Ecuador and Visa

How are the weather conditions in Quito ?

Normally the weather is nice in Quito, during the day it can be quite hot. But due to the near to the equator it is raining quite often. And do not underestimate the altitude: Quito is situated 2900 m above sea level; therefore it can be pretty cold in the nights.

When is the best time for visiting Ecuador ?
Since Ecuador has a very nice and pleasant climate all the time it is worth to get visited throughout the entire year. During the months January to April we will find the warm rainy season on the coastal areas as well as on the Galapagos Islands which is the best time for snorkeling and beach vacations. During the other half of the year the water is a bit cooler. Since the climate in the mountains is very dry from June to August this time of the year is recommended as the best hiking and trekking decade.

Which vaccinations do I need?

We recommend every student to get vaccinations for diphtheria, Hepatitis, Tetanus, Typhoid and yellow fever. If you are planning to work with animals, you also should get a rabies vaccination. But please contact your doctor before coming to Ecuador; he also can give you advice.

What are the current visa regulations for Ecuador ?
Citizens of most European countries, the United States, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand (excluding Cook Islands and Niue) and Australia do not need a visa to visit Ecuador. On your arrival in the country you receive a so called tarjeta de turismo which allows you to stay for up to 90 days in Ecuador. This tourist card can be extended for another 90 days once you are in the country.

How long does my passport have to be valid when entering Ecuador ?
When entering Ecuador your passport needs to be valid for at least six more months.

What about the airport tax when leaving Ecuador ?

On your departure from Ecuador it is very important to bear in mind that you have to pay an airport tax, which can only be paid in cash. Currently, the airport tax is US$ 41 for international flights. There is no airport tax for domestic flights.

Which currency is used in Ecuador? What is the current exchange rate?

The currency of Ecuador is the US-Dollar (USD). The banknotes come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 US- Dollar bills and larger dominations. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1 USD.

Please note that bills with a value of 50 USD and more are hardly accepted anywhere.
You can find the current exchange rate on e.g.  www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.

Where can I exchange money in Ecuador? Is it possible to withdraw money or pay by credit card?

But we recommend to rather taking a credit card with you than traveler checks or exchange money. You can withdraw US-Dollars from any ATM using your bank or credit card. Of course, you can pay by credit card in most of the big shops and restaurants.

What is the international country calling code of Ecuador? What are the emergency telephone codes in Ecuador?

International Country Calling Code: 00593

Fire Department: 102
Police: 101
Ambulance: 131

Packing list

What do I need to bring?

You should be prepared for any kind of weather (except really cold winter). Here in Quito it is warm during the day and a bit chilly in the night. So don’t forget to bring a pullover… If you are planning to travel, you should not forget your summer clothes…

Which things can I buy in Ecuador?

Generally you can buy everything here… But things like shower gel, sun crème, cosmetics etc. are a bit expensive…

How about medication?

There are pharmacies everywhere and normally you got easy access to any medication. But if you need any medication, please make sure you bring it with you.

Pick up

What does it cost?

The airport pick-up is free. We will await you with a board with your name written on.

Will Colonial Spanish will bring me back to the airport as well?

For an extra charge of USD 10 we will bring you back to the airport as well.

Host families

I’m vegetarian, is that a problem?

No, that’s no problem. All of our families have no problems preparing veggie food; some of them are even vegetarians themselves.

Which meals do I get in the family?

Normally you get breakfast and dinner.

Where do they live?

All of our families live close to the school.

Will living in a family effect my « personal freedom »

Don’t worry of that. All of our host families are happy to help you as much as they can, to fill you spare time. But there will be no problem if you want to live your own life and freedom. But of course there are always some house rules which you have to accept.

Should I bring presents for them?

The families are always happy to receive something typical from you country, especially food (cheese, chocolate,). But it is not a must. If you bring food, made sure it meets the custom regulations.

Weekend trips

Who is organizing the weekend trips?

We are organizing the trips in agreement with the students, normally at the beginning of the week (Mondays or Tuesdays)

Which costs do they have?

The costs of the weekend trips depend on the trip itself. But we always try to keep the costs as low as possible.

Who is covering the costs for the « guide »?

The students normally are covering the costs for the person which is accompanying the trip.

How about insurance and risks?

Colonial Spanish school is not responsible for any accidents, loses, etc that might occur during a trip. Please ensure yourself, that you have an insurance which covers these things. If course we are only working together with trustworthy tour operator.

Volunteers

Can I do volunteer work without studying at the school?

Of course you can. There is no problem with that. We also will help you to find a host family, flat; we only will charge you a USD 80 administration fee.

Study & Travel

Do I need a travel insurance?

We recommend every student to get himself a travel insurance.

Which costs are included?

The costs are included as quoted in the programs.

Teachers

Who are the teachers at Colonial Spanish?

All our teacher are licensed and can provide year-long experience.

Are the teachers male or female?

Most of our teachers are females.

School

What happens when I miss classes?

If you notify us 24hrs before there will no problem in making up the missed classes at the end of your course or refund the money.
In case you are sick, there is no problem of notifying us short noticed and making up the classes in some way.

Are there classes on national holidays?

Normally there are no classes on national holidays and Saturdays. But of course there is always the option to get classes.

Does the school provide safety boxes?

We provide a storage room which can be looked, but it is not equipped with a safety box.

Can I have lunch in the school?

For an extra cost of 12 USD per week, you can have lunch in the school together with the teachers and the office staff. Normally we have typical Ecuadorian food, but the students are welcome to cook traditional meals of the home country.

Insurances

Which insurances do I need?

We recommend every student to have a health insurance, which is also valid abroad. Contact your agency and ask them, which cost do they cover, which doctors, etc.

Furthermore we recommend getting a general travel insurance.