An unrepeatable trip to a unique place

The Royal European Academy of Doctors, the Quo Artis Foundation, My Planet First and the special collaboration from Ecuador of the FIDAL Foundation, have undertaken a joint project: The first scientific and cultural expedition to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador.

A unique and unrepeatable tour in which, for 12 days, the 95 participants of the expedition will be able to share unforgettable experiences with prestigious naturalists, Nobel Prize winners, internationally recognized artists and top-level scientists in an atmosphere of science, culture, emotion , relaxation and knowledge.

Also in Quito, a World Heritage city, we will hold academic sessions at the University of San Francisco.

This initiative is part of a program of our institution dedicated to environmental issues, sustainability and climate change, as a reflection of our scientific concern for an issue that will clearly mark the destiny of future generations if we do not do everything possible to remedy it.

Why Galápagos

The Galapagos Islands, one of the most pristine places in the world, acclaimed for its precious biodiversity, is now also beginning to suffer the consequences of climate change, among other problems. In fact, it is this very topic, climate change, that will be the focus of the conferences and discussions that will take place during the expedition.

The expedition is a completely unique opportunity to discuss, observe and agree together on a manifesto-declaration from the RAED that will then be shared with the international organizations responsible for debating climate change problems.

Four Nobel laureates from different disciplines accompany us for the expedition; the honorary academic Dr. Rosalía Arteaga, former president of Ecuador, a group of naturalists specialized in various topics related to the environment of the Galapagos Islands and a group of thinkers and visual artists who will complement this unique group thanks to the collaboration of the Quo Artis Foundation, an international institution dedicated to the promotion of science through art, with which the RAED has initiated a close collaboration.

Exploring the Galapagos Islands, particularly on this expedition, is undoubtedly one of the most incredible trips imaginable for the curious and demanding traveler. It is a unique opportunity to witness scenes of nature and be in close contact with native species, which live in an extremely protected environment and, furthermore, to be able to study, debate and reflect on the challenges that climate change and its other challenges present to the Galapagos Islands, having world-renowned experts and scientists as interlocutors.

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most important natural history destinations on earth, they represent the first place listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, of course, they are at the heart of Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking Theory of Evolution, which he published after his world voyage aboard the “HMS Beagle”. In fact, some of the 14 notebooks in which Darwin documented his thoughts were written after his visit to the Galapagos Islands in 1835.

To quote Darwin, the “incredible terrestrial life of the Galapagos Islands is complemented by incredible underwater life, where rich ocean currents converge to form the basis of a landscape of astonishing diversity. Giant tortoises roam freely and the lava rocks are filled with motionless marine iguanas. There are sea lions sleeping on the beaches and native penguins swimming close to the boat while the air is full of blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds or incredible cormorants.

On this unique voyage, the ship will be captained by Eduardo Neira, the islands’ most experienced captain, who has done so for over 30 years. In fact, Eduardo Neira is not only the Captain of the Ship, National Geographic Endeavor II, but also a musician, composer, poet, writer and general editor of the magazine “Verde Galapagos”, dedicated to promoting its sustainability and caring for and preserving its environment.

Due to the legal restrictions that govern the Galapagos Islands National Park, only a maximum of 95 passengers are allowed on board, but with the comforts of a large yacht, where food and comfort reach high quality levels.

As mentioned above, on board the ship there will be evening discussions and seminars led by the experts involved in this unique voyage.

Twice-daily zodiac departures to the different islands along the route will offer an unforgettable opportunity to see the unique animal species on which evolutionary theory was based, and will also provide expedition members with first-hand testimony. that the conservation of such a unique ecosystem will be achieved when political will unites with the knowledge of the most qualified scientists.

One of the most important events of this trip will take place on Santa Cruz Island, where the Darwin Foundation is located, where high-impact scientific experiments are carried out. The participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a visit from the Foundation. Likewise, that day we will see the famous Galapagos giant tortoises and learn first-hand about some of their conservation characteristics.

The expedition will also visit Quito, the capital of Ecuador declared a World Heritage Site, with one of the most beautiful and possibly best preserved historic centers in South America, where we will celebrate the acts of the VI Scientific Conference of the RAED. In addition to the artistic treasures of the city, the expedition will visit one of the most interesting places in the country, the Intiñan museum located in “The Middle of the World”, the place where the Equator Line crosses and divides both hemispheres and where magnetic phenomena linked to the so-called Coriolis effect can be clearly appreciated.

The islands

The boat “National Geographic Endeavour II”