Study Abroad Trip to the Galapagos, Ecuador

Tortoise swimming in the water near the coast in the Galapagos Islands.

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Study Abroad Trip to the Galapagos, Ecuador

There is no better natural laboratory than the Galápagos Islands to study the diversity of life, its origin, and functions. On this study abroad program, you will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and visit sites that helped inspire his Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.

Apply now! Applications are open for Summer 2025! Apply soon, spaces on this program tend to fill quickly!

Location

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Quito, Ecuador

Term

Summer

Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

After a day in Quito, we will leave mainland Ecuador and spend our time on three different islands (San Cristobal Island, Santa Cruz, and Isabela) which are strategically chosen to expose you to the maximum amount of diversity in the Galápagos ecosystem.

Gain first-hand experience of the methods used to study flora and fauna of various islands through a series of guided tours, practical sessions, on-site classes by faculty from 5X�� and staff from Galápagos national parks and other organizations in the Galápagos.
Conduct your own individual research projects in ecology, conservation, animal behavior, evolution, urbanization, or tourism.

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Sr. Education Abroad Advisor

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates & Billing

Important Dates

Program Dates: May 15 - 25, 2025

Application Deadline: December 1, 2024

Withdrawal/Commitment Deadline: December 9, 2024

Payment Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline aligns with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's summer due dates. You should refer to the first Summer 2025 due date.

Application Process

You will need to complete a Kent State Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a Kent State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to 5X�� as a “Guest Student”. Please apply as either an “Undergraduate Guest Student” or as a “Graduate Guest Student”, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a 5X�� student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the “Apply Now” button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission).

Academics

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: Study Trip to Galápagos: Bring Biology Textbook Back to Life; CRN: BSCI 40195

Number of Credit Hours: 2

KSU Sponsoring College: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences

Course Description:

The Galápagos Islands have played a key role in the study of evolution from the time Charles Darwin witnessed diversity in giant tortoises, finches, and other taxa within and between these islands.

The real-time experience of observing fascinating examples of species adaptations to these unusual, isolated ecosystems makes this more than just a trip to the Galápagos – it is a pilgrimage to sacred evolutionary ground.

In addition to biology, this course also targets the broader university community across different fields and thus aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore the dynamic interplay of science, tourism, and the local economy within the vibrant Galápagos ecosystem.

This course will:

Introduce you to various concepts of evolution and biodiversity conservation.
Motivate you to find evolution examples outside of textbooks.
Help you learn how evolutionary content is relevant to your own life outside the traditional classroom setup.

While you are studying abroad in Ecuador, you will:

Learn about island biodiversity, both in general and specifically how it applies to the Galápagos Islands, including comparison of the islands to mainland environments.
Understand the islands as a living laboratory of ongoing evolutionary, behavioral, and conservation studies.
Appreciate conservation issues in the islands, including numerous environmental threats and growing ecotourism and how these are being addressed.

This course is mostly an outdoor-based, experiential learning course and you should view all times we are together as a group as official course time.

Types of activities you can expect to participate in on this trip include:

nature hikes (observing flora and fauna),
walks across towns,
visiting science centers and research laboratories,
collecting field data and learning field-based science,
swimming and snorkeling, beach walks, etc.

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney

Title: Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Email: slamichh@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-2764

Eligibility

Any undergraduate from Kent State (both biology or non-biology major) can participate.
Minimum 2.0 GPA

Tentative Itinerary

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence, sites, and departure city are subject to changes in availability and cost.

DAY 1:

Group flights depart for Quito.
Transfer to hotel and check in.
Welcome to Quito! Officially the highest capital city in the world, Quito is dramatically set in the Andes Mountains, and you'll enjoy its views time and time again. Enjoy the warm native culture, the well-preserved central city, and the up-and-coming business and political might of the Ecuadorian capital.
Group dinner.

DAY 2:

Quito Old Town Tour: Visit La Compañia Church, built in 1605 by the Jesuits and one of the most significant baroque structures of South America. We’ll pass by Panecillo Viewpoint, the most important natural vista in Quito. Next we’ll see the Independence and Presidential Palace in the center of the city showcasing art, history, and landscaping as well as a monument for those who called for independence from the Spanish Empire. Finally, we include San Francisco Church, a 16th-century Roman Catholic church, the largest historical architectural structure of colonial Latin America.
Group lunch.
Equator Line Visit: Make your way to Mitad del Mundo – the middle of the world! Stand on the equator at zero degrees latitude. Experience interactive exhibits and learn about the unique scientific considerations at this location.
Welcome dinner.

DAY 3:

Flight: Quito to San Cristobal.
Check into the hotel.
Welcome to the Galápagos Islands! This volcanic archipelago of 19 total islands is a spot unlike any on earth. Walk in the shoes of Charles Darwin and countless other scientists who have studied and loved its unique geography, incalculable creatures, and a biodiversity that truly inspires.
Interpretation Center: Head to the Interpretation Center, where we are introduced to the history of the islands, their conservation, and natural/inhabited states.
Visit Tijeretas Hill, which provides visitors with an impressive view of the bay from one side, and the town from the other. This area is also great for observing magnificent frigate birds and a diverse array of flora.
Finally, we visit Playa Mann, a beautiful white sand beach with perfectly clear water.
Group lunch.

DAY 4:

Junco Lagoon Area: After breakfast, we leave in private transportation towards the community of El Progreso, where the first residents of the islands arrived. We will visit the sugar factory, which once employed inmates. Then we call in at El Junco Lake, a freshwater lagoon 700m above sea level - unique even in this diverse archipelago. Here, there is an amazing landscape where you can enjoy many typical Galapagos birds, such as gulls, blue and red-footed boobies, and Galápagos finches.
We will also visit La Galapaguera, a reserve and breeding center for the famous Giant Tortoises, and their babies.
Group lunch.
Later we will continue to Puerto Chino and enjoy a relaxing day on the beach. It’s surrounded by endemic vegetation, the sand is magnificent, and the sea has a wonderful turquoise color.
Group lunch.

DAY 5:

Hop aboard the ferry from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz.
Group lunch.
Santa Cruz Highlands: Driving through the rural area of the island with your local guide, you will clearly see the agriculture of the archipelago, as well as the diversity of its surface. Surrounded by wild landscape and different species of flora and fauna, you will see Darwin’s famous finches. Watch the Galápagos land tortoises in their natural environment and learn how the private ranches help to protect these special animals and their habitat.
Visit the well-known Lava Tunnels formed by the lava floods of the volcanoes. They range from the highlands down to the sea level. Enjoy a 30-minute hike along the tunnels.
Check into the hotel.
Group dinner.

DAY 6:

Charles Darwin Research Center: Head to the Charles Darwin Station, founded in 1959. This station carries out education and developmental projects in support of the National Park Service, such as conservation and sustainable management of flora and fauna.
Group lunch.
Student Project.
Group dinner.

DAY 7:

Take the ferry from Santa Cruz to Isabela.
Check into the hotel.
Isabela Wetlands: Located just outside of Puerto Villamil, these lagoons, swamps and mangroves are home to a number of flamingos. A variety of unique bird species, such as common stilts, gallinules and white-cheeked pintails also inhabit the area.
Group lunch.
Group dinner.

DAY 8:

Optional: Snorkeling at Tintoreras (Guided): Visit Tintoreras, home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are frequented by Galápagos penguins, marine turtles, sea lions, and harmless, white-tipped reef sharks circling the lava canals. Enjoy a snorkeling swim in these beautiful waters (snorkeling mask included).
Group lunch.
Faculty-led tour of Tintoreras: Learn about the diverse environment of Tintoreras and the unique flora and fauna native to the area.
Group dinner.

DAY 9:

Ferry from Isabela to Santa Cruz.
Check into the hotel.
Group lunch.
Snorkel at Grietas and Visit Playa Alemanes: Close to Puerto Ayora, on the way to the Darwin research station, Los Alemanes beach is small but charming. It’s a great place to relax after a day full of adventure and excursions. It's near Las Grietas, where you may also swim or snorkel.
Group dinner.

DAY 10:

Flight from Santa Cruz to Quito.
Check into the hotel.
Student project.
Farewell dinner.

DAY 11:

Group flight to Cleveland, Ohio.

Location

Quito and the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The wonderful capital of Ecuador, Quito, is considered a cultural heritage center by UNESCO. The city offers many attractions where students can explore the country's cuisine, the beautiful landscapes, the natural wonders, and the historical sites by going on tours.

Ecuador's national dish is the Bolon de Verde, a mashed green plantain dough with meat or cheese filling, which is pan-fried. The currency used in the country is the US dollar, and their official language is Spanish.

The Galápagos Islands is an archipelago in Ecuador, where students will spend their days exploring the hidden treasures of the natural world including Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil, and San Cristobal. These volcanic islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, and they are one of the world's top destinations for wildlife-viewing because of their immense biodiversity and impact on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Given its unique beauty, those who visit the Galápagos fall in love with it, and remember their experience for the rest of their lives!

Transportation

All flights and local ground transportation via shuttle bus are included in the program.

Airports

Departure to the program via Cleveland (CLE) international airport.
Transit in Atlanta (ATL) airport.
Arrival in Ecuador at Quito international airport.
Travel to Galápagos via San Cristobal (SCY) domestic airport.
Return back from Galápagos via Santa Cruz airport.
Return back to the USA via Quito international airport.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is possible to use your federal financial aid to go on 5X��-approved education abroad programs. You can learn more on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.

It is also possible to use most Kent State scholarships for education abroad costs. You can find education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

If you have any questions about using your financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, you can contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center.

Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

international travel procedures;
in-country resources;
health and safety resources and information;
culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center.

Costs and Funding

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and reach out to the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program.

Riley Burton

Zoology

“I went into the trip kind of wanting to see if field research, traveling abroad, going into national parks or into nature and seeing animals in their natural habitat would be the right path for me. This trip cemented that yes, this is what I want to do; I want to work with animals in the wild.”

Your Journey is Just Beginning

Before You Go

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