Which student itinerary? - 14 days
Replies: 4 - Last Post: Jun 1, 2012 8:48 PM Last Post By: jgcp
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Which student itinerary? - 14 days
I'm a high school Spanish teacher taking a group of students on a trip in June 2013. I'm trying to decide between a couple 14-day pre-packaged itineraries. *The majority of the students are from affluent families that have traveled abroad previously. They're 16 and 17 year olds who are not necessarily interested or disinterested in anything specific.Itinerary #1:
Day 1) Arrive to Guayaquil
2) Guayaquil
3) Puerto López
4) Puerto López (Machalilla, Isla de la Plata)
5) Dos Mangas then Guayaquil
6) Riobamba (Volcán Chimborazo)
7) Riobamba then transfer to Quito
8) Quito (family stay)
9) Quito (family stay and language classes)
10) Quito (family stay and language classes)
11) Quito (family stay and language classes)
12) Quito (family stay and language classes)
13) Quito (family stay and language classes)
14) Return to U.S.
Itinerary #2:
-order may vary
Day 1) Arrive to Quito
2) Quito
3) Otavalo
4) Quito (begin family stay)
5) Quito (family stay and language classes)
6) Quito (family stay and language classes)
7) Quito (family stay and language classes)
8) Quito (family stay and language classes)
9) Quito, Papallacta
Days 10 to 13) Mindo and Baños
14) Return to U.S.
I know this largely depends on personal interests but what might teenagers like. I guess we want a mixture of history/culture and outdoors activities. Thanks for any insight.
1
I think you will be much happier with the highland itinerary, (2nd) but homestays in Quito will not give the same sort of cultural experience that you could offer in smaller less cosmopolitan towns or communities. Also depending upon your actual travel dates you could have the chance of including some of the very traditional cultural events associated with Solsitce which take place in the Andes in the month of June. Don't just accept a standard pre-made itinerary which can be done any month, get some one who will put together something special for your group and take into account the actual travel dates.Safari Ecuador used to do this kind of specialty perhaps they still do.
2
Itinerary #1 includes a nice part of the coast with a very good chance of being able to see humpback whales and a visit to Chimborazo, which is the highest mounatin in the world if you measure from a point in space rather than from sea level. Itinerary #2 includes Mindo, which has great birdwatching hikes.Have a great trip!!
3
You MUST include Baños (in the highlands) and Montañita (in the coast) www.rentfriendsguayaquil.com4
Um #3 the itinerary doesn't include Montañita and only the 2nd one includes Baños and both IMO are far too touristy and won't give the students a real Ecuadorian experience.
