Galápagos Islands and Tropical Andes Mountains
Join us January 9 – 23, 2026, on a botany field program across one of the most diverse countries on Earth, from the Inter-Andean Valley to the Galápagos Islands and beyond, featuring several national parks and ECOMINGA reserves. Details below.
This program benefits Fundación ECOMINGA, a conservation NGO that has been protecting areas of high biodiversity and endemism across Ecuador for 20 years.
Follow in the footsteps of renowned naturalists like Humboldt, Jameson, André, Spruce, and Darwin, as you journey through the Ecuadorian Andes and the Galapagos Islands. Explore a variety of biodiversity hotspots, from the páramo, at 4,000 meters above sea level, down to the Andean-tropical, cloud, and foothill forests at 900 meters. Discover the magical endemism forged over millennia of evolution in botanical form, color, scent, and flavor. Every moment is an opportunity to uncover the delicate bonds between plants, sun, wind, water, and the pollinators and seed dispersers that sustain them. Everything you find, from breathtaking flowers to tiny blossoms as delicate as snowflakes, will enchant you. View full itinerary here.
Program Leaders
Callie Broaddus is a conservationist, filmmaker / photographer, and the founder of RESERVA: The Youth Land Trust, a nonprofit empowering youth to conserve threatened species and habitats around the world. Since 2019, her work has been primarily based in the Ecuadorian Tropical Andes, Earth’s most unique biodiversity hotspot, where her organization is working with local partners to prevent gold mining from taking hold in the fragile Dracula Reserve ecological corridor. www.calliebroaddus.com/
Javier Robayo is Executive Director of ECOMINGA. As a biologist and educator, he has led more than 200 research and teaching expeditions in Ecuador. His field work has led to the discovery of more than 10 species of orchids, a new genus containing two species of rodents, a new genus of frog, and five other species of amphibians. In 2022, he was named one of “50 People Changing the World” by The Explorers Club. www.ecominga.org
Fees & Dates
$7,450 per person – Early Bird Rate for registration before or on June 15, 2025
$7,680 per person – Standard Rate for registration after June 15, 2025
$1,000 unrecoverable deposit per person due upon registration
The balance of program fees is due on September 1, 2025 or upon registration, whichever is later.
The program begins Friday, January 9, with an excursion to Cotacachi Chayapas National Park, and ends Friday, January 23, in Quito.
Fees Include lodging, meals, in-country travel, and academic, cultural, and nature activities.
Fees Do Not Include the following required out-of-pocket expenses:
• International airline tickets
• Room and board outside program start and end dates
• Up to four (4) meals during the program
• $200-$350 cash for gratuities
• $220 cash for Galápagos entry fees
Please Note:
Accommodations: Only double accommodations (two people per room) are available at this time; you will have a roommate. Register with a roommate, arrange for a friend to sign up, or we’ll help pair you with a roommate.
Passport: Ecuador requires that your passport is valid for at least six (6) months upon your arrival in order to enter the country. If you need to apply for or renew a passport, we suggest doing so as early as possible.
Insurance: The program may be modified or canceled at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Program fees do not include travel insurance, medical insurance, or evacuation insurance. It is the participant’s responsibility to purchase insurance at their own discretion. While not a requirement, insurance can provide peace of mind when preparing for a program abroad.
International Flights: Nearly all international arrivals to Quito’s airport (UIO) land late at night—an hour or two before or after midnight. Your departure flight will also likely leave late at night or early in the morning. Take extra care when booking your tickets to ensure they are on the days you intend. We’re happy to provide suggestions regarding international flights and lodging around your arrival and departure. If you’re interested in staying longer in Ecuador, you can arrange your arrival and departure to fit your schedule.
Arrivals: The program begins Friday, January 9, with an excursion to Cotacachi Chayapas National Park. Your flight from the U.S. should depart at the latest on Thursday, January 8. Your lodging begins on the 8th at the Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel and shuttle service will be provided when you land.
Departures: The program ends on Friday, January 23, in Quito. For participants who choose to depart this evening, your flight should depart no earlier than 10pm on January 23. Or depart the following day if you’d like to attend the anniversary celebration.
ECOMINGA Anniversary: Please join us on Saturday, January 24, for a celebration of ECOMINGA’s 20th Anniversary in Quito! If you’re planning to attend this special event, please plan to depart Quito in the evening of Saturday, January 24.
Activities and Accessibility: Planned activities include easy to moderate hikes in remote sites of varying altitude and conditions, as well as boat rides and optional snorkeling. Unfortunately, not all forms of transportation or sites visited on this program are fully ADA compliant. EcoStudio Foundation is committed to creating educational experiences that are accessible to all, and our team is working with on-site partners to upgrade facilities and develop more inclusive activities. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility.