing on return flights.
Accommodations:Hilton Colón Hotel Guayaquil
Included meal: Breakfast
Trip details
Start preparing for the trip of a lifetime
From top to bottom, we’ve taken care of all the details, so you can enjoy a no-stress, worry-free travel experience.
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“Beautiful, fun, stimulating, educational! It pulled together the best aspects of a family vacation with an educational opportunity in a unique environment with a chance to meet some very interesting people of all ages.”
—Deborah Holmes, ’68
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Pricing
Secure your spot today
The price of your trip covers a comprehensive educational program in addition to meals, accommodations, tours and excursions. Continue reading for a full list of what’s included.
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