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.
Learn Spanish in Quito
About Quito
Learn Spanish at our school in Quito through out the year. There are a range of courses on offer from Standard Spanish to Private tuition and Combined Programmes. There are also possibilities for students with a good level of Spanish to combine their Spanish studies with possible work placements in local businesses in Quito.
The capital of Ecuador, Quito's old city was declared a UNESCO cultural heritage site in 1978. The city is only 22 km south of the equator yet is famed for its mild, spring like climate year round. This is more to do with its height, at 2850 metres above sea level, which ensures an equitable temperature range.The city offers fantastic views to various mountain ranges, several of which are snow capped.
Famed for its Inca and colonial past, modern Ecuador was born from the independence the country achieved under Simon Bolivar in 1822. Keys places of interest include the Monastery of San Francisco (the oldest church in Ecuador). The preserved colonial architecture of the alley known as "La Ronda" contrasts with the Avenida Amazonas, which is the heart of the modern city. The southern part of the city is a colonial haven of whitewashed houses, red tiled roofs and traditional churches. To the north you find the trappings of the 21st century with modern offices, shopping centres and the embassies. English speakers are not as plentiful in Quito as elsewhere in Latin America cities.
NB: Due to an aggressive mosquito control policy, Malaria is a rare disease in Ecuador these days. It would be wise to take medical precautions on the coast, but at altitude you should be okay since malaria does not exist on the highlands of Ecuador. If you head to the coast, use of insect repellent is recommended to ward them off.
Local Specialities
Ecuador is famed for its open air markets, filled with a range of exotic fruits and vegetables that will never reach Tescos or Sainsburys as they are too delicate to ship. Granadilla, Uvilla, Naranjilla and Chirramoya are fruit you can only enjoy once in Ecuador! Equally there are a range of aromatic herbal teas, spices, native grains that are inexpensive to buy and a delight to try. Likewise a wonderful choice of fresh fish, crab, squid, salmon, trout and a range of meats from the local farms are readily available. Of course you can always try, Cuy, (guinea pig to you and me!), it comes highly recommended by the college staff.
