UK Tel: 01209 211 800
Intl Tel: +44 1209 211 800
CESA House
Pennance Road
Lanner
Cornwall
TR16 5TQ
Great Britain
t: 01209 211 800
Intl t: +44 1209 211 800
f: 01209 211 830
Founder member of the Year Out Group and the International Association of Language Travel Agents.
Social Activities in Santiago
All students are encouraged to make the most of their time in Chile by participating in the guided excursions and activities offered by the college.
The college offers various events, such as: visits to museums, parks, local festivals, salsa lessons, rafting, hiking, karting, skiing, soccer games, and barbecues. Half-day and Full-day excursions include such things as a trip to Santa Lucia, or to the beach or nearby mountains.
Each Monday students will receive details with a weekly itinerary, giving the dates, schedule and costs. So you can pick and choose to suit your mood. Costs vary from just US 2.00 dollars to cover public transport in the city, to US 130.00 dollars for a full weekend excursion.
A sample of a Week’s social programme in Santiago:
Monday:
A welcome lunch for new students followed by a city tour in Santiago
Tuesday:
Conversation club/ cookery lesson / a movie shown at the college or a trip to the house of Pablo Neruda
Wednesday:
Try your hand at a Salsa class, play football or enjoy a nocturnal city tour.
Thursday:
Enjoy a little culture with the school staff; a theatre trip, dinner and a show or a night city tour or go to the cinema with the other students.
Friday:
Enjoy the farewell lunch for students about to end their course.
Saturday:
A range of activities are offered including; horseback riding, a day up in the hills with awesome views of snow-capped peaks. Back at the horse camp for some cookies and a hot drink, then students will be taken to a nearby country house for coffee and sugar pastries or skiing trip, rafting trekking or a day at the beach.
Sunday:
Free day - to do with, as you will!
Activities outside the college:
Chile is full of fantastic sights to see, why not start with the “Plaza de Armas”. This square place with its music pavilions, green areas and park benches was named for the weapons that were kept here at the time of Pedro de Valdivia to protect the settlers. Later the plaza was the meeting point for public events, for troop parades, religious procession and even executions. Nowadays you can see parades on a Sunday afternoon imitating colonial times – without the execution of course!
Santiago offers much more than the city centre, away from it you are surrounded by friendly, colourful houses, nice bars and restaurants, galleries and cultural centres or secret places where you can easily escape the hassle of the city.
Water sports: Chile’s long stretch of coastline is indented with several bays and fjords where various types of water sports can be enjoyed such as swimming, diving, water-skiing and boating.
Climbing: The Lake District’s Volcán Villarrica and Volcán Osorno are the most popular destinations for climbing. Guides are compulsory but several companies offer guided tours to suit all levels, however, note that ice gear is required.
White water rafting: The Rivers Maipo, Claro, Trancura and Bio-Bio are the most popular destinations for white water rafting and local operators can arrange week long trips. Around the Bio-Bio River, visitors can enjoy the scenic hot springs and waterfalls, although the construction of several dams along the river will undoubtedly change conditions.
Skiing: Chile is home to the world famous ski resorts of Portillo, Farellones-El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado. Portillo (150km/95 miles northeast of Santiago) offers downhill and cross-country skiing as well as ice-skating on the spectacular Laguna del Inca. Ski season runs from June to September with peak conditions in August.
Equestrian sports: Guided horseback trips offer an enjoyable alternative to walking and are widely available in Chile’s national parks. In January, Viña del Mar hosts the International Horsemanship Championship. The two main horse races of the year are the Derby (Viña del Mar in January) and El Ensayo (Santiago in October).
Football: 15 minutes away from the school there is a synthetic grass football pitch if students fancy a kick about.
Return to: Learn Spanish in Santiago
