Study and Travel Packages

The following one-week packages can be combined to create the perfect study and travel itinerary.

 

 

Coast 1: Esmeraldas Province

The coast of Esmeraldas province varies from the tallest mangroves in the world to spectacular beaches and one of the last remaining areas where the rainforest reaches the sea. This program takes you to the north of Esmeraldas with its unique black culture, descended from a slave ship that ran aground in 1553, to visit La Tolita among the mangroves, a major archaeological site for a previous culture. From there you move south by river taxi and bus passing through the town of Esmeraldas and ending in Monpiche, a tranquil and undeveloped beach paradise.
This program begins on Sunday night with an overnight bus to San Lorenzo,from where you take another bus to Borbon to catch a river taxi through the mangroves. The program of classes ends on Friday, but your accommodation is paid until Saturday so that you can continue to relax on the beach or prepare for onward travel. Alternatively we will pay your transport back to Quito on the Friday if you prefer. Click here to email us for more details.

 

Coast 2: Ruta del Sol

This Study and Travel package begins in the unspoilt beachside village of Canoa in the north of the province of Manabí. It lies close to Bahía de Caraquez, a self-declared eco-town which has some great seafood restaurants. Moving lazily south during the week the program ends in sleepy Puerto Lopez from where you can visit Agua Blanca, a village in the Machalilla National Park, a dry forest reserve, and home to an important archaeological site and museum as well as a picturesque sulphur lagoon for swimming. There is also the spectacular Los Frailes beach, Isla de la Plata (known as the poor man’s Galapagos because some of the same species live there), and Salango for snorkelling and diving.
And once the program is finished if you like to party you can spend some time in nearby surf town, Montañita, or visit some of the other small villages that lie along this stretch of coast.
From June to October you can join a whale-watching cruise from Puerto Lopez.
You begin by taking the night bus from Quito to Canoa to start classes on Monday morning, and the program ends on Friday afternoon. But your accommodation is paid until Saturday morning so that you can enjoy any of the other attractions on offer in the area.Click here to email us for more details

 

Sierra 1: Northern Andes

This Study and Travel course starts in the sierra town of Ibarra in the Northern Andes. You will leave by bus from Quito on Sunday afternoon with your teacher, arriving in Ibarra to settle in before starting classes on Monday morning. Highlights include visits to lakes such as the impressive Cuicocha Laguna, and Peguche waterfall, and indigenous towns such as La Esperanza, Urcuqui, San Antonio, Cotocachi, Chachimbiro, Zuleta, depending on your particular interests, be they hiking, leather work, wood-carving, lace, etc... The course finishes in Otavalo on Friday afternoon, but accommodation for Friday night is included so that you can take advantage and get up early to visit the famous Otavalo market. The animal market starts at 5.00 am and is mostly over by 9.00 when the majority of tourists start to arrive.
A week studying and travelling in the Northern Andes is a memorable way to learn about the traditional culture and experience the stunning geography and environment of this unique region.Click here to email us for more details.

 

Sierra 2: Ruta de los Volcanes

This Study and Travel program is for the active and adventurous student. You will set out from Quito on Monday morning with your teacher to travel by bus down the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" with impressive views of the volcanoes that run down the spine of the Andes, to the spectacular Quilotoa crater lake. After exploring this stunning sierra environment and Kichwa culture you will travel by bus to Baños to enjoy the hot springs and varied activities of this lively cloud forest town beneath the active volcano Tungurahua. Here you can go white-water rafting, canyoning, or by bicycle to explore the waterfalls and other attractions of the area. From there you will travel south to explore the picturesque sierra town of Riobamba from where you will take a guided tour of the national park at the volcano Chimborazo, climbing up above the snowline to the refuge, and cycling down hill around the volcano for 35 kilometers. The course finishes on Friday after classes, and you can either return to Quito with your teacher or stay on to go on the famous "Devil's Nose" train ride on Saturday. This program also links up for a second week's tour exploring the culture and colonial past of Cuenca and surrounding area (see below).Click here to email us for more details.

 

Sierra 3: Cuenca Cultural

This Study and Travel program follows on from the previous program but can be taken on its own too. The program starts on Sunday. You can either travel by bus to the town of Tambo (7 hours) or fly to Cuenca on Monday morning to start the program. First stop is Ingapirca, Ecuador's finest Inca remains set in a spectacular location near the town of Tambo. Passing through the town of Cañar, home to the Cañari culture, you will spend the rest of the week based in the quiet colonial town of Cuenca, exploring its history and culture, churches and museums, and taking day trips to surrounding attractions such as the town of Chordeleg with its crafts and indigenous traditions, and the Cajas National Park with its stunning lakes, flora and fauna.Click here to email us for more details.

See also our options for studying in the Amazon rain forest or cloud forest.