Chile
- Spring
Program dates and itinerary are tentative and subject to change
This course will focus on the unique natural and cultural history of the Lakes and Volcanoes district of south-central Chile, including unique volcanic and coastal landscapes, endemic forest and wildlife, hot springs, and the indigenous Mapuche people and their customs.
During the Spring Break visit, we will hike and observe how recent volcanic eruptions have shaped landscapes and forests. We will also visit Truful-Truful Canyon and its beautiful waterfalls. Other stops include hikes to several mountain lakes and national parks that have been formed by both volcanic and glacial activity.
On several of these trips we will have excellent chances to observe animals and plants along our hikes that are endemic to this region, such as the Magellan Woodpecker, old growth Araucaria forests (i.e., monkey puzzle trees), and ancient alerces forests (i.e., Patagonian cypress up to 2000 years old).
We will tour other natural sites and learn about the indigenous Mapuche people and their ancient traditions, including cooking on an open fire and dinner in a teepee (ruka). The trip includes a visit to soak in geothermal springs, a walk through caves formed from ancient lava tubes and the ascent of an active volcano. While hiking along the Pacific coast will tour the Valdivian Coastal Reserve that was developed with the help of the Nature Conservancy and dine on local seafood.
Students will be enrolled in 3 credits for NREM 4960 during the Spring 2026 semester.
This program is tentatively being planned for spring break in 2026. The last program was offered in spring 2024.
Important Note Regarding Missing Classes
Please note that participation on some travel courses require you to be away from campus for some school days. The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences tries to minimize the number of days missed for this purpose, but in some events, the inflexibility of the travel schedule prevents us from working completely within our breaks. Should you choose to enroll in a travel course that requires missing some class(es) on campus, you will need to contact your instructor directly to inquire whether or not arrangements can be made to make up this class work and/or exams. The CALS Study Abroad office can provide you with a letter explaining the dates of the trip. However, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to determine the potential impact on your grade before signing up for a Study Abroad program. The instructor is responsible for determining the impact of any absence from class.