About Ecuador

Discover Ecuador while you take Spanish classes!

For its diminutive size Ecuador packs in an immense and impressive cultural and biological diversity. There are few places in the world where you can go from permanent snow and ice to sun drenched beaches or tropical rainforest in the space of just a couple of hours!
Ecuador is a remarkable country, for its natural riches, its cultural diversity and history, and its peoples and traditions. Every corner of the country can offer something different for the traveler, from the spectacular tropical coastline with its populations of African origin to the Amazon and its variety of indigenous peoples and its amazing biodiversity. In between the two regions is the Sierra, which includes some of South America’s highest mountain peaks. With this diversity of terrain Ecuador offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, from mountain climbing, trekking, and mountain biking to rafting, swimming, and just relaxing in the great outdoors.
Ecuador is one of the top 17 nations of the world with respect to biodiversity. This relatively small country has over 1600 species of birds, 4500 species of butterflies, about 350 species of both reptiles and amphibians, and over 350 species of mammals. Nearly 25,000 species of trees and 10,000 species of plants live in the Amazon. There are 24 national parks and reserves, and although protection of these areas is weak, nearly all offer amazing landscapes unlike others to be found anywhere. Some of these protected areas are very difficult to access, allowing serious hikers access to places that are nearly pristine. Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands, a small area with about 600 native species, famous for its unique biodiversity and its remarkable marine life.

BASIC FACTS:

Population: 16,938,986
Area: 256,370 square kilometers (including Galapagos).
Currency: US dollar.
Electricity: 110V 60Hz – plugs. American style.
Principal language – Spanish.
Second language – Kichwa (Quichua).
Indigenous Groups – 14 or more.
There are still uncontacted tribes in the Amazon region.

ECUADOR HOLIDAYS

New Year: Monday, January 1st.
Carnival: Monday, February 12th and Tuesday, February 13th.
Holy Friday: Friday, March 29th.
Labor Day: Wednesday, May 1st.
Battle of Pichincha: Friday, May 24th.
First Cry of Independence: Saturday, August 10th moves to Friday, August 9th.
Guayaquil’s independence: Wednesday, October 9th moves to Friday, October 11th.
Day of the Dead: Saturday, November 2nd moves to Friday, November 1st.
Independence of Cuenca: Sunday, November 3rd.
Christmas: Wednesday, December 25th

About Spanish In Quito

High in the Ecuadorian Andes is the ancient, but thriving, city of Quito.

A walk through the old center, filled with sixteenth- and seventeenth-century mansions and churches, makes the city’s historical roots quickly apparent. Those roots go back even further than the beautiful colonial buildings suggest. For hundreds of years before the Spanish arrived, Quitu people occupied the land on which Quito now sits. In the fifteenth century, the Incas arrived, and the city was subsumed into one of the largest empires the world has ever seen. In 1526, as the conquistadors approached, the Incas set the city ablaze rather than let it fall into Spanish hands
Today Quito stands as one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the Americas. It is a place where indigenous women in traditional clothing share the sidewalk with dark-suited businesspeople, bohemian students, and tourists. The old colonial heart is still intact, its narrow streets abuzz with activity as vendors from the highlands ply their goods in traditional markets. Visitors can admire the opulent gilded interior of the La Compañía church, climb high atop the steeple of the Basilica del Voto Nacional, see re-creations of the city’s major events at the Museo de la Ciudad, and admire scores of other well-preserved colonial buildings. Downtown, La Mariscal is Ecuador’s cultural capital. Here, you’ll find the Museo del Banco Central, containing the nation’s most treasured possessions: priceless ceramics and metalwork from all of Ecuador’s pre-Colombian peoples, masterpieces of colonial art, especially from the famed Quito School, and works from Ecuador’s justifiably-lauded modern artists. North of La Mariscal lies the gigantic, leafy Parque La Carolina and several American-style shopping malls. Framing all of this are the hills that surround Quito, the most prominent of which is Rucu Pichincha, an emerald-green, extinct volcano that looms over La Mariscal at a height of nearly five thousand meters (sixteen-thousand feet).

EXCURSIONS AND DAY TRIPS FROM QUITO.

There are a huge number of day trips and one-day excursions offered from Quito. Whatever your interests – indigenous markets, crafts-producing villages, volcanos and mountains, national parks, museums and culture, waterfalls and lakes, . . . there is something for you to choose from in either city.
Through our travel agency – True Ecuador Travel, we can help you organizing one of these or your whole trip to Ecuador.

Discover Quito while you take Spanish classes!

High in the Ecuadorian Andes is the ancient, but thriving, city of Quito. A walk through the old center, filled with sixteenth- and seventeenth-century mansions and churches, makes the city’s historical roots quickly apparent. Those roots go back even further than the beautiful colonial buildings suggest. For hundreds of years before the Spanish arrived, Quitu people occupied the land on which Quito now sits. In the fifteenth century, the Incas arrived, and the city was subsumed into one of the largest empires the world has ever seen. In 1526, as the conquistadors approached, the Incas set the city ablaze rather than let it fall into Spanish hands.

Eight years later, with just 200 colonists, Quito was re-founded by the Spanish. In the two-hundred-and-fifty years that followed, the city grew and religious orders and wealthy settlers constructed beautiful churches and palaces, many of which still stand today. In 1809, the Quiteños issued their first declaration of independence. Spain put down the rebellion, but Quito, and later Ecuador, won its freedom when the Spanish soldiers were defeated on the slopes of Volcán Pichincha, overlooking the city. The date of the battle, May 24th, 1822, is still celebrated throughout the country. Independence did not bring stability or peace, however. As part of Gran Colombia, and later as part of an independent Ecuador, Quito fought with the coastal city of Guayaquil for dominance, before emerging early in the twentieth century as the undisputed capital. In the 1940´s, the city spread north from its historic center, and new districts like La Mariscal began to grow. Booms in the agriculture and petroleum industries funded construction of new infrastructure and modern neighborhoods, complete with shopping malls and the other comforts found in Europe and North America.

Excursions And Day Trips From Quito

There is a wide selection of exciting excursions that you can choose from when you are in Quito. We offer one or two each weekend that students can sign up for. These are run by a professional local agency and offer the chance to explore from the snow line of a volcano, hiking with incredible views, relaxing in hot springs, to the exploring the biodiversity of the cloud forests.

Click on the links to the right to learn about each one.

 

Today Quito stands as one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the Americas. It is a place where indigenous women in traditional clothing share the sidewalk with dark-suited businesspeople, bohemian students, and tourists. The old colonial heart is still intact, its narrow streets abuzz with activity as vendors from the highlands ply their goods in traditional markets. Visitors can admire the opulent gilded interior of the La Compañía church, climb high atop the steeple of the Basilica del Voto Nacional, see re-creations of the city’s major events at the Museo de la Ciudad, and admire scores of other well-preserved colonial buildings. Downtown, La Mariscal is Ecuador’s cultural capital. Here, you’ll find the Museo del Banco Central, containing the nation’s most treasured possessions: priceless ceramics and metalwork from all of Ecuador’s pre-Colombian peoples, masterpieces of colonial art, especially from the famed Quito School, and works from Ecuador’s justifiably-lauded modern artists. La Mariscal also houses all the banks, restaurants, hotels, laundries, and bookstores that a visitor could need. North of La Mariscal lies the gigantic, leafy Parque La Carolina and several American-style shopping malls. Framing all of this are the hills that surround Quito, the most prominent of which is Rucu Pichincha, an emerald-green, extinct volcano that looms over La Mariscal at a height of nearly five thousand meters (sixteen-thousand feet).

Spanish in Cuenca

Discover Cuenca while you take Spanish classes!

Cuenca is certainly the most charming city in Ecuador, a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site, boasting cobblestone streets, traditional colonial parks and plazas, cathedrals and churches and beautiful riverside walks. For these reasons, in addition to its year-round temperate climate, Cuenca has become the top retirement destination for expats, especially from the US. This influx has had the effect of making the city much more cosmopolitan – replacing the former very conservative (some would say dull!) city with a vibrant mix of ice-cream parlors, cafés, restaurants and bars that are open until late – all the amenities that the international traveler expects to enjoy. These exist alongside the more traditional and cultural daily life of this Andean city with its indigenous presence, markets and bazars.
Santa Ana de los Cuatro Rios de Cuenca makes the perfect location to study Spanish with its deep historical and cultural roots, tranquil cobblestone streets, impressive colonial architecture and enduring indigenous presence.

EXCURSIONS AND DAY TRIPS FROM CUENCA

Around Cuenca there are many interesting places to visit for the tourist interested in cultural or natural history. From the Inca ruins of Inga Pirca, to the indigenous crafts-producing villages of Chordeleg, nearby thermal springs and spas, and the Cajas national park, there is plenty to do and see on day trips from Cuenca. We offer a regular calendar of activities and excursions through reliable local operators that students are encouraged to sign up for.

and culture, waterfalls and lakes, . . . there is something for you to choose from in either city.

Through our travel agency – True Ecuador Travel, we can help you organizing one of these or your whole trip to Ecuador.

Discover the Galapagos

Yanapuma has put together a variety of exciting Galapagos packages that allows you to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands. This is a land-based experience that visits several different islands with half-day and full-day excursions – hiking, snorkeling, diving, and time to relax and enjoy the tranquility of these islands.
All the programs run from Sunday, with flights to and from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra on the island of Santa Cruz. However, if your schedule does not allow this, we can work out a schedule starting on a different day of the week. We have teamed up with a local operator to provide excellent accommodation and a program of top-quality excursions that will fill your week with memorable experiences. Unlike a regular boat cruise, you will spend much less time at sea getting from location to location, and much more time being able to explore your surroundings.
A land-based experience in the Galapagos offers distinct advantages over a boat cruise. The launches that are used for the excursions to different islands are high-speed, so much less time is spent merely motoring slowly from spot to spot; time which you can enjoy exploring Puerto Ayora or Puerto Villamil and its surroundings, or relaxing in a café, going to the beach!

Many find it a much nicer experience to be able to sleep on dry land in a bed that is not moving, as well as to be able to choose which restaurant you want to eat at, and decide whether to use the internet or have a coffee, ice-cream or beer afterwards in any of the numerous café/restaurant/bars in these tranquil towns.
Finally, we prefer the land-based tours because they put more money directly into the local economy and give you much more opportunity to experience life on the Galapagos islands as it actually is
If you would prefer a boat cruise in the Galapagos please email us with your rough dates and the kinds of activities you prefer and we can offer options that will suite your preferences and budget.
Sign up now to reserve your place on our exciting Study and Travel program of your choice!
We will be happy to chat with you via telephone, Whatsapp Skype, Google, etc to discuss your needs and answer your questions. Please contact us to set it up!
The above prices are for Regular Tourist class hotels in the Galapagos. We can also offer Tourist Superior hotels at an additional cost. Email us for details.

Program Price
GL1 – Galapagos in a Nutshell (5 days)
$1035.60
GL2 – Concise Galapagos (6 days)
$1353.60
GL3 – Four Points Galapagos (7 days)
$1588.80
GL4 – Galapagos Genesis (8 days)
$1738.80
GL5 – Natural Galapagos (9 days)
$1792.80
GL6 – Darwin’s Galapagos (9 days)
$1960.80
GL7 – Galapagos Insight (10 days)
$2110.80
GL8 – Galapagos Revealed (10 days)
$2350.80
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