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Ecuador

Program Overview

Bienvenidos a Ecuador.
Located in the rugged Andean Highlands, Ecuador is a country of incredible natural beauty, indigenous cultures, and well-preserved colonial cities. During your five weeks in Ecuador, journey to the tropical interior of the Amazon jungle, swim in the warm Pacific waters of the Galápagos Islands, and visit the colorful Indian market at Otavalo and some of the most magnificent active volcanoes in the world.

Orientation
You and your group spend a few days in a small town on the outskirts of Quito learning about Ecuadorian culture. Practice your Spanish as you buy traditional foods from local vendors, explore street markets, visit the equator with Spanish language teachers, or stroll around the small town of Sangolquí.

Homestay
Our host families in Ecuador make it easy for you to feel right at home. Learn about life on the equator as your group and host families spend three weeks exploring the fascinating areas around your host community. Your Spanish improves with each passing day.

Sample host communities: Riobamba, Cotacachi, Sangloqui.

Sample activities: Travel to Mitad del Mundo; explore a pre-Inca archaeological site; trek through a local forest reserve to see rare birds, plants, and pumas; take part in a mini-community service project working with a local nonprofit organization; visit the animal market in Guamote; take a train to "Devil's Noose"; hike up Mt. Chimborazo; stroll around Riobamba and the snow-capped peaks of three volcanoes.

Exploring the Galápagos and the Amazon
Investigate rare plant and animal species on the Galápagos Islands and take a trip through the Amazon jungle. Learn from naturalists about the fragile ecology and unique biodiversity of these fascinating regions.

Sample activities: Cruise by night from island to island; snorkel in lava grottoes, home to sea lions and seals; explore mangrove forests and flamingo lagoons; observe the courtship display of rare tropical birds; paddle into the heart of the jungle on a guided canoe expedition; visit a native village and learn about indigenous Ecuadorian traditions.

I spent every moment trying to absorb as much about Ecuadorian life as I could. My host family and I bonded quickly, spending almost every minute together. Being a part of their family allowed me to experience the actual life of a teenager in Ecuador. we spent our days visiting family friends, cooking, and shopping at the Indian markets, and our evenings dancing salsa, going to concerts, or watching movies—such a blend of things that were both ordinary and extraordinary.

-- Sivan Goobich, Duluth, Georgia

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