Location
Multiple Locations +2
- Ecuador
- Galapagos
- Quito
- Peru
- Cusco
- Urubamba
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility
Health & Safety
Oct 26, 2023
0 travelers are looking at this program
About Program
Embark on an enriching journey during your South America gap year program, as you explore the captivating cultural and natural wonders of Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands.
This program offers students the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant lives of indigenous Andean and Amazon communities while honing your conversational Spanish skills. Engage in valuable volunteer projects initiated by local communities, meander through the historic streets of Quito and Cuzco, and be awe-inspired by the majesty of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, and the Galapagos Islands. From trekking through Andean peaks and the Amazon rainforest to kayaking, cycling, and snorkeling along the Galapagos beaches, you'll traverse diverse environments like never before.
Build meaningful connections, learn about the region's history, and contribute to sustainability and conservation efforts.
This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Pacific Discovery for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.
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Diversity & Inclusion
BIPOC Support
We understand that we have a long way to go in achieving the diversity we strive for among our students, staff, and partners. We are committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive organization, and we recognize that this requires time, effort, and resources. At Pacific Discovery, we deeply value diversity, equity, and social justice, and we are dedicated to creating educational experiences that reflect and promote these values. Our program curriculum incorporates social justice education and encourages students to explore their own identities. To further support these efforts, we offer a 'Diverse Voices' Scholarship.
LGBTQIA+ Support
All of our Pacific Discovery programs are LGBTQIA+ friendly, and our operations team have attended CIS Abroad's LGBTQ+ Allyship Training, to ensure we’re doing what we can to support this community. We provide an open and non judgemental space for students to explore who they are at this pivotal time of their life, and in our admissions process we seek information not only on a student's gender, but their pronouns and gender identity. We’re aware of the differing cultural perspectives of LQBTQIA in the countries that we visit, and can direct students to a semester location where they’ll feel the most comfortable. Operationally we ensure that our instructors use inclusive language and can facilitate conversations with students around their identity, and discuss the rooming situations with LGBTQIA+ students.
Neurodivergent Support
Our programs are designed to support students with a wide range of neurodiverse conditions while following our essential eligibility criteria. For students needing extra help, we provide personalized wellness plans . These plans include coping strategies, care protocols, and specific requirements to help them engage effectively in the program. Our instructors have access to mental health first aid resources and are well-prepared to offer strong support to students with these needs.
Accessibility Support
Our programs offer a variety of physical activities, including hiking, surfing, rafting, and mountain biking. We make sure to accommodate students with diverse needs such as asthma, diabetes, and chronic medical conditions, while working within the infrastructure of the host country and our program schedules. We're mindful of the varying levels of accessibility in the countries we visit and can help students choose a semester location where they feel most at ease.
Impact
Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the 6 core components of each Pacific Discovery program, where we educate students about the local and global environmental issues, how to travel sustainably, and have them think deeply about their impact and what they can do in their daily lives to affect change.
We recently embarked on a Net Positive Benefit project where we are qualifying what impacts our groups have on the local communities, taking into consideration carbon emissions +/- social impacts +/- conservation impacts +/- community impacts. On our programs, students engage with non-profit organisations such as Litter Intelligence, Scholars of Sustenance, Ulu Mau puanui, Llama Pack project where they directly work for a better future - planting trees, eradicating invasive weed species, helping local communities and food banks.
We recently embarked on a Net Positive Benefit project where we are qualifying what impacts our groups have on the local communities, taking into consideration carbon emissions +/- social impacts +/- conservation impacts +/- community impacts. On our programs, students engage with non-profit organisations such as Litter Intelligence, Scholars of Sustenance, Ulu Mau puanui, Llama Pack project where they directly work for a better future - planting trees, eradicating invasive weed species, helping local communities and food banks.
Ethical Impact
We make a conscious decision to partner with host communities and suppliers who are passionate about our students' participation and involvement with them being of a positive benefit to the community. We want our presence to enable positive sustainable growth for our partners and this mantra is ingrained in the fabric of our programs.
Program Highlights
- Biking and trekking the Inca Jungle Trail towards the spectacular Machu Picchu
- Spot turtles and other marine wildlife while snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands
- Learn about sustainable means of (chocolate) production at an indigenous women’s ecotourism initiative
- Interactive Spanish language immersion while traveling through South America
- Visit an indigenous community at Lake Titicaca and gain insight into traditional Peruvian culture
