Intercultural Studies in Ecuador


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8 days
Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca, Guayaquil
Strolls through untouched national parks and adventures in the country’s biggest cities. Time spent in ancient ruins and among modern locals. Get ready to experience the full breadth of Ecuador. You’ll travel in a train that cuts through the mountains and on vibrantly colored buses to discover four major cities, two provinces and one Incan ruin. You’ll also get to meet locals during an immersive salsa lesson and family dinner, where you can learn about the Ecuadorian lifestyle.

  • Day 1: Fly to Ecuador

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Enjoy dinner if arriving before 8pm

  • Day 2: Quito

    Take a walking tour of Quito

    With your Tour Director you will see:

    • Independence Plaza
    • Government Palace

    Visit Santo Domingo Monastery

    Take an excursion to the equatorial line

    Visit the Intinan Museum

    Enjoy dinner in Quito

  • Day 3: Quito • Riobamba region

    Travel to the Riobamba region

    Participate in cultural immersion activities

    • Meet children at their school
    • Observe farming, handicrafts, cooking
    • See an Ecuadorian chiva bus

    Enjoy lunch in Riobamba

    Enjoy dinner in Riobamba

  • Day 4: Riobamba region • Alausí • Ingapirca • Cuenca

    Travel via Alausí and Ingapirca to Cuenca

    Ride the Nariz del Diablo train from Alausí to Sibambe and back

    • Visit Puñuna Condor Museum 
    • See a local performance

    Enjoy dinner in Cuenca

  • Day 5: Cuenca

    Take a guided tour of Cuenca

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Old Cathedral
    • New Cathedral
    • Flower market

    Participate in a Salsa dancing lesson

    Enjoy dinner in Cuenca

  • Day 6: Cuenca

    Learn what a typical day in Ecuador looks like as you spend the day with a local community

    Enjoy dinner with a local family in Cuenca

  • Day 7: Cuenca • Guayaquil

    Travel via Cajas National Park and a cocoa plantation to Guayaquil

    Enjoy lunch at a cacao plantation

    Enjoy dinner in Guayaquil

  • Day 8: Depart for home

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View full itinerary

  • Day 1: Fly to Ecuador

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Enjoy dinner if arriving before 8pm

  • Day 2: Quito

    Take a walking tour of Quito

    With your Tour Director you will see:

    • Independence Plaza
    • Government Palace

    Visit Santo Domingo Monastery

    Take an excursion to the equatorial line

    Visit the Intinan Museum

    Enjoy dinner in Quito

  • Day 3: Quito • Riobamba region

    Travel to the Riobamba region

    Participate in cultural immersion activities

    • Meet children at their school
    • Observe farming, handicrafts, cooking
    • See an Ecuadorian chiva bus

    Enjoy lunch in Riobamba

    Enjoy dinner in Riobamba

  • Day 4: Riobamba region • Alausí • Ingapirca • Cuenca

    Travel via Alausí and Ingapirca to Cuenca

    Ride the Nariz del Diablo train from Alausí to Sibambe and back

    • Visit Puñuna Condor Museum 
    • See a local performance

    Enjoy dinner in Cuenca

  • Day 5: Cuenca

    Take a guided tour of Cuenca

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Old Cathedral
    • New Cathedral
    • Flower market

    Participate in a Salsa dancing lesson

    Enjoy dinner in Cuenca

  • Day 6: Cuenca

    Learn what a typical day in Ecuador looks like as you spend the day with a local community

    Enjoy dinner with a local family in Cuenca

  • Day 7: Cuenca • Guayaquil

    Travel via Cajas National Park and a cocoa plantation to Guayaquil

    Enjoy lunch at a cacao plantation

    Enjoy dinner in Guayaquil

  • Day 8: Depart for home

Want to learn more about this program?

Want to learn more about this program?

Your experience includes

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  • Round-trip airfare

    Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • On-tour transportation

    Land transportation

  • Regional-style meals

    Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.

  • End-to-end support

    Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    To capitalize on moments for building empathy, awareness, and adaptability in a global environment, we offer a number of different tools designed to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.

  • Full-time Tour Director

    Your Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.

  • Guided sightseeing

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.

  • Entrances

    Santo Domingo Monastery, Nariz del Diablo train, Ingapirca, School visit, Salsa lesson, Cajas National Park, Cocoa plantation

  • Worldwide support, safety and security

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.

  • Flexible payment options

    Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.

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