Author: Sydney Talley | Major: Environmental, Soil, and Water Science | Semester: January Intersession 2025
Looking over the Sierra Negra Caldera!
On New Year’s Day, I departed from Northwest Arkansas with 13 other students and headed for Quito, Ecuador. In the twelve days that followed, we explored three of the Galapagos Islands—Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Floreana—and the city of Quito on the mainland. Each day, we studied the Islands’ animals, observed the unique ecosystems, and enjoyed Ecuadorian cuisine and culture.
I was initially drawn to this program because of the iconic islands and unique wildlife that can be found. The islands are famous for Darwin’s studies of evolution, and the active research on the islands continues to teach us more about marine and tropical wildlife. The islands are a practical exercise in conservation practices and maintaining biodiversity. The program did not disappoint in these regards. The exposure to wildlife is constant. Within the first half hour on the islands, we saw land iguanas, pelicans, and sea lions on the sidewalks and in the airport.
No two days of the program were the same. Every day, we found ourselves doing something new, from hiking to snorkeling to kayaking. We saw incredible island features, such as the Sierra Negra Volcano, and we saw many of the island’s animals. Though the list of wildlife is seemingly endless, some of the most iconic wildlife includes giant tortoises, green sea turtles, and blue-footed boobies. Our guide on the island, Gustavo, answered every question we threw at him. Want to discuss island conservation? Gustavo can talk about the various tortoise breeding and research centers. Interested in manta ray migration patterns? Gustavo can tell you that though they migrate, the rays can always be found around the islands. This allowed for constant, hands-on learning every day.
This program was non-stop. We rose every morning with the sun and headed out for hours of activities. However, I can’t imagine another way to see it all. Each excursion brought something new to the trip. My favorite memory comes from a morning on Isabela Island. We departed from the hotel and boarded a boat. On this boat ride, we saw many sea birds, as well as feeding manta rays. The boat took us to a beautiful location carved from lava tunnels. There, we swam with white-tipped reef sharks, green sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, pacific sea horses, sturgeonfish, and more. In two hours, I saw more marine life than I had ever witnessed in my life. On other days, we explored the highlands of the islands, where we learned about the history of the island, stood on the edge of a volcano caldera, visited breeding and research stations, and spotted rare songbirds.
The last two days of our trip were spent in Quito, Ecuador. In Old Town, we visited beautiful churches and made Ecuadorian chocolate. In Otavalo, we tried traditional dishes, including cuy (made from guinea pig) and shopped in the famous Otavalo Market. We drove through the beautiful Andes mountains and visited the equator.
This program in the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The islands were particularly impactful on me. Interacting with the unique animals and ecosystems gave me a new appreciation for the beauty and importance of our planet. Seeing the impacts of the many conservation practices and the local attitude toward the beautiful island they live on reinforced my passion for conservation and environmental sciences.