AIFS in the Galápagos Islands Resident Director, January Term Program

AIFS provides a dedicated Resident Director for this program who will assist students throughout. Details and contact information will be available on the AIFS website prior to the start of the January-term program.

The Resident Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Housing and Meals

Homestay
Students will stay with a carefully selected homestay family in San Cristóbal. By staying with local families you will gain a unique insight into island life and how the locals live and work.

• Daily breakfast and dinner with the families
• Most lunches in town or at the site of the academic visits

Hotel

• Hotel accommodation is provided in Quito and Santa Cruz Island

Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. Visits and field trips are a key part of your academic study in the Galápagos, while social and cultural activities in Quito give you a better understanding of Ecuador, the South American country which governs the islands.

• Welcome lunch
• Visit to El Junco, a permanent fresh water lake where you can see frigate birds bathing to preen their feathers
• La Lobería, a coral sand beach where you can see sea lions, a large colony of marine iguanas and birds
• La Galapaguera, a man-made breeding program for tortoises and an information center for visitors. You can see giant land tortoises living in a seminatural habitat
• Kicker Rock one of San Cristóbal Island’s most iconic sites and an excellent location for spotting manta rays, sea turtles and sharks
• Frigate Bird Hill to spot the magnificent frigate birds
• The Interpretation Center which focuses on the history of the archipelago from its volcanic origins to the present
• The Isla Lobos to see the nests of the blue-footed boobies
• Quito historic center and Middle of the World Monument guided tour or guided visit to Otavalo Market
• Farewell dinner

USFQ and AIFS promote conservation and sustainable tourism in the Galápagos Islands through education and research. All visits on the islands are to designated visitor sites.