Information for the January 2022 Ecuador Field Experience
Information for the most current trip is found immediately below (click on the tabs). Itineraries and activities from previous trips are available on request. I usually keep the last two on this page because they provide a useful guide to how the trips have gone (and changed) over the years.
program description
International Sustainable Development (ENVL/SUST 3701) is a Spring course that requires Fall semester preparation. Students wishing to participate in this experience must register for Fall course, Prep for Field Experience (ENVL 4500, 1 credit) with Dr. Chirenje to prepare for the Spring course, ENVL/SUST 3701, the field experience to Ecuador (which takes place during the first two weeks of January). Students must also participate in one weekend 2 night) bonding trip during the Fall semester. ENVL/SUST 3701 also has field sites in Brazil (http://brasilexperience.weebly.com/, student blogs from that trip can be found here). The sites in Ecuador include:
The detailed itinerary and activities in Ecuador will continue to be updated as we secure rentals. We are not traveling by bike, but this video from a bike rental group is an awesome introduction to Ecuador (40 mins). A rough packing list is posted at the end of this document. Start putting those things together because it takes a while to find some of these items.
The specific topics we will cover include (and they will be covered in the prep class in the fall):
- Quito, the capital, where we will cover* the volcanoes and water supply, urban planning and transportation
- Guayaquil, where we will discuss energy issues and shore development
- The Galapagos Islands, where we will cover biodiversity and tourism issues
- Cuenca, where we will discuss natural resource conservation, rainforest and biodiversity issues
- The Amazon , where we will cover biodiversity, deforestation, and oil extraction and pollution on Native Lands.
The detailed itinerary and activities in Ecuador will continue to be updated as we secure rentals. We are not traveling by bike, but this video from a bike rental group is an awesome introduction to Ecuador (40 mins). A rough packing list is posted at the end of this document. Start putting those things together because it takes a while to find some of these items.
The specific topics we will cover include (and they will be covered in the prep class in the fall):
International Development
Role of International Trade International Political Economy Ecotourism, etc |
Ecology and Resource Conservation
Tropical ecology / biodiversity Endangered Species trade Forestry and Deforestation |
Environmental Quality
Water issues Mining and oil exploration Urban transportation Air Quality, etc |
To request more information about this trip please contact Dr. Tait Chirenje (Tait) via email here or on his office phone: 609 652 4588. You can also reach him on his cellphone if you have it (posted on his office door), via WhatsApp. Carefully go over the information presented on this and related pages before you call or email. Participation on this trip is subject to meeting academic (GPA) and conduct (assessed via inquiries to Stockton faculty with whom you have taken courses) and physical fitness requirements (based on the places we visit and stay).
ASSIGNED TEXT: You can purchase the assigned textbook for this course here. It is called Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions (Ecoimperialists, Ecodependents and Ecoresisters), by Tammy Lewis.
ASSIGNED TEXT: You can purchase the assigned textbook for this course here. It is called Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions (Ecoimperialists, Ecodependents and Ecoresisters), by Tammy Lewis.
cost and payment schedule
The total cost of the Ecuador Field Experience is $4,500. The two columns below detail what is covered and what's not.
HERE IS WHAT'S COVERED BY YOUR $4,500
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HERE IS WHAT'S NOT COVERED BY YOUR $4,500
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Payment due dates (group airline tickets will be confirmed by the end of July) are listed below. The earlier you pay, the cheaper the airline tickets and other bookings, and the more stuff we do. Some payments for this trip are non-refundable or non-transferable e.g. we always get transferable airline tickets, but there is a transfer fee for the replacement we get for you. Flights to the Galapagos are booked on airlines that do not accept transfers, so you will automatically lose about $600 if you pull out after we confirm the Galapagos portion of the trip. If you experience and emergency covered by our insurance e.g. health issues, you can get close to a full refund. Here is the payment schedule for the Spring 2022 trip:
- $500 by April 10th - this is the trip deposit (refundable through the date we confirm airline tickets)
- $500 by May 1st
- $1,000 by June 1st
- $1,000 by July 1st
- $1,000 by August 1st
- $500 by September 1st
jan 2022 draft trip ITINERARY
Day 0: Saturday, January 1st, evening
OPTION 1: Meet at Stockton University Center at 1pm
Board shuttle and depart for airport.
Fly out to Quito that evening (this depends on which flights we find and from what airport - this will be finalized this summer). FYI, we may fly out of PHL, EWR, LGA or JFK, depending on which one has the best flight/schedule/cost combo at the time of booking. This is why I make it easy by having your folks drive you to Stockton so we go together on a shuttle. You can drive yourself and we can leave our cars parked on campus for the duration of the trip. Alternatively (for North Jerseyans, you can be dropped off at the airport if we are flying out of NYC). If we do spend the night in a hotel, everyone must spend the night in the hotel in order to make the morning flight. Sometimes they are at 6am, meaning we have to be at the airport by 3:30am.
Day 1: Sunday, January 2nd, 2022
OPTION 2: Meet at Stockton University Campus Center
Board shuttle and drive to the hotel (this is if our flight is very early in the morning - in this case, keep $60 aside for the hotel!)
Get to Quito, Ecuador mid morning - get to the hotel from (hit the groud running)
Airport pick-up in private charter bus to Mindo (this is the only cloud forest we will visit in Ecuador). This place has an amazing diversity of birds, hydrophytes and butterflies.
Hotel Check-in Mindo Cloud Forest.
Introduction to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands by Diego Maldonado
Welcome Dinner at Casa del Lago Hotel
Day 2: Monday, January 3rd, 2022.
Mindo Full day activities include ziplining (canopy), hiking to the waterfalls, and a visit to the butterfly center
Casa del Lago Hotel: Meals (B/L/D)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 3: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Mindo to Equator and Quito
After breakfast we departure to visit the Intinan museum, here we have all the explanations about the Equator, continue to have our lunch in Quito City and visit the Teleferico and the Pacari Chocolate factory in the afternoon.
Embassy Hotel : Meals (B/L/)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 4: Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Quito Full Day
After breakfast we start our city tour in the colonial downtown area, visiting the most important colonial buildings and the lookout point of el Panecillo. THis is a great day to discuss the dangers of living near geologic hazards and the traffic congestion that comes from th eunique layout of this metropolitan area. After lunch we visit the Botanical Garden where we will experience the unique plant biota of the area.
Embassy Hotel: Meals: (B/L)
Mindo to Equator and Quito
After breakfast we departure to visit the Intinan museum, here we have all the explanations about the Equator, continue to have our lunch in Quito City and visit the Teleferico and the Pacari Chocolate factory in the afternoon.
Embassy Hotel : Meals (B/L/)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 4: Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Quito Full Day
After breakfast we start our city tour in the colonial downtown area, visiting the most important colonial buildings and the lookout point of el Panecillo. THis is a great day to discuss the dangers of living near geologic hazards and the traffic congestion that comes from th eunique layout of this metropolitan area. After lunch we visit the Botanical Garden where we will experience the unique plant biota of the area.
Embassy Hotel: Meals: (B/L)
Day 5: Thursday, January 6, 2022
The Volcanoes Avenue
Early in the morning we start our day visiting the Cotopaxi National Park, and after this visit we continue to the Quilotoa Crater Lake. This is a busy and day, full of physical activities (boxed lunch). We will also discuss living at high elevation and the effects of climate change on that life style.
We will spend the night in Riobamba.
Bambu Hotel: Meals (B/ BL /D)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 6: Friday, January 7, 2022
Chimborazo Reserve and Cuenca
This day we start with our buffet breakfast and continue to visit the highest mountain in Ecuador, the Chimborazo Reserve, here we do a hiking to the second refuge in 5100 meters above sea level, (16732 feet above sea level ), at noon we continue to the southern Andes, visiting Balbanera church, the it’s the first Catholic Church build in the country, her we have our lunch and continue to Cuenca.
Hotel Victoria: Meals (B/L)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 7: Saturday, January 8, 2022
Cuenca Full Day
After breakfast, we start our city tour on my home town Cuenca, visiting the Panama Hat Factory, the lookout Turi, and walking on this beautiful downtown area.
Hotel Victoria: Meals (B/L). Maybe BBQ at my friend's place, a few blocks away?
Guest talk by Paul Amos?
Day 8: Sunday, January 9, 2022
Saraguro Indigenous Culture
After breakfast we traveling to Saraguro we have the chance to make a quick stop in a special valley and try to found a Condor, when we arrive in Saraguro we take a special local transportation to move to the deep valleys and hike in a part of the historic Inca trail, after this a local family invite us to drink the special drink made from the blue agave.
We come back to the hotel to shower and continue to visit another local family that does textiles in the traditional way. It’s a long day so another family will provide an Andean dinner for us with a special presentation of Andean music. Step back in time with this unique opportunity to experience the Saraguro way of life. The indigenous people of Saraguro are known for their distinctive way of life and clothing. This tour gives you the chance to visit skilled artisans, organic orchards and take part in their distinctive serving rituals.
The people of Saraguro, a small agricultural town about 140km south of Cuenca, value tourism as a way to preserve their distinctive traditions and culture by sharing their daily lives with visitors. Proud of their indigenous roots, the people of Saraguro still wear traditional costumes and proactive ancestral rituals. This tour will give you the opportunity to make contact and share in their unique culture.
After a relaxing ride along the picturesque Pan American highway, you will visit nearby villages where skilled artisans produce fine textiles, decorative ceramics and colorful jewelry made primarily of beads and silver. This will be followed by a stroll through their organic orchards where many of the vegetables, fruits and herbs used in their diet are grown. The tour concludes with a special lunch during which you will be introduced by a Saraguro family to sharing rituals known as Pinshi Mikuna.
Hostal Achick Huasi : Meals (B/L/BD)
Guest Presentation:
Day 9: Monday, January, 10, 2022
Saraguro and Cuenca
After Breakfast we come back to Cuenca (3 hour bus ride), Victoria Hotel. We have a special group dinner on this day and maybe visit Banos. Meals (B /* BD - Tait)
Day 10: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Cuenca / Guayaquil with Cajas National Park and The Churute Mangroves
Early in the morning we departure to visit and hiking in the Cajas National Park.
We continue with a box lunch to the Churute Mangroves reserve to visit in the afternoon, then continue to Guayaquil.
Hotel Unipark : Meals (B / BL )
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 11: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Guayaquil Full Day
After breakfast we are ready to visit the most important areas of this city, visiting the Malecon 2000 and the Historic Park.
Hotel Unipark : Meals (B / L / D)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 12: Thursday, January 13th, 2022
Guayaquil to Galapagos Islands (need $120 cash for park fees to be paid idividually)
Travel from Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands, we take the earliest flight available
Buffet Breakfast at Grand Hotel Guayaquil
Check-out from hotel
Pick-up at hotel around 08:30 am, in a private charter to travel to the Galapagos Islands
Visit The Gemelos and El Chato
Hotel Check-in Hotel Ninfa Puerto Ayora: Meal (B / L / D)
Student Evening Presentation by:
Topic:
Day 13: Friday, January 14, 2022
Travel to Puerto Villamil, Isabella Island
Early in the morning we departure to the port to take our fast boat for 2 hours to Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island )
Breakfast at hotel, check out and do a group transfer to Puerto Villamil on Isabella Island (private boat)
Hotel Check-in Hotel Cally : Meals (B/L/D)
Explore Puerto Villamil: a. Bike tour to Centro de Crianza and Flamingo Island
Afternoon snorkeling/kayaking
Day 14: Saturday, January 15, 2022
Isabella Island and Puerto Villamil
After breakfast we start our visit to the volcano Sierra Negra in a hiking about 3 hours and we come back for lunch in the downtown area of Isabella. In the afternoon bike tour to the Muro de las Lagrimas ( The wall of tears )
Breakfast at hotel
Explore Isabella Island:
Visit Sierra Negra (the Crater)
Wall of tears
Meals: (B / L / D)
Day 15: Sunday, January 16, 2022
Travel to Santa Cruz
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from hotel
Morning transfer from Isabella island to Santa Cruz on a private boat
Check into hotel Hotel Ninfa Puerto Ayora
Explore the area:
a. Charles Darwin Station
b. Group Lunch
c. Tortuga Bay Beach
Meals: (B / L / D): Journals due tonight (hand them over to Tait)
Guest Speaker:
Day 16: Monday, January 17, 2022
Monday January 17 / 2022
After our breakfast we depart to the Galapagos airport and take our flight to Guayaquil, then Quito, and wait in the airport for the international connection to USA.
Meals: (B)
Day 17: Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 (very early morning)
Arrive back on US soil
Get on shuttle and drive to the Stockton University Campus Center.
Safety information and PACKING LIST
Safety Information
This information will be discussed and distributed to program participants via the Office of Global Engagement, and during our two important pre-trip briefs (October 8th weekend and December 13th meeting). The State Department website has important safety information about Ecuador in general. This is my seventh trip to Ecuador in six years and I have done our exact itinerary on my own several times since July 2014. I’ll take you to places where I feel safe. However, it’s important that you do not wear flashy clothes and jewelry or carry/dangle fancy cameras and hand bags on this trip. I will discuss this in detail during our prep meetings. If they get stolen they are not covered by our trip insurance (and no, the University cannot reimburse you for anything). Also, remember, Ecuadorian law is different from US Law. I’ll discuss important differences in our briefing.
This information will be discussed and distributed to program participants via the Office of Global Engagement, and during our two important pre-trip briefs (October 8th weekend and December 13th meeting). The State Department website has important safety information about Ecuador in general. This is my seventh trip to Ecuador in six years and I have done our exact itinerary on my own several times since July 2014. I’ll take you to places where I feel safe. However, it’s important that you do not wear flashy clothes and jewelry or carry/dangle fancy cameras and hand bags on this trip. I will discuss this in detail during our prep meetings. If they get stolen they are not covered by our trip insurance (and no, the University cannot reimburse you for anything). Also, remember, Ecuadorian law is different from US Law. I’ll discuss important differences in our briefing.
Packing list
- A decent lined notebook or laptop computer (will inspect notes on January 16th, 2022).
- Phone and camera chargers.
- Two pairs of pants, one has to be made of light material (we will hike a lot in hot weather).
- Several synthetic t-shirts that dry quickly in hot weather.
- A couple of shorts and/or swim wear.
- Enough underwear for about a week (will do laundry midway through the trip).
- Enough socks for a week.
- A nice brim hat for the sun, a cap too (but definitely a sun hat!).
- Toiletries and other stuff (toothpaste, comb, hairbrush, lotion, towel, soap, cologne, perfume, medication [don’t forget your antibiotics, altitude sickness and malaria medication and other medication you are taking], razors, sunscreen lotion, sunglasses etc). Please check with your family physician to make sure that the antibiotics and altitude sickness medication we are going to take have no contraindications with your own medication. Quito is about 9,000 ft above sea level, and our hike to Cajas will be at around 14,000 ft. We will also reach altitudes of about 15,000 at Cotopaxi, so we all need altitude sickness medication (see link for more information on altitude related sicknesses). This link shows vaccines needed for Ecuador. Please note that this is over and above the vaccines needed for attendance at Stockton University. If you have Religious and Medical exemptions for immunization and vaccination, you will, unfortunately be disqualified from traveling to Ecuador with our group. Yellow Fever kills close to 70% of the people who get it, so I would not feel comfortable being the professor who allowed a non-vaccinated student to participate.
- For those who get motion or sea sickness, I recommend motion sickness tablets (prescription or OTC) because we will spend quite a bit of time on boats in the Galapagos Islands. Some of the high elevations we travel also have winding roads (safe, but they may cause motion sickness in some).
- A waterproof wind breaker - will show you mine before our October prep trip.
- One pair of hiking shoes (see photos below for examples of good hiking shoes - don't bring sneakers, they won't work!).
- One pair of sandals and a belt if you need one.
- One pair of nice shoes (optional).
- One nice outfit for when we have meetings in nice places.
- A flash light and BUG SPRAY (I use products with a minimum of 30% DEET).
- Two water bottles that hold at least 2 liters of water between them or a hydration pack.
- Enough spending money (either as traveler’s checks or cash or on a bank card) for 15 lunches and dinners (at about $US 15 a day on average), souvenirs, snacks, etc. Do not bring more than $500 cash. Most all places accept credit cards and they use US currency.
- Cameras and phones – You and your parents are encouraged to download WhatsApp and Facebook messenger (it’s a good way to communicate with friends and family on the road for free). Every place we stay will have wifi, so you can also just switch your phone to airplane mode and use Facebook or other social media software to communicate with family and friends.
- A winter coat. Some of the volcanoes we visit are colder than most January days in NJ.
- A safe travel pack where you can keep your cash and cards when we travel. Something like this would suffice. REI has nice undercover money belts’ that you can wrap around your waist inside your pants. I’ll show you mine in October. If you show up to JFK without one on Jan 1st I'll ask you to buy an overpriced one at the airport before we depart.
IMPORTANT DATES
This will be updated by April 30th, but the attached PDF document has most of it.
Important Dates with Links |
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
To be uploaded as we prepare.
2020 Program Description
International Sustainable Development (ENVL/SUST 3701) is a Spring course that requires Fall semester preparation. Students registered in this course must register for Prep for Field Experience (ENVL 2500, 1 credit) with Dr. Chirenje to prepare for the Spring experience, which takes place during the first two weeks of January. Students must also participate in at least two weekend preparation trips during the Fall semester. ENVL/SUST 3701 also has field sites in Brazil (http://brasilexperience.weebly.com/, student blogs from that trip can be found here), but it alternates with Ecuador sites in even years. The sites in Ecuador include:
ENVL/SUST 3701 students will also be assigned readings that deal with the issues we will cover during the trip. The detailed itinerary and activities in Ecuador will continue to be updated as we secure rentals. We are not renting bikes, but this video from a bike rental group is an awesome introduction to Ecuador (40 mins). A rough packing list is posted at the end of this document. Start putting those things together because it takes a while to find some of these items.
International Sustainable Development (ENVL/SUST 3701) is a Spring course that requires Fall semester preparation. Students registered in this course must register for Prep for Field Experience (ENVL 2500, 1 credit) with Dr. Chirenje to prepare for the Spring experience, which takes place during the first two weeks of January. Students must also participate in at least two weekend preparation trips during the Fall semester. ENVL/SUST 3701 also has field sites in Brazil (http://brasilexperience.weebly.com/, student blogs from that trip can be found here), but it alternates with Ecuador sites in even years. The sites in Ecuador include:
- Quito, the capital, where we will cover* the volcanoes and water supply, urban planning and transportation
- Guayaquil, where we will discuss energy issues and shore development
- The Galapagos Islands, where we will cover biodiversity and tourism issues
- Cuenca, where we will discuss natural resource conservation, rainforest and biodiversity issues
- The Amazon , where we will cover biodiversity, deforestation, and oil extraction and pollution on Native Lands.
ENVL/SUST 3701 students will also be assigned readings that deal with the issues we will cover during the trip. The detailed itinerary and activities in Ecuador will continue to be updated as we secure rentals. We are not renting bikes, but this video from a bike rental group is an awesome introduction to Ecuador (40 mins). A rough packing list is posted at the end of this document. Start putting those things together because it takes a while to find some of these items.
The learning objectives for each field site are described on each site's page (see links above).
To request more information about this trip please contact Dr. Tait Chirenje (Tait) via email here or on his office phone: 609 652 4588. You can also reach him on his cellphone if you have it (posted on his office door), but do not send text messages. Carefully go over the information presented on this and related pages before you call or email.
ASSIGNED TEXT: You can purchase the assigned textbook for this course here. It is called Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions (Ecoimperialists, Ecodependents and Ecoresisters), by Tammy Lewis.
To request more information about this trip please contact Dr. Tait Chirenje (Tait) via email here or on his office phone: 609 652 4588. You can also reach him on his cellphone if you have it (posted on his office door), but do not send text messages. Carefully go over the information presented on this and related pages before you call or email.
ASSIGNED TEXT: You can purchase the assigned textbook for this course here. It is called Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions (Ecoimperialists, Ecodependents and Ecoresisters), by Tammy Lewis.
Final itinerary for the 2020 Ecuador Field Experience
This field trip lasts approximately 16 days (Jan 1 - Jan 17th, 2020). This is the final itinerary.
The 2020 Ecuador Field Experience officially starts at 8pm on January 1st (2020) at the Marriott Hotel (LGA, address to be provided soon). We will have a group pizza dinner at 8pm (paid for by the school), followed by a presentation by Greg Fischer at 9pm or so. We will also cover other stuff related to our trip before we break at 11pm. The January 1st meeting is a mandatory meeting, so plan on being there with your packed luggage for the trip. Information on how to reserve rooms will be forwarded through our group chat. We will board shuttles to Laguardia Airport around 8:30am on January 2nd (after a group breakfast at the hotel). The trip officially ends at 10am on January 17th, at LGA.Please arrange for transportation ahead of time as I will be rushing to get back to campus on that day and I cannot wait until everyone has been picked up. Some parents show up 5 hours after arrival.
Please note: all presentations must be posted on your blogs and your Google drives by the end of the day on December 23rd (for feedback).
ALL MEALS ARE TENTATIVE. Plan on paying for your own dinner and some lunches for now.
1/1/20 - Arrive at the Springhill Marriot by 6pm. Check in and prepare for group activities that start at 8pm . If you need a ride to NYC, we have arranged for a shuttle from Stockton University to the hotel. Be sure to be on campus by 3pm on January 1st.
Group activities: Presentations and last minute orientation activities. Greg Fischer (Seismic Activity in Ecuador), Lauren and Maddy (Biodiversity in the Amazon and Galapagos Islands)
Meals: Gourmet pizza and sodas (water).
1/2/20 ~ Get up early, have breakfast, then check out. Get on a private shuttle for JFK at 9:30 am. Depart the US (NYC, JFK) for Guayaquil, Ecuador on (Jet Blue B61769 departs at 2pm and gets to Guayaquil at 9:04pm. Will be picked up by charter bus at the airport, and we will check into the Exe Hotel Galeria Manging.
Group activities: Introduction to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands by Diego Maldonado.
Morning presentation: Haley and Stephanie: Tourism, development and conservation in the Galapagos Islands (the is presentation is in New York City, prior to flight).
Meals: Breakfast at NYC hotel (depending on room reservation - you booked these on your own). Welcome Dinner at Guayaquil hotel.
1/3/20 ~ Depart Guayaquil on the earliest possible flight to the Galapagos Islands (leave hotel at 8:00 AM, after breakfast buffet).
Fly on TAME EQ 190 from 10:40am, getting to GPS at 11:30am. Check in at Hotel Ninfa in Puerto Ayora.
Group activities: Visit The Gemelos and El Chato, presentation about the Galapagos Islands by a professional speaker from the Charles Darwin Research Station
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly on TAME EQ 190 from 10:40am, getting to GPS at 11:30am. Check in at Hotel Ninfa in Puerto Ayora.
Group activities: Visit The Gemelos and El Chato, presentation about the Galapagos Islands by a professional speaker from the Charles Darwin Research Station
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/4/20 ~ Depart Puerto Ayora for Puerto Villamil on Isabella Island by private speedboat charter (2 hours). Check into La Casa de Marita (or similar).
Group activities: Explore Villamil. Bike tour to Centro de Crianza and Flamingo Island. Snorkeling/kayaking in the afternoon (after lunch), presentation about the Galapagos Islands by a professional speaker (TBD).
Evening presentation: Jessica and Julianne - the role of the Galapagos Region in Global Weather
Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
1/5/20 ~ Group activities: Hike Sierra Negra, there is a crater ate the top of this volcano(about 3 hours, often wet), get back to Isabela town and then do a bike tour of Muro de las Lagrimas (Wall of Tears)
Evening presentation: Taylor and Evan - Chevron and Oil Pollution in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/6/20 ~ Depart Puerto Villamil (Isabela) for Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) by private speedboat charter. Check back into Hotel Ninfa.
Group activities: Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, have lunch, then visit the Tortuga Bay beach, presentation about the Galapagos Islands by a professional speaker (TBD).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/7/20 ~ Depart Puerto Ayora for Guayaquil on TAME EQ 193 at 1040hrs. Check back into the Exe Hotel Galeria Manging.
Group activities: Tour of the city and historical park, presentation about shrimp farming by a local expert. There will be time for doing laundry (laundry means dropping it off somewhere and picking it up later - no self service laundromats here)
Evening presentation: 1. Local expert discusses shrimping and its effects on the environment 2. Ryan and Val - Ecuadors Economy and chief exports
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (dinner on your own, but I am open to us going somewhere to taste cuy and other local cuisine on trip budget)
1/8/20 ~ Check out of the Exe Galeria Hotel. We will end the day in Cuenca at the Victoria Hotel (~12,000 ft higher than Guayaquil).
Group activities: Start with the Cacao farm tour (we’ll make our own hot chocolate while the owners discuss the importance of this industry to the local economy). They will make us lunch as well (local cuisine). After that we will spend the afternoon boating and hiking the Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve. After that we drive to the Andes and start the long stretch, We start with a hike in Cajas National Park, which is at a miserably low altitude of13,700 ft.
Evening presentation: Paul Amos will discuss the impact of the US retirement in Cuenca. He will also discuss his experiences (BBQ at his place).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (BBQ at Paul's - we will buy our own supplies. We deserve this after a long day of hiking and boating). Let's celebrate Taylor's 21st Birthday today (it's actually tomorrow, but it's better to also get supplies here in Cuenca than in Zamora).
Please note changes in purple.
1/9/20 ~ Leave for Zamora early in the morning. This marks a change from the Andes to the Amazon areas of Ecuador. We will focus on the transition as well as the impacts of introduced species like pine and eucalyptus on local flora and fauna. We will be staying at the Jocoto Foundation Lodge Copalinga.
Group activities: Hiking around the Lodge. Photography session in the Hummingbird patio.
Evening presentations: 1. Presentation by one of the Jocoto Foundation employees on the impact of tourism on the local economy.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
1/10/20 ~ Continue our stay at the Jocotoco Foundation Lodge Copalinga.
Group activities: Visit Botanical Garden of America, hike Podocarpus National Park, We will meet with a local expert who will discuss environmental issues in the park (discussion will include big trees, Ecuador's national tree and orchids.
Evening presentation: Moira and John - Life at High elevation. Farming among volcanoes. Water and Health Issues.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/11/20 ~ Depart Zamora for Saraguro. Check into Achick Wasi.
Group activities: Hike, drive around with a local guide who will discuss condors.
Write-up from our local guide in Ecuador:
Step back in time with this unique opportunity to experience the Saraguro way of life. The indigenous people of Saraguro are known for their distinctive way of life and clothing. This tour gives you the chance to visit skilled artisans, organic orchards and take part in their distinctive serving rituals.
The people of Saraguro, a small agricultural town about 140km south of Cuenca, value tourism as a way to preserve their distinctive traditions and culture by sharing their daily lives with visitors. Proud of their indigenous roots, the people of Saraguro still wear traditional costumes and proactive ancestral rituals. This tour will give you the opportunity to make contact and share in their unique culture.
After a relaxing ride along the picturesque Pan American highway, you will visit nearby villages where skilled artisans produce fine textiles, decorative ceramics and colorful jewelry made primarily of beads and silver. This will be followed by a stroll through their organic orchards where many of the vegetables, fruits and herbs used in their diet are grown. The tour concludes with a special lunch during which you will be introduced by a Saraguro family to sharing rituals known as Pinshi Mikuna.
Group activities: Hike, drive around with a local guide who will discuss condors.
Write-up from our local guide in Ecuador:
Step back in time with this unique opportunity to experience the Saraguro way of life. The indigenous people of Saraguro are known for their distinctive way of life and clothing. This tour gives you the chance to visit skilled artisans, organic orchards and take part in their distinctive serving rituals.
The people of Saraguro, a small agricultural town about 140km south of Cuenca, value tourism as a way to preserve their distinctive traditions and culture by sharing their daily lives with visitors. Proud of their indigenous roots, the people of Saraguro still wear traditional costumes and proactive ancestral rituals. This tour will give you the opportunity to make contact and share in their unique culture.
After a relaxing ride along the picturesque Pan American highway, you will visit nearby villages where skilled artisans produce fine textiles, decorative ceramics and colorful jewelry made primarily of beads and silver. This will be followed by a stroll through their organic orchards where many of the vegetables, fruits and herbs used in their diet are grown. The tour concludes with a special lunch during which you will be introduced by a Saraguro family to sharing rituals known as Pinshi Mikuna.
On the way to Saraguro we have the chance to make a quick stop in a special valley and try to found a Condor, when we arrive in Saraguro we take a special local transportation to move to the deep valleys and hike in a part of the historic Inca trail, after this a local family invite us to drink the special drink made from the blue agave.
We come back to the hostal to take and shower and continue to visit another local family ho do textiles in the traditional way, this it’s a long day so another family its waiting for us to provide our dinner whit Andean products since we have a presentation of a special Andean music."
Evening presentation: A local resident will discuss the indigenous way of life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We come back to the hostal to take and shower and continue to visit another local family ho do textiles in the traditional way, this it’s a long day so another family its waiting for us to provide our dinner whit Andean products since we have a presentation of a special Andean music."
Evening presentation: A local resident will discuss the indigenous way of life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/12/20 ~ Leave Saraguro for Cuenca.
Change: Group activities: Cuenca city tour, Panama Hat factory tour, Tomebamba tour (Incapirga ruins), presentation about the impact of American expats in Cuenca by a local expert.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
1/13/20 ~ Fly from Cuenca to Quito on LATAM XL 1400 at 0718hrs (short flight). Drive to Mindo from Quito. Check into Sachatamia Lodge. The contrast between Podocarus and Mindo is of particular interest here. Two Andean slopes with very different flora and fauna.
Group activities: Visit Mitad Del Mundo (Equator museum), on the way to Mindo. Hike in Mindo, go tubing/ziplining in Mindo (optional).
Evening presentation: Cassandra and Nick - The Cloud Forests as an Ecosystem (focusing on Mindo)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
1/14/20 ~ Depart Mindo for Quito. Check into the Embassy Hotel.
Group activities: Explore Quito’s historic center, ride the Teleférico gondola, visit the Pacari chocolate factory headquarters, explore the historic markets, presentation on Ecuadorian volcanoes and how they impact Ecuadorian life by a local geologist.
Evening presentation: A local geologist will discuss Quilotoa and the development along local areas in the Andes by Ecuadorians in the diaspora.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/15/20 ~ Group activities: Hiking at Quilotoa, presentation on Quilotoa’s formation and mountain-slope development by a local geologist.
Evening presentation: Tait and Greg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Continue stay at same hotel.
1/16/20 Depart Quito for Cotopaxi National Park. Fly to Guayaquil from Quito on LATAM XL 1371 at 1628hrs.
Group activities: Hike at Cotopaxi National Park. Give notebooks to Tait for inspection before flight back to Guayaquil.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Leave from Guayaquil to return home
Evening flight to the US : (Jet Blue B61770 GYE to JFK departs 10:55PM arrives 5:13 AM on 1/17/20).
1/17/20 Arrive at JFK at 5:00am. Clear customs and immigration. Get on the shuttle to Stockton University. Can't give you exact times because it depends on how fast we clear customs and traffic from JFK to Galloway.
Approximate cost: $4,350
Payment due dates (group airline tickets will be confirmed by the end of July) are listed below. The earlier you pay, the cheaper the airline tickets and other bookings, and the more stuff we do. Payments for this trip are non-refundable, but if you find a replacement before October, names can be switched out for a fee (determined by airlines and Galapagos service providers.. You can get your international ticket and do whatever you want with it but we cannot refund you if you change your mind after that (if you experience and emergency covered by our insurance e.g. health issues, you can get most of your airfare back if you back out). Remember, this trip is eligible for financial aid because it is part of a course. The deadline for application for financial aid is June 1st.
Payment schedule (financial aid information for Stockton University students is available upon request):
April 1: $500
May 1: $500
June 1: $1,000
July 1: $1,000
August 1: $1,000.
Sept 1: $350
Payment due dates (group airline tickets will be confirmed by the end of July) are listed below. The earlier you pay, the cheaper the airline tickets and other bookings, and the more stuff we do. Payments for this trip are non-refundable, but if you find a replacement before October, names can be switched out for a fee (determined by airlines and Galapagos service providers.. You can get your international ticket and do whatever you want with it but we cannot refund you if you change your mind after that (if you experience and emergency covered by our insurance e.g. health issues, you can get most of your airfare back if you back out). Remember, this trip is eligible for financial aid because it is part of a course. The deadline for application for financial aid is June 1st.
Payment schedule (financial aid information for Stockton University students is available upon request):
April 1: $500
May 1: $500
June 1: $1,000
July 1: $1,000
August 1: $1,000.
Sept 1: $350
Here's a breakdown of what is covered and not covered by your course fee.
NOTE: the $200 International Services Fee is not included this year (2018 or 2020), so it will nbe billed to your student account upon applying to go abroad.
NOTE: the $200 International Services Fee is not included this year (2018 or 2020), so it will nbe billed to your student account upon applying to go abroad.
Important Safety Information
To be distributed to program participants via the Office of Global Engagement, and during our two important pre-trip briefs (October 11th weekend and December 9th meeting). The State Department website has important safety information about Ecuador in general. This is sixth trip to Ecuador in five years and I have done our exact itinerary on my own several times since July 2014. I’ll take you to places where I feel safe. However, it’s important that you do not wear flashy clothes and jewelry or carry/dangle fancy cameras and hand bags on this trip. I will discuss this in detail during our prep meetings. If they get stolen they are not covered by our trip insurance (and no, the University cannot reimburse you for anything). Also, remember, Ecuadorian law is different from US Law. I’ll discuss important differences in our briefing.
To be distributed to program participants via the Office of Global Engagement, and during our two important pre-trip briefs (October 11th weekend and December 9th meeting). The State Department website has important safety information about Ecuador in general. This is sixth trip to Ecuador in five years and I have done our exact itinerary on my own several times since July 2014. I’ll take you to places where I feel safe. However, it’s important that you do not wear flashy clothes and jewelry or carry/dangle fancy cameras and hand bags on this trip. I will discuss this in detail during our prep meetings. If they get stolen they are not covered by our trip insurance (and no, the University cannot reimburse you for anything). Also, remember, Ecuadorian law is different from US Law. I’ll discuss important differences in our briefing.
Packing list
1. A decent lined notebook or laptop computer (will inspect notes the day before we depart for the US).
2. Phone and camera chargers.
3. Two pairs of pants, one has to be made of light material (we will hike a lot in hot weather).
4. Several synthetic t-shirts that dry quickly in hot weather.
5. A couple of shorts and/or swim wear.
6. Enough underwear for about a week (will do laundry midway through the trip).
7. Enough socks for a week.
8. A nice brim hat for the sun, a cap too (but definitely a sun hat!).
9. Toiletries and other stuff (toothpaste, comb, hairbrush, lotion, towel, soap, cologne, perfume, medication [don’t forget your
antibiotics, altitude sickness and malaria medication and other medication you are taking], razors, sunscreen lotion, sunglasses
etc). Please check with your family physician to make sure that the antibiotics and altitude sickness medication we are going to take
have no contraindications with your own medication. Quito is about 9,000 ft above sea level, and our hike to Cajas will be at around
14,000 ft. We will also reach altitudes of about 15,000 at Cotopaxi, so we all need altitude sickness medication (see link for more
information on altitude related sicknesses). This link shows vaccines needed for Ecuador. For those who get motion or sea
sickness, I also recommend motion sickness tablets (prescription or OTC).
10. A waterproof wind breaker - will show you mine before our October prep trip.
11. One pair of hiking shoes.
12. One pair of sandals and a belt if you need one.
13. One pair of nice shoes (optional).
14. One nice outfit for when we have meetings in nice places.
15. A flash light and BUG SPRAY (I use products with a minimum of 30% DEET).
16. Two water bottles that hold at least 2 liters of water between them or a hydration pack.
17. Enough spending money (either as traveler’s checks or cash or on a bank card) for 15 lunches and dinners (at about $US 15 a day on
average), souvenirs, snacks, etc. Do not bring more than $500 cash. Most all places accept credit cards and they use US currency.
18. A safe travel pack where you can keep your cash and cards when we travel. Something like this would suffice. REI has nice ‘
undercover money belts’ that you can wrap around your waist inside your pants. I’ll show you mine in October. If you show up to JFK
without one on Jan 1st I'll ask you to buy an overpriced one in the airport before we depart.
19. Cameras and phones – You and your parents are encouraged to download Whats App and Facebook messenger (it’s a good way to
communicate with friends and family on the road for free). Every place we stay will have wifi, so you can also just switch your phone
to airplane mode and use Facebook or other social media software to communicate with family and friends.
20. A winter coat. Some of the volcanoes we visit are colder than most January days in NJ.
FILES FOR THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING (12/09/19) and prep-field trip to Ricketts Glen (11-13th of Oct) will be posted here as we finalize trip details - other files with your personal info will be disseminated through WhatsApp.
17. Enough spending money (either as traveler’s checks or cash or on a bank card) for 15 lunches and dinners (at about $US 15 a day on
average), souvenirs, snacks, etc. Do not bring more than $500 cash. Most all places accept credit cards and they use US currency.
18. A safe travel pack where you can keep your cash and cards when we travel. Something like this would suffice. REI has nice ‘
undercover money belts’ that you can wrap around your waist inside your pants. I’ll show you mine in October. If you show up to JFK
without one on Jan 1st I'll ask you to buy an overpriced one in the airport before we depart.
19. Cameras and phones – You and your parents are encouraged to download Whats App and Facebook messenger (it’s a good way to
communicate with friends and family on the road for free). Every place we stay will have wifi, so you can also just switch your phone
to airplane mode and use Facebook or other social media software to communicate with family and friends.
20. A winter coat. Some of the volcanoes we visit are colder than most January days in NJ.
FILES FOR THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING (12/09/19) and prep-field trip to Ricketts Glen (11-13th of Oct) will be posted here as we finalize trip details - other files with your personal info will be disseminated through WhatsApp.
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This is all I am posting about the trip itinerary so far. Will post details about the Galapagos flight from Guayaquil later. The details of the hotel in which we we will stay on January 1st are: SpringHill Suites by Marriott (New York LaGuardia Airport), 112-15 Northern Boulevard, Corona NY 11368.