City Tour of Santiago
Santiago, a historic and yet modern and vibrant city. Students will discover the many flavors of this cosmopolitan capital. An extensive subway makes getting around Santiago a breeze.
La Serena
We travel to northern Chile skirting the Pacific coast to La Serena, the second oldest city founded in 1544. Here we find a city rich with colonial grandeur that survived a checkered past.
Vicuna and Elqui Valley
The road from La Serena to Vicuna takes us through the stunningly beautiful Elqui Valley. Fed by canals the valley floor is prime agricultural land growing many of the country’s fruits and the grape vines used in the making of pisco.
Quito
The colonial center of Quito became the second UNESCO World Heritage site ever chosen. We will visit colonial churches and plazas on a walking tour of the Old City.
Mitad del Mundo & Pululahua Crater
Mitad del Mundo & Pululahua Crater If you’ve ever wanted to be in two hemispheres at the same time, here’s your chance! We will visit the park astride the Equator before heading off to see the volcanic caldera at Pululahua
Yanayacu
Yanayacu Our excursion into the eastern cloud forests will enable us to see hummingbirds and perhaps catch a glimpse of a masked trogon, one of the most colorful birds in all South America. Don’t forget your raincoat… Yanayacu ca be quite wet!!
Shiripuno
Shiripuno Our Amazon field camp is an amazing place, some five hours by canoe downriver from civilization. We will spend multiple days with native guides exploring the tropical rainforest.
Tungurahua
Tungurahua Your chance to climb an active volcano (contingent upon local conditions). We hike up the flank of the Tungurahua to see recent lava flows before returning to the spa town of Baños for a dip in a volcanic heated steam bath to sooth aching muscles
Cotopaxi National Park
Cotopaxi National Park Cotopaxi is the second-highest volcano in all of Ecuador and arguably the most picturesque. We will take a guided tour around the base of the volcano, taking us through windswept alpine tundra and lava flows past and present.
Quilotoa Crater
Quilotoa Crater An opportunity to see a volcanic caldera up close and personal. The Quilotoa Crater at 3,800 meters also bears the honor of being the highest caldera anywhere in the world.