Cultural activity program

Every week, we offer a comprehensive recreational program. You can learn more about Quito and Ecuador during dance classes, city tours, cooking classes and fiestas. The school also organizes interesting excursions around Quito, for example to the Equator and to Inca sites, Indian markets and many more.

The following activities are offered on a regular basis and are included in the price:

• Dancing classes
• Lectures and discussions on historical and current Latin American topics
• Cooking classes
• Drama Classes with teachers and students
• Fiestas with students, teachers, friends and families
• Movie night

Excursions

The following excursions are offered on a regular basis and are pay-as-you-go:

• Otavalo (Indian market)
• Mitad del Mundo (Equator and Inca sites)
• Papallacta (Thermal hot springs in the Andes)
• Saquisilí (Indian market)
• Cotopaxi (National park)
• Baños (Picturesque village in the Andes)

Mitad del Mundo

The Equator is located only 16 miles north of Quito. The heart of the exhibition is a 100 feet high monument with an ethnographic museum, where you can learn many interesting facts about the indigenous cultures of the area. Especially fascinating are the many physical experiments in the Museo Solar which only work directly on the Equator! Immediately after the visit to the Equator, you will visit the nearby Inca ruins of Rumicucho. These ruins are one of the few places in the country where one can find and explore well-preserved remains of the Incan Empire.

Otavalo

Otavalo, one of the best known towns in Ecuador, is located north of Quito on the Panamericana. Every Saturday, Otavalo is host to the most famous Indian market of the entire country. Hundreds of merchants offer many opportunities to shop both for tourists and local people. In the early morning there is a huge animal market where one can purchase anything from chicken and sheep to lamas. Another major attraction of the market is the area where clothing is sold. Here, tourists can purchase various famous souvenirs such as ponchos, traditional costumes, rucksacks, jewellery or hammocks.

Saquisilí

The Indian market of Saquisili is less well known than the large market of Otavalo, making it a more traditional and less touristy destination. This market is used mainly by Ecuadorians from the local area and therefore offers an ideal opportunity to see the Ecuadorian culture in all its diversity.

National Park Cotopaxi

This national park stretches around the 5,700 meter peak of the Cotopaxi volcano and is home to a rich variety of animal and plant species. There is even a herd of Lamas that are kept by the park’s entrance for scientific studies. At 4,800 meters, just below the snow-capped summit, there is a mountain station (José Ribas refuge) where most hikers venture to enjoy a well deserved rest and the incredible views. For the few „cliff-hangers“ that are adventurous enough there is also the option of climbing right to the top.

Baños

This weekend trip takes students to the picturesque Andean village of Baños. Surrounded by the beautiful Andes at the foot of the Tungurahua Volcano (altitude: 5,000 meter), the village offers a wide range of sporting and entertainment opportunities.

On Saturday we will set off on what is probably the most beautiful bike tour in all of Ecuador. The group will ride from Baños through a canyon to Puyo, taking breaks along the way and visiting the numerous waterfalls where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. On Sunday we will explore the surrounding Andes mountains on horseback.

Papallacta

The hot springs of Papallacta are located approx. a two and a half hour drive from Quito in a wonderful Andean valley. Even the valley is 3,300 meter above sea level! Here, you can relax in various pools, which are directly fed with water of volcanic origin, and enjoy the magnificent views.

After the bath in the hot springs, we will enjoy a delicious meal of trout, the local specialty, at a restaurant together with the students.