Ecuador is a small South American country in the west of the continent, bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos Islands, although 965km away in the Pacific Ocean are under Ecuadorian rule as well. The country's name is taken from the Equator, on which it is positioned and has a land mass of approximately 260,000 square kilometres. Although not the country’s largest city, Quito is the capital and is the seat of the presidency and the Government. There are three main geographic regions in Ecuador and an insular region in the Pacific Ocean. The coastal region or La Costa to the west, La Sierra, the mountainous strip running north-to-south through the centre of the country, El Oriente, a region to the east consisting largely of rainforest and the Region Insular, consisting of the Galapagos Islands. The capital city is situated in the Pichincha region of La Sierra. Due to the country's three mainland regions it is not possible to discuss the climate of the country in a general way. La Costa has a tropical climate with warm temperatures and precipitation, La Sierra is temperate and El Oriente has a predominant jungle climate typical of the Amazon Rainforest. This incredible variety is a great attraction as very few places on earth can boast of such diverse weather patterns in such a relatively small land mass. As Quito is situated to the north in the La Sierra region, the climate there is mild, with distinctive wet and dry seasons, during the winter and summer respectively. The city is also positioned at altitude, 2800 metres approximately. The weather can be highly changeable as a result, with fog, cold temperatures and storms not being uncommon. Like many other cities in Latin America, it is loosley divided into two sections. The south has a very colonial feel with narrow streets, bars and small restaurants and histroic architecture. The Spanish influence is very recognizable in the south of the city. The northern section has a more modern look. The streets are broader and have a distinctive pattern, but have just as much charm. There is so much to explore, the trouble is finding the time to fit it all in!
A small international school
Our partner language institute Equinox is situated in the modern section of the city, in a quiet side street of the busy "Avenida Amazonas" main street. The School has a small library and room that can be used for meetings, video viewing and twenty small classrooms. Of course, you can also do your homework here or have a cup of tea or coffee which is free of charge. An ideal place to learn Spanish!
Social programme
Do you want a bit of relaxation during your language course? Various excursions can be organized from Quito to places of historical/cultural interest, for instance an excursion to the jungle, an adventurous trip to Riobamba by train, a visit to the famous Otavalo Saturday market or an excursion to the Galápagos islands with their splendid and rare flora and fauna. The school itself doesn't organise social activities but the staff readily provide all the help you will need in planning excursions, something you'll mostly have to do with fellow students. The accommodation is in a host family or in a shared apartment. Both forms are an excellent way of practising what was learned during the Spanish course and for meeting new people. The host families are very friendly and have experience of looking after foreign students. Staying in a host family allows the students to fully immerse themselves in the Ecuadorian culture. All accommodation used by students has been selected by the school and is in an excellent location with the appropriate facilities. The accomodation is inspected regularly to ensure standards are being maintained.
If you require further information or would like to find out more about StudyTravel, please follow this link or contact us via the following telephone numbers:
Call FREE from the UK: 0808-2348578
Call FREE from the USA: 1-866-864-4489
Impression
After learning Spanish in Quito for a week, I learned the language for another 2 weeks in the course of the 'Explore Ecuador Programme'. Ideal for people who want to explore as much of the country and language as possible within the limited time they have. In particular, the excursion to the Plata islands (Isla Plata) was unforgettable! The trip to Aliñahui, in the heart of the jungle equally made a remarkable impression on me. I´ve always wanted to go to Latin America. Doing a language course in Ecuador was an excellent choice!
Seamus O´Leary, Ireland.
