True Adventure to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands 2025

This year's amazing True Adventure trip took a group of intrepid Godalming College student explorers to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. 
 
The summer trip of a lifetime began with a couple of acclimatisation days in Quito. Students and staff all stood on the equator, where north meets south, before taking a cable car to see the fantastic vistas of the capital and afterwards, the historic centre itself. 
 
This was followed by five tough days of trekking at altitude in the Andes.  Despite the headaches and lack of breath, they were rewarded with fabulous views of the majestic Andean mountains, and a real highlight of this was a walk around the crater lake of Quilatoa.  
 
After these long and often tough days, our explorers were treated to some rest and recuperation in Banos before heading to the Yanacocha Animal Rescue Centre.  Here, the students experienced feeding, mucking out and training the animals that had been rescued there. They also visited the release site and experienced walking in the rainforest. Being close to animals such as civet cats, capybara, various monkey species, and tropical birds, was an incredible experience. 
 
The culmination of this True Adventure was a visit to the stunning Galapagos Islands. Students and staff all recognised the privilege of treading in the footsteps of Charles Darwin.  The beaches, geological features of the islands, and opportunities to snorkel with sea lions, white tip sharks, and turtles will be remembered for many years to come.