ECUADORImmersion in Quito

14 DAYS / 12 NIGHTS

(Dates of travel to be confirmed upon flight booking)

DAY 1: USA / ECUADOR (Sunday)

• Board your flight to Quito, Ecuador.• Quito is home to an array of beautiful cathedrals, elegant old mansions,

interesting museums, squares and parks. The wonderful spring-like climate is dominated by mountains with several snow-capped volcanoes. Quito was also declared one of the most important world cultural heritage sites in Latin America by UNESCO.

• ¡Bienvenido a Ecuador! A Forum Tour Representative will greet you at the airport upon arrival and help you transfer to your host families for dinner and night accommodation.

SIMON BOLIVAR SPANISH SCHOOLSimon Bolivar Spanish School is located just 3 blocks from the center of the La Mariscal District – a place calm enough to study, but close enough to all that you could need. Students will participate in Spanish classes 4 hours/day, Monday through Friday. In addition to the Spanish classes, your group will participate in pre-planned activities where you will discover more of the culture and history of Ecuador. Students will be placed 2 or 3 per family and contact information of the host family will be sent approximately 2 to 4 weeks prior to departure. Host families will be located 5-20 minutes walking from the Simon Bolivar Spanish School.

DAY 2: SPANISH LESSONS / CITY TOUR (Monday) • Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, meet your group at Simon Bolivar for a Quito City tour! Dri ve into the heart of colonial Quito and experience the charm of Indepen dence Square with its awe-inspiring Cathedral, Presidential Palace and Arc hbishop’s Palace.• See the church of La Compañia - considered to be the finest example of baroque architecture in America. You will also see the church and monas tery of San Francisco. • End your tour at Panecillo Hill - an ideal location for a panoramic view of this historic capital.• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 3: SPANISH LESSIONS / IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS (Tuesday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This evening, return to Simon Bolivar for a fun lecture about Ecuador’s common idioms and slang!

DAYS 4: SPANISH LESSONS / TELEFERICO (Wednesday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, meet your group at Simon Bolivar for a trip to the

Teleférico. The cable car lift runs from the edge of the city center up to the

east side of Pichincha Volcano.• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 5: SPANISH LESSONS / DAY-CARE CENTER VISIT (Thursday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, meet your group at Simon Bolivar and visit a local day-ca-

re/ nursery and spend time with local children. • Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 6: SPANISH LESSONS / COOKING LESSON (Friday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This evening, partake in a cooking lesson and learn how to make a typical

Ecuadorian dish! • Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 7: OTAVALO (Saturday)

• After breakfast with your host family, meet your group at Simon Bolivar for a day trip to Otavalo.

• En-route you will go through the Awakening Valley in Calderón with its bread-dough figures and Cayambe which is known for the local cuisine.

• Arrive in Otavalo and see its famous indigenous market, offering hand-knitted wool sweaters, colorful tapestries, wood carvings, silver jewelry, native paintings, woolen and panama hats, and much more.

• Stop for lunch at the traditional hacienda Pinsaqui and enjoy the amazing landscape of this beautiful area.

• Visit Cotacachi - an entire town dedicated to selling fine leather products and handicrafts.

• Return to Quito for dinner and night accommodation with your host families.

DAY 8: MINDO (Sunday)

• After breakfast with your host family, meet your group at Simon Bolivar for a day trip to Mindo - one of the most megadiverse spots in Ecuador. It is a hotspot for birdwatchers and is also home to many species of orchids and butterflies.

• Upon arrival, tube down the river to a spot to take the bus to the higher part of Mindo.

• Then, go on a canopy or rafting tour and enjoy an adventure with amazing views.

• Have lunch with your group.• After, have some free time to stroll around the town and pick up some

souvenirs at the local market. • Return to Quito for dinner and night accommodation with your host

families.

DAY 9: SPANISH LESSONS / TYPICAL MUSIC INSTRUMENTS (Monday) • Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, return to Simon Bolivar for a fun class on Ecuador’s typical musical instruments!• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 10: SPANISH LESSONS / MITAD DEL MUNDO (Tuesday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• Later, meet your group at Simon Bolivar for a trip to the Mitad del Mundo

- the invisible line known as the Equator. See the famous monument and stand with one foot in each hemisphere!

• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 11: SPANISH LESSONS / LATIN MOVIE (Wednesday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, return to Simon Bolivar with your group for a ‘movie

afternoon’ where you will see a Spanish language film and of course, have popcorn and snacks!

• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 12 SPANISH LESSONS / SALSA LESSON (Thursday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• This afternoon, return to Simon Bolivar with your group for a salsa dance

class to learn Ecuador’s Latin rhythm.• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 13: SPANISH LESSONS / FAREWELL (Friday)

• Enjoy breakfast with your host family.• 08:30am to 12:30pm Group Spanish classes.• Say hasta luego to your Spanish school and receive your Certificate of

Participation!• Return to your host family for dinner and night accommodation.

DAY 14: DEPART (Saturday)

• Say gracias y hasta luego to your host family and transfer to the airport for your flight(s) back home.

¡Hasta pronto y buen viaje!