	Cuenca, Ecuador -

Spring Semester in the Andes

Live and study in Ecuador. Visit the Amazon Jungle. Explore the heights of Peru.

15 January - 8 May 2008

Arrival:

The program begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador and the first city in the world to be named an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although in many respects a modern city, Quito has retained much of its colonial charm. Students will get to see this first-hand as they stroll through the colonial center on the first day. The next day, we'll head to the town of Otavalo, about 2 hours north of Quito, and rightly famous for the arts and crafts its inhabitants produce. In and around Otavalo, we'll not only have a chance to pick up some nice gifts for those back home, but we'll also see how some of these goods are made and talk about the cause and effect of the artisans' skill.

Study in Cuenca, Ecuador, one of the world's most beautiful cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Program Links:

Field Trips:

During the program, students will have the opportunity to explore the area around Cuenca. This includes trips to the mountains of Cajas National Park, the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, as well as other natural and cultural points of interest.

Field trips offer visits to sites of both natural and cultural interest. Additionally, students are accompanied by CEDEI staff, teachers, and local guides, ensuring that students will get the most out of each trip, while staying safe as well

The Amazon Jungle

The Semester is divided into two terms, and during the mid-term break the group will travel to Ecuador's Amazon Jungle. During this trip, the group will stay aboard a riverboat hotel and follow the route of Francisco de Orellana, who was the first European to explore the length of the Amazon river, beginning his trip in Quito, Ecuador. The group will sleep and travel on the boat, but take frequent excursions to sites of interest during the day and night, exploring the jungle and searching for the elusive animals that call it home. Click on the link below to download a sample itinerary for the group:

Jungle Itinerary

The group will explore the plants and animals of the jungle while traveling in style aboard a floating hotel.

Study-Tour to Peru:

At the end of the program, students have the unique opportunity to travel to Peru for 11 days. This trip will introduce students to the desert coast, the bustling capital of Lima, the ancient capital of the Inca, Cuzco, and the “Lost City” of the Inca, Machu Picchu.