Throughout the history of the program, cultural expeditions have developed in two clearly defined phases.  In the first phase, from 1979 to 1992, the expeditions, known generically as “Adventure 92," had a primary goal: to prepare for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.

As an official program of the National Commission for the Celebration of the 500th Anniversary, the expedition became the only cultural program geared toward Ibero-American youth on both sides of the Atlantic to be held in our country.

Following the 500th anniversary celebrations in 1992, the program was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the mandate of the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Ibero-America.  The program adopted its current name, the Quetzal Route, in 1993.

Each year, the expedition has followed historic routes in the footsteps of figures who were crucial to the history of the Ibero-American community, with particular importance given to pre-Colombian cultures and the periods of independence of Latin American countries, not forgetting the three cultures Spain brought to the Americas: Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

The academic program

Expedition members have the opportunity to follow an academic program managed by the Madrid Complutense University. The program is intended to provide multiple activities which help to spark students’ interest in new areas of knowledge.

Teachers are carefully chosen by the Madrid Complutense University, and include educators from other Spanish and foreign universities, scientific and technological institutions and artists and artisans in each country who work with the expeditions.

The academic program is geared toward fostering historic and future relationships between Europe and the Americas in full conjunction with the sciences and techniques of our age.  Our “traveling classroom" helps to forge closer relationships between young people from all Ibero-American countries.  These young people, starting with the 1992 celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, are taking over from previous generations, with greater knowledge of the shared history born from the meeting of two worlds.

As our journeys have progressed this program has included courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and colloquia covering the history shared by Ibero-American countries.  More than 400 teaching hours have been spent on geography, literature, art and economics classes.  Archaeology, anthropology, biology, ethnography and zoology have also been part of the educational plan for each expedition via a range of seminars.

 

In addition to purely academic activities, workshops have been held on new technologies, IT, television, journalism, photography, handicrafts, astronomy, diving, marine science, music, etc., as well as round tables and debates on Development Cooperation.

The purpose is to introduce young expedition members to new academic disciplines, sparking their interest in areas of knowledge which may be useful to them when choosing their university majors, while they think about shared history and present-day problems.

Particular attention will also be paid to sports activities, which help to strengthen interpersonal bonds among expedition members.  The sports program is run by specialists from the National Physical Education Institute and is organized by the National Sports Council. 

At the end of each journey, the academic program closes with a diploma ceremony for expedition members, organized by the Madrid Complutense University.

The Ruta Quetzal BBVA’s academic program is unmatched at awakening in expedition members a special interest in international cooperation, strengthening ties between different cultures.

How an expedition is organized

The Ruta Quetzal BBVA is made possible by the teamwork of a group of people: the organizers.

The Ruta Quetzal BBVA organization in October starts the initial phase of preparation for the next expedition: the program’s launch. In this phase, the Contest Rules are published, and an information flier is sent to more than 7,000 Spanish schools and publicized at press conferences in Madrid and Spain’s largest provinces.  This kicks off the period for candidates to produce their submissions. 

The second phase starts with the competition. Outside of Spain, the main purpose of this phase is to coordinate the relationship between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Spanish embassies in countries participating in the program, advising and providing information about the competition’s different aspects and stages.  In Spain, selection and follow-up of future expedition members is coordinated by the Madrid Complutense University.  The competition phase ends in March with the publication of the List of Selected Expedition Members in Spain’s major newspapers.

Prospecting is the third phase in preparing an expedition, in which exploratory trips are made to the Americas and Spain.  These trips help organizers to decide the definitive itineraries for the expedition, as well as the technical characteristics of the journey. This phase also includes the contracting of services such as food, transportation, accommodation and tours, and the design of the academic program and sports activities in which students will participate during the expedition. 

At the same time in Madrid, organizers select the Counselors who will be responsible for each group of expedition members, and who are chosen based on a series of tough physical and mental tests.  In addition to counselors, the expedition requires the support of several institutions working with the program, as well as the participation of other people such as journalists, teachers, conference speakers, doctors and nurses, priests, photographers, camera operators, technicians, logistics and support staff, who are also carefully chosen in the months prior to the start of the expedition.

The Ruta Quetzal BBVA’s preparations end in mid-May with the production of the Yearbook, which, in addition to an itinerary and a detailed academic program, includes a welcome from the expedition sponsors, a list of expedition members, a list of the countries involved in the expedition and the bodies, organizations and institutions supporting the program. 

The organization

The Route is the result of the efforts of a group of people led by a team headed by Miguel de la Quadra-Salcedo, which, through its different departments (Sub Department, Management, Press, Web, Academic Program, Competition, Camp) aims to ensure that the expedition functions properly during its nearly two-month journey.

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