The Nature Conservancy: Mainland Ecuador & The Galapagos
Charles Darwin came to the Galapagos just once - and consider the impression they made on him. Now's your chance to explore one of the world's most unique and famous natural wonders in the context of the conservation efforts that protect this remote archipelago 620 miles off the coast of mainland South America.
You'll begin in Quito, with a "behind the scenes" visit to one of the best private collections of colonial art in all of South America, before boarding the 'Beluga,' a 110-foot yacht that will take you around the Galapagos in style and comfort. After returning to the mainland, stay in a 17th-century hacienda and learn about its aristocratic ancestry while exploring the Andean cloud forest and the Condor Bioreserve.
Despite Ecuador's small size - roughly the size of Nevada - the country has nearly twice as many birds as the United States and harbors more plant species than all of North America. As the historic living laboratory where Darwin formed his theory of evolution, it's difficult to overstate the importance of the Galapagos for conservation and biological diversity. Named after the native giant tortoises, the Galapagos is host to blue-footed boobies, iguanas, sea lions, penguins, finches and many more diverse species. The Nature Conservancy began working in Ecuador in 1984 by collaborating with partner organizations in Galapagos National Park. Since then, projects have expanded to include mainland conservation efforts in the Condor Bioreserve, a conservation management area that includes six million acres of biodiversity-rich páramos (high-altitude grasslands) and Andean and Amazonian forests that span seven protected areas. The Conservancy helps to preserve these biologically diverse areas by restoring ecosystems, engaging local communities in their long-term protection and promoting sustainable human uses of the land.
To learn more about The Nature Conservancy, visit nature.org or call 888-785-5379.
