Ecuador » GAIAS » Living in Galapagos Islands

The Location:

The Galapagos Archipelago is a cluster of some thirteen volcanic islands, six smaller islands, and associated islets and rocks located just under the equator, about 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador. The oldest of the islands are about 5 million years old and the youngest are still in the process of being formed. The islands are best known for their vast number of endemic species and the studies made by Charles Darwin that led to his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Ninety-seven percent of the land surface of the Islands is a Natural Park and has been named a World Heritage Site. The Galapagos Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers 133,000 km and is home to sea lions, sea turtles, albatross, seals, and penguins.

Established in 2002, the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts & Sciences (GAIAS) is located in the small bayside village of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Archipelago on the island of San Cristóbal. The approximately 6,000 residents make their living principally through tourism and fishing.

The Galapagos Islands are located near the equator, approximately 1000 km (600 miles) off the west coast of Ecuador. The climate of the Galapagos is influenced by a rich system of both cool and warm oceanic currents, with a major influence being the Humboldt Current, which brings cool water to the islands. The Galapagos year can be divided into two “seasons:” the “hot” or “wet” season which lasts from December to early May with an average temperature of 25 C/ 77 F; while the “cool” or “dry” season from May to December has an average temperature of 18 C/ 64 F. In San Cristóbal, where GAIAS is located, the water temperature normally averages 22-23 C (71.6-73.4 F), although it can range from 19-26 C (66.2-78.8 F). Other islands (such as Española) can have lower water temperatures depending on the time of year. Despite the lower temperatures, it is possible to swim year-round in the Galapagos without a wetsuit.

Accommodations:

Students can choose to live with a host family or at GAIAS. Although students have the option of living at the GAIAS dorms, they are strongly encouraged to live with a host family in order to improve their Spanish and integrate more fully into the local community. Students who live at GAIAS live in shared dormitories. There are two dorms, one which accommodates six students, and a second which accommodates eight. The GAIAS facilities are approximately a 10-minute walk from downtown, overlooking the bay at Playa Mann.

On-Site Support:

The GAIAS Institute is managed by a program administrator. She is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Institute and for advising and logistics. Faculty members from the USFQ also reside at the Institute in three week segments and provide advising when needed.