Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider painting an Oswaldo Guayasamín-inspired portrait, make Otavalo Textiles, or make some tagua nut jewelry.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of Ecuador’s Museo Casa del Alabado.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for Ecuador include:
- From Core to Sun (2018)
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
- Earth: One Amazing Day (2017)
Or, watch a student-made movie about an Explorica trip to Ecuador!
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Go back to 1835 to learn about Charles Darwin’s time studying animals and plants in the Galapagos Islands.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- Galapagos at the Crossroads by Carol Ann Basset
- The Evolution of Jane by Cathleen Schine
- The Donkey Inside by Ludwig Bemelmans
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try locro de papas (potato stew), llapingachos (fried potato pancakes), or ceviche!
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
Ecuador is the closest country to space!