Monarchs Abroad: Experiencing the Wonders of the Galápagos Islands

By Chaise Higuchi, C/O 2027

With school over and summer just beginning, the Galapagos trip was one of the highlights I had been looking forward to before starting my last year of high school. It was a surreal experience to travel to another country when I had barely been outside of my home state. The highlight of my trip was getting to see and experience so many new things in both Quito and the Galapagos Islands.

Walking through the Church of the Society of Jesus was a memorable experience.
Although there were catacombs beneath the church, I wasn't able to go inside. However, some people told me they weren't as large as expected and were mostly just a hallway with bones on display. We also got to try Ecuadorian chocolate, which was very different from the name brand chocolate in the United States. It was less sweet and tasted more like dark chocolate. Afterward, we walked through the artisan market, which reminded me of the swap meet at Aloha Stadium because of the large number of vendors. They sold woven blankets and clothing, wood carvings, and small trinkets representing landmarks in Quito.

When we flew to the Galapagos, it started raining as soon as we landed on Baltra. During our stay on both Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, it continued to rain on and off. The wildlife on the islands was amazing. We saw sea lions sleeping and swimming, as well as marine iguanas basking in the sun or walking along the shores of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Traveling with students and adults from other schools was also enjoyable because I was able to make new friends and learn about their lives. We explored the lava tunnels, visited Primicias Ranch, and enjoyed the local food on Santa Cruz. We also visited the Darwin Research Facility and swam at Tortuga Bay.

When it was time to leave Santa Cruz for San Cristobal, we took a two-hour speedboat
ride. I didn't experience much of the trip because I slept for most of the ride. Once we arrived in San Cristobal, we visited the tortoise breeding center and hiked to El Junco Lake. We also snorkeled with sea lions and sea turtles at La Loberia Beach. On our final day in the Galapagos, we snorkeled around Kicker Rock, where we saw the incredible marine ecosystem surrounding the rock. We spotted blue-footed boobies, manta rays, hawksbill sea turtles, and countless colorful fish.

After returning home, the trip inspired me to save money so I can travel more in the future. Experiencing so many new places, foods, and activities made me want to visit the Galapagos again someday with my family. Seeing the diverse wildlife and unique landmarks also motivated me to learn more about the world and pursue a career that will allow me to save for future trips.

If you're thinking about applying for the trip to South Korea, I encourage you to save up beforehand, talk with your parents, and go for it. This trip gave me experiences I never would have had if I had pushed the idea aside and forgotten about it. I love visiting places beyond Oahu, and I hope to take my own family on trips like this one someday, just as my family has done for me.