What is the main focus of the Darwin Voyage? The main focus of the Darwin voyage is on travel, adventure and community service with an environmental and naturalist twist. Arriving in Quito, we spend a total of 10 days of the program in Ecuador and 10 in the Galapagos. In Ecuador, we'll explore the towns and visit the local markets, join a two-day white water rafting trip and head up the river on a dugout canoe for a three-day rain forest experience. Next, we'll fly to the Galapagos Islands and head off for a 5-day educational cruise around this naturalist wonderland aboard an expedition motor vessel. The final five days is spent ashore in Santa Cruz with our service team.
How many people go on this program?
The Darwin Voyage is one of our smaller programs, with a maximum of 14 shipmates and two staff members.
Where do we all sleep?
We typically stay in hotels or hostels in all of the locations we are visiting. During the period aboard the boat we'll split our cabins between the boys and girls.
Who will be my staff?
Three staff members travel with you full-time and we also have a local naturalist guide who accompanies us for the majority of the program. Take a look through the staff section within the general FAQs for more information on the ActionQuest staff.
What's the weather like?
The weather in Ecuador is exceptionally difficult to predict, due to extremely varied topography which causes varied weather in neighboring geographical locations. In Quito and much of the Andes, they have a saying: "We have four seasons in a single day!"
In the Galapagos Islands, ocean currents largely determine the weather. Normally during the summer months, the Humboldt Current comes from the South and creates an inversion that traps a cool moist fog, called a garua, near the ocean. Typically, the air temperature is around 78°F and the water a chilly 58°F.
Can I call home?
Phone calls from Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be difficult and time-consuming. We mention this, just so parents will not insist that shipmates phone when it might not be very workable to do so. Calling from busy public telephone offices may sometimes require a long wait. As a backup communication system, ActionQuest staff will be in contact with our Sarasota office. In case of emergency, we can contact the tour company to get a message to the boat.
How will I pay for calls home?
Phone calls generally must be paid in cash to the operator (about $1.00 per minute), although it is sometimes possible to use a local calling card.
How can parents find out about how their teenager's trip is going?
The easiest way is for shipmates to place a quick call home to let Mom and Dad in on what's going on! Sometimes this doesn't happen though so we developed a trip update system in which, at the end of each day, the shipmate leader of the day writes a few remarks in the log. If (and when) we can, this is then typed up and posted on the ActionQuest website.
Can I get mail on the program?
Mail service is not particularly good in Ecuador and the Galapagos. Letters are often very slow to be delivered and are frequently lost. For this reason, shipmates are unable to receive mail while on the program.
In the 18th century, a Post Office Barrel was placed on the island of Floreana, Galapagos, for use by the English whaling vessels. The idea was for the crew of the outbound ships to deposit any mail for home in the barrel; inbound whalers would then pick up any mail that was destined for their part of the world. Your shipmate can do the same -- leave a postcard or two and pick up any mail from your home area, which you can then post when they get back. This system is typically at least as fast as the regulated postal service!
Can I email home from my program?
Many of the hotels that we stay at will have email, so it might be possible to stay in touch that way during those times. There are also Internet Cafes scattered around the island group
Do I need any specific immunizations for this program?
Vaccinations for this region, although mandatory in the 80's and early 90's, are not required. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:
- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
- Yellow fever vaccination, if you will be traveling outside urban areas
- As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants, and for children ages 11-12 years who did not complete the series as infants.
We will not be traveling into areas where malaria preventative medication is required.
We suggest checking with your local physician for his/her recommendation on immunizations. Be sure that your tetanus booster is up-to-date.
What about the travel arrangements?
Students come from all points of the compass! (typically, around 11 countries and 35 states are represented), so coordinated air travel is of vital importance.
For this reason, we require that all tickets for this program be purchased though our Travel Coordinator, Leah Hernandez of Reservation Services International, so that all members of the team can fly on the same prearranged, group itinerary. As airlines often change their schedules, ActionQuest cannot be responsible for the coordination of air flights that were not booked through Leah.
The group initially meets in Miami International airport and then flies together to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. A week or so later, we head to Santa Cruz for the Galapagos portion of the program. The flight from Quito to the Galapagos is not available through Leah, so ActionQuest will organize this directly with the airline and bill parents separately (typically $540).
For more information on flight itineraries and travel information, please view our sample flight itineraries or contact...
Leah Hernandez
Reservation Services International
Tel. 1.800.329.9000
(Texas 281.528.7727)
Email. leahctn68@hotmail.com
Can I use frequent flyer miles to get there?
Unfortunately, frequent flyer miles may not be used for the international portion of the ticket for this voyage. The reason for this is that we require that all of the students fly together on a specific set itinerary. Additionally, for some of the programs, we rely on discounted group fairs to lower the cost for everyone.
Do I need a passport or any special visas?
All students must travel with a passport valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from Ecuador. Citizens of the USA and Canada do not require a visa however, visitors from certain other countries may require visas to enter. To confirm whether or not a visa is required, please call our travel coordinator, Leah Hernandez or your travel agent.
