Standing on the edge…of the worlds second largest active caldera.

Author: Noé Heim Pardos | Major: Environmental, Soil, and Water Science | Semester: August Intersession 2023

If you had the chance to follow in the footsteps of the father of evolution through the islands of the Galapagos, would you? Hello, my name is Noé Heim Pardos and I am a senior majoring in environmental science. I recently spent 11 days exploring mainland Ecuador and three Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela. The program I participated in, Exploring Darwin’s Legacy, was faculty-led and was held during the 2023 August intersession. I chose to participate in this program during a time when I was struggling to decide if I wanted to work in conservation. My passions have always been working within animal and habitat conservation, however, it is often hard to imagine a future in a field without any experience in it. This program was a perfect opportunity for me to experience what conservation work can look like and the impact it can have.

Our program looked a little different than others. Instead of sitting in a classroom, we spent our time outdoors, learning about the flora and fauna of the islands and mainland Ecuador. We also learned about the culture and people. The program counted as a three-hour credit course. Most of the course work was done before and after we were abroad. While in Ecuador, the only assignment we were required to maintain were daily journal entries. During the months before leaving for the trip, we had informational meetings to help us prepare. We also had one assignment due before leaving, an informational tour guide outline, that we presented while in-country. While in the country, most of what we learned came in the form of information told to us by our very qualified tour guides while on excursions. We would also have evening meetings to discuss what we had seen that day and how it related back to our studies. For example, one day after driving through several agricultural fields and learning about the exports of mainland Ecuador, we discussed the farming methods we saw and the effects they had on the soil.

While almost every moment on the trip was a learning moment, we still participated in a lot of fun things. My personal favorites were the snorkeling excursions we went on while on the islands and the volcano hike. We learned about the important marine ecosystems surrounding the islands, as well as sea turtles, sea lions, sharks, and many other animals that find refuge around the islands. However, the best part was being able to swim with many sea turtles, sea lions, and even sharks. The hike we did up to the caldera of an active volcano was also awe inspiring. While on the islands we were also given free time to explore. Many of us spent our free time on the beaches relaxing or going shopping in local shops. Everything we needed was within walking distance on the islands. Although knowing Spanish is not a requirement for this program and even though I and many others on the trip did not know any Spanish, I recommend learning a little bit before going. The tour guides could all speak English very well, however, there were times where we were without our tour guides and it was very helpful if you had a basic understanding of Spanish.

Overall, this program is truly a special one and its future is not guaranteed. It is uncertain if and when the Galapagos Islands will cut down on tourism in the future to ensure the islands remain pristine. That being said, take the chance to visit while you can.