ECUADOR & GALÁPAGOS TREK

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. A confirmed itinerary is distributed no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Ecuador. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.

DAY 2–4 | SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Fly from Quito to Santa Cruz Island and begin your adventure with a visit to the Twin Craters and Scalesia Forest. After settling into your hotel, visit the Charles Darwin Station and relax on La Playa de la Estación. End the day with dinner and some downtime at your hotel’s swimming pool.

Start the next day volunteering at Rancho Primicias, where you’ll help with reforestation and trail maintenance in the giant tortoise habitat. In the afternoon, explore the fascinating underground lava tunnels and learn about the island’s unique geology. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant, where you can sample various local dishes.

Kick off the next morning snorkeling at Las Grietas, a stunning volcanic fissure with clear emerald waters. After lunch at a local spot, head to Tortuga Bay Beach for kayaking alongside sea lions and other marine life. In the evening, explore the shops along the pier and relax at your hotel.

DAY 5–8 | SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
Take an early ferry to San Cristobal Island, where you’ll hike to Junco Volcano Lake and visit La Galapaguera, the Galapagos tortoise breeding center. After lunch, swim and snorkel at Puerto Chino Beach before meeting with a local coordinator to learn about beach conservation efforts.

Engage in a hands-on beach cleanup and reforestation activity at Hacienda Tranquila, contributing to the preservation of the Galápagos’ unique ecosystems. After a fulfilling day, enjoy Shabbat dinner and reflect on your experiences so far. Begin Saturday with BBYO programming, then spend the afternoon visiting La Loberia Beach or relaxing at Playa Mann to catch the sunset. Participate in a Havdalah ceremony and enjoy dinner in town.

On our last day, we'll embark on a day boat tour to Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)—one of the most iconic snorkeling sites in the Galápagos—known for its incredible marine life. Onsite activities include visiting the Interpretation Center Tijeretas or enjoying free time to explore San Cristobal before our final dinner on the islands.

DAY 9–14 | QUITO
Our adventure continues! We'll transfer to San Cristobal Airport, fly back to Quito, and connect into our Stand UP Adventure Ecuador program. The group will start with a morning tour of the city. Visit the Basilica and its colonial-era structures and learn about the history of Ecuador. Stop by the Monument to the Equator, and tour the Museo Mitad del Mundo, the museum of Ethnographic indigenous communities of Ecuador.

Spend a morning at Quintillano Sanchez School, take Spanish lessons, and interact with the students. You will be volunteering for two days at this school. Ride the Teleférico cable car to experience the panoramic views of the city of Quito from a 13,000-foot (4,000-meter) peak. Celebrate the start of our first Shabbat together in Ecuador.

Enjoy a morning Shabbat program, then relax and spend the day with the local Quito Jewish community. Let loose and kick up your dancing shoes with a Salsa dancing lesson after Havdalah.

DAY 15–19 | SAN CLEMENTE
Travel to Otavalo and visit the largest outdoor market in all of South America, the Otavalo Market. This is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular markets in all of Latin America. Stop at Cuicocha Volcanic Lake, a 3km wide caldera and crater lake, part of the Cotacachi Cayapas. Then, drive to San Clemente community—a small indigenous community located 2-hours northwest of Quito in the Imbabura region—located in the Northern Highlands of Ecuador.

Tour the San Clemente community, take a walk on the medicinal plant path to learn about medicinal plants and their uses. Immerse yourself in ancient Incan culture and spend the week staying in guest houses of the Quichua community.

We’ll spend one morning with a Quichua community project where teens will learn to take care of and shear llamas. After, we’ll spend an evening with the community. The next day, the group will take part in a second community project. Teens will try hands-on agricultural lessons in the field and have an opportunity to plow with bulls, then spend the evening doing traditional dance and hearing community stories. Our group will enjoy one final community project before we leave for Mindo.

DAY 20–21 | MINDO
Once we arrive in Mindo, we’ll have a tubing adventure down the river. We’ll welcome our second Shabbat as a group with dinner at a local restaurant. The group will also have the option to walk around town before hiking to the La Cascada waterfalls and visiting the butterfly sanctuary.

DAY 22–24 | MISHAHUALLI
Travel to Sinchi Warmi—a lush and tropical Amazonian ecosystem—and visit a nearby organic farm to collect cacao, learn about chocolate making, and enjoy a chocolate facial.

Take a hike through the jungle to learn about the medicinal plants and making crafts from them. After, visit hidden waterfalls and natural pools, then end the day making dinner with the Kichwa community. Compete in groups to make a raft and then ride them down the Rio Napo River.

DAY 25 | QUITO
Drive to Papallacta to soak in the divine thermal pools at Papallacta Hot Springs that range in temperature from frigid to half a dozen varying degrees of steam. The thermal waters are rich in minerals, sulfates, and alkaline. Head back to Quito for our final evening together.

DAY 26 | RETURN FLIGHT
Make one final stop at Mercado Artesanal—Artisanal craft market—in the La Mariscal neighborhood. It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Head to the airport for a flight back to the U.S. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!

Our most frequently asked questions about this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Still need something? We’re here to help! Contact us.

How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO requires all North American participants to fly on the group supervised flight for this program. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, in the spring. Learn more about flying to the program.

Where will my teen be sleeping?
The group stays in 3-star hotels, lodges, and guest houses in both Ecuador and the Galapagos. When booking our accommodations, we ensure that each teen has their own sleeping space within a shared room arrangement.

How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors), a local tour leader, and a bus driver. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Staff are asked to make welcome calls to teens before departure. Feel free to ask them any remaining questions you may have. Learn more about our staff team.

What’s the summer weather like?
Ecuador and the Galapagos offer diverse climates. In Ecuador's highlands, like Quito, expect daytime temperatures in the 70s and cooler evenings in the 50s, so pack a heavier sweater or light jacket. The Amazon Basin features warm, tropical, and humid weather, so shorts and a rain jacket are recommended for afternoon showers. In the Galapagos, temperatures range from the 60s to 80s, with dry conditions and cooler evenings. You’ll experience warm, sunny days ideal for outdoor activities and wildlife exploration.

How do you approach security?
The safety of the teens under our care is our guiding consideration. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety & security.

What’s the typical group size?
Although it varies from year to year, our average group size for trips is 25–30 teens. Some teens choose to sign up together with a friend or two and most teens choose to come on their own. Either way, our participants will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of peers from various locations across North America which makes exploring a new place together even more exciting. On some programs, we might have multiple parties from the same area register together. In this case, we are unable to inform families when this occurs and though we are always willing to share the group dynamics of the current registrations, we typically have a good idea of the general group make up after our cancellation deadline.

What’s the food like?
In Ecuador, you'll try local delicacies like llapingacho, empanada de viento, plantains, and chocolate, while in the Galápagos, seafood and fresh local produce are highlights. When traveling, your teen may encounter new foods that will not be to their liking, so we ask teens to be flexible and have snacks and other alternatives on hand just in case.

As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, catered meals, and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian, pescatarian, or dairy options available and we will not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice.

Some meals may be provided via a cash allowance where teens will be given money to purchase the food of their choice, called a pizur meal. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options and teens can choose the food of their liking. When time is limited for meal choice, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds.

Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Will I need a visa?
If you travel with an American, Canadian, or EU passport, good news! You don’t need a visa to enter Ecuador or the Galápagos. If you travel with a passport from another country, you may need a visa.

What are the payment and cancellation terms?
All of these details are available here, Registration Terms.

For more information, check out our general FAQs.

Looking to combine two experiences for an extended summer of adventure, learning, and self-discovery? BBYO makes it easy! Check out these other trips that connect with the Galápagos:

• Costa Rica & Galápagos Trek

Learn more about our trip connections.