A Touristy and Yet Completely Wonderful Experience!

Great trip! One huge highlight was the group; I couldn't have asked for a better one. They made everything so much more fun. Snorkeling in the Galapagos was unbelievable, as well as the atmosphere and staff on the boat we stayed on. Our tour guide was amazing, always happy to give long (in a good way) answers to side questions. The home-stay was also a highlight. My host family had radically different political and religious views than I did, which, while it was uncomfortable, was also valuable to experience. I got to go hit the town with my eighteen year old host sister and her friends, which was really special (not to mention a complete blast) because it was insane to see people across the globe doing something similar to what I might do with MY friends on a Saturday night.

One thing I will say is that this was definitely a touristy trip. If you're looking to really push your limits and/or be completely immersed in a new culture, this probably isn't the one for you. It felt like we touched the surface on a lot, from the history of Quito to the indigenous people of the Amazon, but we didn't really go into enough depth on anything that I felt like I really understood the whole subject. But it was still cool!