The Plan

I depart for Ecuador on January 3rd at 5am, which puts me in Quito at about 1:30pm. Here is an outlined copy of the GAIAS program schedule.

GAIAS 2009 Spring Semester Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation People, Politics and the Environment
January 3, 2009:	Arrival Date
January 4:	Quito City Tour
January 5-6:	Orientation at USFQ main campus
January 7-30:	Module 1
January 7-9	Class at USFQ
January 12-16	Class at USFQ
January 17:	Otavalo and Cuicocha Trip
January 19-23:	Tiputini Biodiversity Station (Amazon Jungle)
January 25:	Cotopaxi trip
January 26-27	Riobamba
January 28-30:	Class at USFQ
February 1:	Travel to San Cristobal, Galapagos
February 2-20:	Module 2
February 23-24	Vacation ( Carnaval)
February 25-March 17:	Module 3
March 18-April 7:	Module 4
April 8-18:	Boat tour and islands
April 20-May 8	Module 5
May 9:	Return to Quito
May 10:	Farewell Dinner
May 11:	Departure Date

My return flight is scheduled for May 25th but depending on my remaining funds I would like to re-schedule and stay for a full month. I've heard from so many people that Ecuador's diversity caters to some amazing trekking, so after the GAIAS program I plan to hike and explore as much as possible. For now I have about a week and a half to pack my belongings and say my good byes.