ÌÇÐÄVlog

puerto ayora, galapagos, ecuador

Evolution & Marine Ecology in the Galapagos

Program Description

Program Dates and Deadlines:
Term	Year	Application Deadline (or as space permits)	Start Date/Check-in	End Date/Check-out
Summer	2026	March 27, 2026* Note: Interviews will be held March 30th - April 3	May 25, 2026	June 12, 2026

Students will be traveling to Quito, Ecuador on May 23, and then onto the Galapagos on May 24. Students will be returning on their own timeframe.

Program fee payment deadline: See details below in program cost section. Program fees cannot be deferred. Plan accordingly.Ìý

Contact a program leader for information on the academic course offerings and program itinerary. The individuals listed below will be leading the program in Ecuador.	For information on the study abroad application, contact Education Abroad Office below.Ìý
Primary Faculty Leader: Dr. Stephen Kajiura, kajiura@fau.eduÌý	Email:Ìý goabroad@fau.edu Ìý
Co-Faculty Leader: Dr. Sarah Milton, smilton@fau.eduÌý	Phone number: 561-297-1208
Co-Faculty Leader: Dr. Marianne Porter, porter.me@fau.eduÌý	Ìý

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Travel Documentation

*Important notice* Passport processing times have changed. Review up-to-date details .

Routine processing times can take 10-13 weeks, and expedited applications in 7-9 weeks. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.Ìý

A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you are traveling anywhere abroad, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling. Ìý

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit .

Location

The Galapagos Marine Reserve is an underwater wildlife spectacle with abundant life ranging from corals to sharks to penguins to marine mammals. No other site in the world can offer the experience of diving with such a diversity of marine life forms that are so familiar with human beings, that they accompany divers. The diversity of underwater geomorphological forms is an added value to the site producing a unique display, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Housing

Participants will be double and triple rooms in hotels throughout the duration of the program.ÌýÌý

Program Cost and Funding

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Program Cost

Students participating on this program will receive a scholarship that covers the program fee expenses highlighted below. Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email.Ìý

Selected students will be responsible for a $101.54 program fee.Ìý

Thanks to generous donors, program Financial Support Includes:

Program Fee Includes:

• ÌÇÐÄVlog study abroad fees
• Accommodations at hotels in Quito, Galapagos, and Isabela from check-in through check-out date
• Roundtrip International Airfare from US to Quito
• Roundtrip Airfare from Quito to Galapagos
• International medical insurance
• Two group dinners
• Breakfast and lunches for 21 days
• A per diems of $19 per day for 19 days, for dinner only
• Excursions to include Isabela, tortoise ranch, Charles Darwin Research Station
• Snorkel gear
• Local transportation pass and transportation to excursions
• A stipend of $1,200 per student will be provided to make up for lost employment hours

Activities and excursions are subject to change by faculty leader or program provider/vendor if needed. Replacement activity or excursion would be provided.

Program Fee Does Not Include :

• $200 administrative fee paid at time of application submission
• Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (ÌÇÐÄVlog in-state and out-of-state rates apply) and FAFSA-eligible students may receive a scholarship to cover tuition
• Personal spending money

Travel Documentation, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Passport and Travel Documentation

• A valid passport is required for all international travel. You need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.
• Review up-to-date detailsÌý . Routine processing times can take 6-8 weeks, and expedited applications in 2-3 weeks. Processing times does not include the time it takes for shipping. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.
• Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check theÌý Ìýto learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling. Ìý
• If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on theÌý Ìýwebsite. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visitÌý .
• Non-U.S. Citizens may need additional travel documentation. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should research the study abroad program destination and your home country to determine if a visa or additional travel documentation is required.Ìý

International Health Insurance

All ÌÇÐÄVlog students participating on an ÌÇÐÄVlog Faculty-led Program will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost. The 2026 Coverage plan can be found HERE.

Health and Safety Resources to Explore Prior to Traveling Abroad

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory – Country Information:Ìý
• U.S. Students Abroad -Ìý
• ÌÇÐÄVlog SHS:Ìý /shs/
• World Health Organization (WHO):Ìý

Pre-departure Orientation and Meetings

All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program.Ìý

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips.Ìý
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.

3) Mandatory snorkel training dates are to be announced

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