The Spanish schools in Ecuador

In Ecuador we work with a school in Quito that has a branche in Otavalo. This school offers both private and group lessons. They also offer a travelling classroom with one or two weeks of group lessons. You will travel through the jungle and will have daily group classes. The ideal mix of experiencing the jungle and learn Spanish at the same time! In Quito you can combine the Spanish classes at the same time with voluntary work which is quite unusual since in most cases you’ll first have to reach a certain level of Spanish before you can start voluntary work. So if you don’t much time but like to study Spanish, volunteer and see a lot of the country Ecuador is a good choice; you can combine all schools. The school also has a voluntary work coordinator who can inform you about the numerous possibilities for voluntary work in Ecuador.

TRAVELLING CLASSROOM

This is only possible when you take one or more weeks of Spanish lessons in either Quito or Otavalo. The Travelling Classroom starts on Saturday if you go one week, on Monday if you leave for two weeks and you will be back in Quito on Friday evening. Because of the distance to Misahuallí the trip will be done in parts. In the weekend you will visit Baños and Puyo and from there travel to the jungle. After Puyo you will stay in typical jungle lodges. You will have five or ten days of Spanish lessons of four hours a day. If there are no other students with your level you will get the same value in private lessons. The rest of the day you will do jungle hikes, you can go down river in a tube (great fun!!) and climb canyons; all in all a real adventure. A reasonable fitness level is needed for this.
You can do the Travelling Classroom one or two weeks, they have different activities. One week has 6 nights in hotel nights and jungle lodges. You will have 20 hours of Spanish lessons. The meals are not included, on average a students spends $40 per week on food. When you go travelling after your Spanish lessons in Quito, Otavalo or Puerto López you will probably want to go to the jungle anyway so this way you get both at the same time! For detailed information click here for a one week and here for a two week jungle tour with Spanish classes.

COUNTRY INFO: ECUADOR

Ecuador is a small but very diverse country. You can encounter the Indians of the Andes at one of the many colorful markets, the black population on the coast or one of the many indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Nature wise it has over 30 mostly active volcanoes, mountain peaks with eternal snow, jungle, beaches and, of course, the Galapagos Islands! The republic of Ecuador got its name because of its position on the equator. The backbone of the country is the mighty Andes with its colorful Indian population.
To the east of the Andes is the jungle of the impressive Amazon and on the west side is the Pacific coast with palm trees, cocktail bars and salsa music. A visit to the small town of Otavalo, which has one of the biggest handicraft markets of South America, is definitely worthwhile. One can also sit on top of a train and ride through the jungle or climb the most active volcano, the Cotopaxi.
Absolutely unforgettable will be a visit to the world famous Galapagos Islands that lay in the Pacific about 1000 kilometres of the Ecuadorian coast. This is where Darwin discovered his revolutionary Theory of Evolution. It is very easy to come into contact with the unique animals that live here. Whilst swimming one can play with seals and at the same time penguins will shoot by you. For me, personally, this was nature wise the absolute highlight of eight months of travelling in South America.
A Return flight Quito - Galapagos is about $380. A boat trip of five days that goes to several islands is best booked once you are on Galapagos. It costs about $275 including bed and meals. The entry fee for Galapagos is $100. All in all it is quite expensive but it will be an absolutely amazing experience. Ecuador is an ideal country for people who, after their Spanish course, wants to see and experience a lot in a short period of time.

Activities Ecuador

• Climb volcanoes: the highest volcano is the Cotopaxi (5897 m.).
• Mountain-biking
• Horseback riding
• River rafting
• Salsa dance courses
• Take a ride on top of a train right through the jungle for instance from Alausí.
• Visit the jungle from Misahuallí.
• Visit an Indian market in an Andes town.
• Visit the Galápagos islands if you have the budget for it (about $1000 for one week).
• Visit a less well known and therefore more traditional Indian village.
• Voluntary work: loads of voluntary work available. Volunteer in Ecuador
• Transport: public bus (chicken bus) or a minibus for tourists on roads between 'highlights'.

Advice: if you do not have much time skip the Pacific coast of South America as it is not particularly beautiful and the weather is often bad because of the cold 'Humboldt-stream'.

CLIMATE

The rainy season in Quito and Otavalo lasts from October to May with a lesser period in December and January. On the coast it lasts from January to April. The temperature varies with the altitude. The jungle, as is to be expected, remains hot and moist throughout the year.

Travelling Classroom ( 1 week )

Saturday	08:00am	Departure to Baños (by local bus).
	12:30pm	Arrival in Baños.
	02:00pm - 06:00pm	Spanish classes in the hotel in Baños (4 hours).
Sunday	Free day	Possible activities: hiking, horse back riding, a bath in the hot springs' or a visit to the basilica "Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa", This basilica is a place of worship.
Monday	08:00am	Departure to Tena.
	01:00pm	Arrival in Tena.
	01:00pm - 01:30	Lunch in Tena
	01:45pm	Departure to Misahuallí
	02:30pm	Arrival, followed by Spanish classes in the hotel (4 hours).
Tuesday	07:30am	Breakfast
	08:30am	Jungle walk to two waterfalls
	01:00pm	Lunch
	02:00pm	Spanish classes in the hotel (4 hours).
	07:30pm	Dinner
Wednesday	07:00am - 11:00pm	Spanish classes in Misahuallí (4 hours).
	11:00am - 07:00pm	Educative walk through the jungle and Inner-tubing on the river (very spectacular!) Inner tubbing = on an inner tube of a tire floating stream wards on a river, in some cases they will tie a few tubes together to form a raft). A visit to a zoological institute ***.
Thursday	07:30am	Breakfast
	08:30am	Departure to Tena with local bus
	09:30am	Arrival in Tena
	10:30am - 01:00pm	Visit of the caves of Jumandy
	02:00pm - 06:00pm	Spanish classes in the hotel (4 hours). Overnight stay in a hotel in Tena.
Friday	06:30am	Departure to Papallacta
	11:00am	Arrival in Papallacta
	11:00am - 01:30pm	Swimming in the hot springs***.
	02:00pm	Departure to Quito
	05:00pm	Arrival in Quito

Included:

1) 20 hours of Spanish Classes in group
2) Transportation by public buses
3) 6 overnight stays in a hotel
4) Excursions where indicated in the itinerary with ***

Not included:

1) meals (in general people spend around $45 on meals per week)
2) beverages
3) Personal expenses
Clauses:
1) Excursions are only included in the price where indicated with ***
2) The school or its staff have complete freedom to change the itinerary if necessary, due to natural forces, strikes etc.
3) Classes may be hold individually or in groups of maximum 4 students (Depending on the number of participants)
4) Accommodation is in double rooms. The teachers stay in a separate room. The school chooses the hotels.
5) The school can not be blamed for bad services offered by a bus company, hotels, restaurants or contracted tour guides.
6) Transportation is by public buses. Should a bus break down, the school or its staff can not be blamed for delays, nor can lost hours of classes be claimed.
7) In case of an accident or illness, the school and its staff do not take any responsibility.
8) The teachers obligations:
- to coordinate the whole program
- to accompany the student on the buses
- to give classes where indicated in the itinerary
- to accompany the student on the excursions indicated in the itinerary
- to eat with the students

Requirements:

1) Vaccination: Please contact your local doctor or hospital for more information.

2) Climate:
Andes: Spring like all year around

Amazon: Hot and humid all year around (Bring enough mosquito repellent! Mosquitoes and sand flies are present 24 hours a day)

Travelling Classroom ( 2 weeks )

Monday	08:30am	Departure by public transportation to Riobamba
	01.00pm	Arrival in Riobamba
	02:00pm - 06:00pm	Spanish classes in the hotel in Riobamba (4 hours).
Tuesday	morning	City tour in Riobamba
	02:00am - 06:00pm	Spanish Classes at the hotel in Riobamba (4 hours)
Wednesday	06.00am - 12.00am	Spectacular train ride to Alausí
	02:00pm - 06:00pm	Spanish Classes at the hotel in Alausí (4 hours)
Thursday	09.15am - 01.30pm	Departure by public transportation to Baños
	02.30am - 06.30pm	Spanish Classes at the hotel in Baños (4 hours)
Friday	08.00am - 12.00am	Spanish Classes at the hotel in Baños (4 hours)
	afternoon	Time off for activities
Saturday	morning	Time off for activities
	02.00am - 06.00pm	Spanish Classes at the hotel in Baños (4 hours)
Sunday	08.30am - 13.45pm	Departure for Misahualli and arrival
	afternoon	Time off for relaxing on the beach of the Napo river
Monday	08.30am - 01.30pm	Walk in the rainforest and visit of a waterfall ***
	02:00pm - 06:00pm	Spanish Classes in Missahualí (4 hours)
Tuesday	08.30am - 00.30pm	Spanish Classes in“Missahualí (4 hours)
	afternoon	Visit of an Indian community plus river journey in typical Indian canoes.
Wednesday	07:00am - 11.00am	Spanish Classes in Missahualí (4 hours)
	11.30am - 07.00pm	Educational walk in the jungle, Inner-tubing plus visit of a Zoological station ***
Thursday	08.30am - 09.30am	Departure to Tena and arrival
	09.30am - 01.30pm	Visit of the caves of Jumandy
	02.00pm - 06.00pm	Spanish Classes in Missahualí (4 hours) Overnight stay in Tena at a hotel.
Friday	06.30am - 11.00am	Departure for Papallacta and arrival
	11.00am - 01.30pm	Swimming in the hot springs ***
	02.00pm - 05.00pm	Departure for Quito and arrival

Included:

1) 40 hours of Spanish Classes in group
2) Transportation by public buses
3) 11 overnight stays in a hotel
4) Excursions where indicated in the itinerary with ***

Not included:

1) meals (in general people spend around $45 on meals per week)
2) beverages
3) Personal expenses

Clauses:

1) Excursions are only included in the price where indicated with ***
2) The school or its staff have complete freedom to change the itinerary if necessary, due to natural forces, strikes etc.
3) Classes may be hold individually or in groups of maximum 4 students (Depending on the number of participants)
4) Accommodation is in double rooms. The teachers stay in a separate room. The school chooses the hotels.
5) The school can not be blamed for bad services offered by a bus company, hotels, restaurants or contracted tour guides.
6) Transportation is by public buses. Should a bus break down, the school or its staff can not be blamed for delays, nor can lost hours of classes be claimed.
7) In case of an accident or illness, the school and its staff do not take any responsibility.
8) The teachers obligations:
- to coordinate the whole program
- to accompany the student on the buses
- to give classes where indicated in the itinerary
- to accompany the student on the excursions indicated in the itinerary
- to eat with the students

All prices are in $ US Dollars. hpd = hours per day

Ecuador	Classes	hpd	1 wk	2 wks	3 wks	4 wks	extra week	extra night	transfer
Travelling Classroom	group	4	$ 584	$ 999	n/a	n/a	n/a	$ 25	included

Requirements:

1) Vaccination: Please contact your local doctor or hospital for more information.

2) Climate:

Andes: Spring like all year around

Amazon: Hot and humid all year around (Bring enough mosquito repellent! Mosquitoes and Sand flies are present 24 hours a day)

Come with Adiós Travel to learn Spanish during the Travelling Classroom, Ecuador.