Ocean, highlands, rainforest and the Galápagos Islands. Ecuador is one of South America's most diverse countries, and not only for learning Spanish.
Ecuador is one of the most beautiful countries in South America and offers far more than good Spanish lessons. The Latin American way of life, the ever-changing landscapes and the living culture make a stay here something special.
Geographically, Ecuador ranges from the Pacific coast across the Andean highlands to the Amazon, plus the Galápagos Islands. This means a wide range of climate zones, from subtropical heat on the coast and in the jungle to the eternal spring of the mountains, constant all year round. Each invites its own activities.
Most of our participants use the volunteer programmes and the Travelling Classroom to learn Spanish while getting to know the diversity of Ecuador and its local traditions, far away from mass tourism.
On the coast and in the rainforest the climate is hot and humid tropical, with steady highs of 30 to 35 °C and lows around 20 °C, throughout the year.
In the Andean highlands the climate is mild: around 5 °C at night and up to 25 °C during the day, constant all year.
The coast has a rainy season from January to March (stronger in the north than in the south). The highlands have no distinct rainy season; slightly more rain falls from November to May. Here the rainy season is called "winter" and the dry season "summer".
A standard travel-vaccination check for South America, plus yellow fever vaccination for trips into the Amazon or jungle (e.g. Tena). Whether malaria prophylaxis also makes sense for your destination is best clarified in a travel-medicine consultation. If so, bring "standby" malaria tablets from home, as they are not available for purchase in Ecuador.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months on departure from Ecuador. A tourist stay of 90 days per year is possible without a visa. If you want to stay longer (visa required), check with the Ecuadorian embassy or a consulate.
Be sure to take out international travel health insurance before departure. It is usually inexpensive and can be arranged online. For clinical electives and placements it is mandatory.
As anywhere, a little common sense goes a long way. Our school sits in a quiet, central residential district (La Vicentina Alta); we can pick you up at the airport, and you always have a contact person on site. Keep valuables safe and take a taxi or ride-app in the evenings. Before you travel, check the current travel and safety advice from your foreign ministry (for German travellers, the Auswärtiges Amt).
For about 5–10 USD you can get an Ecuadorian SIM card on arrival and be reachable on a local number, assuming an unlocked phone.
You can withdraw cash easily at banks and ATMs with a credit card, and often with a debit card. The national currency is the US dollar.
Quito sits at about 2,850 m. Allow a day or two to acclimatise and you will settle in more easily.
Motto: "Libertad y Orden" (Freedom and Order)
| Official language | Spanish |
| Capital | Quito |
| Government | Presidential republic |
| Area | 283,560 km² |
| Population | around 18 million |
| Temperatures | Coast & jungle up to 35 °C by day · Quito & highlands 20–25 °C by day, 5–12 °C at night |
| Seasons | "Summer" (dry season) and "Winter" (rainy season); the exact months vary by region (see Climate) |
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