Ecuador - Quito

Ecuador, Quito, Galapagos, Spanish, Latin America, Quito Quito Ecuador, the smallest country of the Andes, lies in the north west of South America, on the Equator. Despite its relatively small size (Ecuador is about half the size of France) it is arguably the most geographically diverse country of the world. Ecuador has a large tropical rainforest, snow-capped mountains of the Andes and extensive coastlines at the Pacific.

Just a 1-hour flight to the West of the mainland lies the most beautiful group of islands: the Galapagos Islands, an untouched natural paradise. Visitors can here swim with dolphins and sea lions or admire giant turtles at the beach.

Quito is one of the richest and most beautiful cities of the ancient Inca Empire, with a fascinating history. Fought over by the Inca, it was captured by the Spanish in 1534. Quito is also one of the oldest cities of South America. The historical centre with its magnificent palaces from the colonial age is listed as a UNESCO - World Cultural Heritage Site.

Quito is situated 9500 feet above sea level in a picturesque valley surrounded by impressive peaks of the Andes. Despite its proximity to the Equator (just 16 miles) its climate is spring-like throughout the year.
Quito offers all the entertainment typical of a large city: museums, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, bars, discotheques, Internet cafes and of course many sporting facilities.

Ecuadorians speak a very clear and easy-to-understand Spanish, which is especially helpful for students with little prior knowledge of the language. In addition, the friendly and welcoming nature of the people means that you will have ample opportunity to practice and improve your Spanish in conversation.
Ecuador has been considered to be the safest country in South America with a crime rate lower than that of the US.

Academia Kolumbus lies in Batan Alto, a modern quarter of the 2.2 million city, Quito. The school is situated just below the beautiful Metropolitan Park. The school's location offers an incredible view of the whole town.