Located in an Andean valley, Cuenca is a town of striking contrast. It has successfully preserved its colonial past with its cobbled streets, churches, pre-Hispanic ruins, museums, and colorful Indian markets. Colonial Cuenca is just across the Tomebamba River from modern day Cuenca with modern office buildings, art galleries and two universities. Home to many scholars and artists, Cuenca is said to be the “Athens of Ecuador.” Relatively undiscovered by English speaking tourists, this program offers an excellent opportunity to learn Spanish.
Located in an Andean valley, Cuenca is a town of striking contrast. It has successfully preserved its colonial past from its cobbled streets, churches, pre-Hispanic ruins, museums, and colorful Indian markets. Colonial Cuenca is just across the Tomebamba River from modern day Cuenca with modern office buildings, art galleries and two universities. Home to many scholars and artists of Ecuador, Cuenca is said to be the “Athens of Ecuador.” Relatively undiscovered by English speaking tourists, this program offers an excellent opportunity to learn Spanish.
Ecuador was named for its position on the Equator and is bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. Not many countries as small as Ecuador have such diverse climate regions. This country has the tallest active volcano in the world, great white sand beaches, tropical rain forests, deep crevasses, colorful Indian markets and is well known for its social and political stability.
Participants: Half are European with an average age of 30.
Other: The Arts and Crafts Program includes 4 hours of group classes and 2 hours of private classes with an expert, local potter. It also includes: visits to meet local craftsmen and speak with them to learn some secrets of their trade; hands-on experience with pottery production, using both the turning wheel and hand modeling; and development of deep comprehension of traditional themes and aesthetic values.
If you are staying with a family, airport pick-up is included in Cuenca. It is not offered if opting for classes only.
Quito Package = $200
Included: airport transfers (to and from hotel in Quito), one night hotel in Quito & one-way airfare to Cuenca. Please book this option w/ at least 2-3 weeks notice. You should arrive in Quito on the Saturday before your classes start.
To book this option, you must submit the non-refundable fee with your flight details.
Extra homestay nights: $30/night
Private Classes: $13/hour (minimum of 20 hours per week)
All courses have a USD 100 registration fee (Not Refundable)
Note: Accommodation is available Sunday to Saturday, Saturday to Friday (Jordan and Egypt) or
Saturday to Saturday (Tokyo) - all other days will have extra charge
