Trip Report: Studying Spanish in Quito and Cuenca, Ecuador

I studied Spanish in Ecuador from mid September thru mid October and wanted to share information about my experience. I located my schools/teachers via the internet and had a wonderful experience! I’m a single woman who just turned 62 and would be happy to respond to questions/concerns from older, single travelers.

My Spanish is at a fairly advanced level, which definitely made it easier traveling alone than if I had not spoken any Spanish. But if you plan your trip well and arrange a home stay and teacher/school ahead of time, you can do this trip as a beginning Spanish student. In terms of safety, use common sense, use “street smarts”, follow the advice in the guidebooks, travel forums, the South American Explorer’s Club, and the family or school, and you will be fine. Since I live in Colorado, the altitude in Quito didn’t take much getting used to.

I had studied Spanish two or three times in Mexico over the past several years and wanted to get to know another country. Several of my Spanish-speaking acquaintances suggested Ecuador because Ecuadorians speak a very clear and fairly dialect-free Spanish and because it is a good value in terms of cost.

I really enjoyed getting to know the Ecuadorian culture and people. When I was in a shop, museum or taxi and mentioned that I was in Ecuador to study Spanish, it was a real ice-breaker. The conversations always ended with, “and when are you coming back to Ecuador?”

In planning my trip I used several forums and web sites, including Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor, Frommers, Fodors, and the South American Explorers’ Club. I also used several guide books, some of which I checked out from the library, others I bought. I would definitely recommend joining the Explorers’ Club before you leave for Ecuador. Good information and a nice place to take a break while wondering around Quito. You can view their trip sheets, use the internet, and get some current, first hand information.

I found my teacher and home stay in Quito and my teacher in Cuenca via the internet. Several sources had recommended Mariana Gonzalez in Quito for a home stay and as a teacher. I emailed Mariana and she responded right away and I arranged to stay with her for my first two weeks. She and her family live in Los Chillos, a valley about a 20 minute bus ride from Quito. They have a nice, new house and I had a private bath and bedroom. Mariana is an excellent teacher and a wonderful person. I studied with her four hours day for 10 days and had lots of time to practice my Spanish with Mariana and her husband and two children—ages 8 and 13. Getting to know Mariana and the family was one of the highlights of my trip. On several afternoons, I took the bus to Quito to explore the old town. I also took the bus to Otovalo on a Saturday and a shorter bus trip to Chordeleg, a town a few miles outside of Quito. If you are looking for a teacher and and homestay, I highly recommend Mariana. She speaks English, and her email is spanishteachermariana@yahoo.com.

After Quito, I flew to Cuenca to enroll for two weeks at the University of Cuenca.. I had found the email address of the Patricia Galarza, theCoordinator for the Foreign Language Students, on a web site. Patricia arranged everything for me in Cuenca, including getting a very good discount at La Posada del Angel, a very nice hostal (smaller, family run hotel). I studied 4 hours a day with one of the professors at the University (Maria Augusta), sometimes going to museums and having coffee instead of sitting in a classroom. On two mornings I had a private tour of some surrounding pueblos and ruins with Patricia and another professor at the University. Maria Augusta was an excellent teacher, and Patricia went out of her way to arrange things for me. The University is interested in building its short term, intensive program for Spanish. I loved Cuenca and felt very safe there walking in the old town even after dark. You can contact Patricia (who speaks English) at galarzapachy@yahoo.com. She can reserve a room at La Posada, or if you want a home stay, Maria Augusta may be able to provide a room and private bath in her nice large apartment in the old town.

I’d be happy to try to answer any questions from readers who are thinking of studying Spanish or visiting Quito or Cuenca. Because I am posting this trip report on several forums and may not be able to check them frequently for questions, if you need a response quickly, you can email me at hazelbond2001@yahoo.com.