Those with a desire to learn Spanish will truly enjoy living and learning in Ecuador as the nation is not only a great place to live, it is a fantastic place to explore. Language programs in Ecuador often take place in small towns or cities where making friends with locals is easy. But aspiring language students won’t have trouble finding programs in larger cities either. Considering language programs in Ecuador? Here are three of the top destinations to get your search started.

Quito. Sitting on a river basin atop the eastern slopes of an active stratovolcano at an elevation of 9,350 feet, Quito is the world’s highest capital city. Founded on the ruins of an ancient Incan city and boasting a rich pre-Colombian history, the city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as it is home to 5,00 heritage properties and more than 100 buildings that host different types of art and sculpture. Quito also happens to be the least altered, best preserved historic center in all of Latin America. A bustling capital city spanning the stunning Andean valley amidst volcanic peaks, Quito combines the traditional Ecuadorian Sierra culture with a sophisticated nightlife (and don’t forget the local eats!).

The Galapagos Islands. Located about 1000 kilometers off the coast of South America, the Galapagos Islands offer a remote and isolated paradise for language study in Ecuador. Largely unknown until the year 1535, when the Bishop of Panama was accidentally blown to the islands while on his way to Peru, the archipelago retains an almost mythical atmosphere and a population of unique wildlife species that appear to overpower the human inhabitants. With a population of less than 30,000 people, the Galapagos Islands have distinctively limited any manmade footprints. Made famous by the survey ship, HMS Beagle, which brought Charles Darwin to the archipelago, the diverse species endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which contributed to Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, continue to offer unceasing learning experiences for language students and tourists alike.

Guayaquil. With a population nearing 3 million people, Guayaquil is the largest and most populous city in Ecuador. Home to the nation’s main port, the city is an important access point for cruises to the Galapagos and a thriving center for the nation’s import and export industries. Guayaquil has made enormous advancements in recent decades, with urban renewal projects giving it a big-city profile, and consequently ushering in throngs of tourists. However, there are still historic neighborhoods, like Las Peñas, provide a peek into the city’s colonial past.