Arts Study Abroad Programs in Ecuador

The IES staff, my host mom, and my professor were all so lovely, caring, and attentive to me during time abroad. When I got sick one weekend, my program advisor replied to my messages immediately and was constantly asking what he could do to help. My host mom was also so caring during that time - it felt like being with my mom whenever I'm sick at home. I always felt that there was a lot of help + support if I had any issues. The IES staff was very welcoming and provided us with plenty of information and opportunities to feel immersed in the culture. Additionally, the opportunity to enroll directly at USFQ was great for both improving my Spanish and also being able to pursue courses in topics that were more unique to Ecuador, such as Ecuadorian Archaeology or Anthropology of the (Ecuadorian) Coast. Everybody was so nice and the food was delicious - I still miss hornados and bolones de verde. Studying abroad was a very formative experience for me and I'll always have an affection for Ecuador because of my time there. It's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life. The ability to live completely in Spanish was essential to improving my Spanish to basically fluent and giving me confidence in my language skills. The excursions also allowed me to see places I never would have otherwise thought much about visiting. For instance, in my Andean anthropology class, we had the opportunity to visit Oyacachi, a small indigenous village, where we saw a beautiful waterfall and thermal springs. We also got to learn about reciprocity as it works in the town, as all property in the town was communal. The Galapagos was also one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. My entire 4 and a half months would have been worth it only to have visited there. I would 100% recommend the program to other students.

I had a lovely time here, although it was not without flaws. The amenities were not great especially considering how much we paid to be here. The company guilt tripped and body shamed us. But I made innumerable new friends and had experiences that I will cherish forever.

Very nice experience, learned a lot. People I’ve met here are now friends I will still be in contact with. The internship was where I learned new skills and networked with people within the fashion industry and got inspired by being here abroad

Everyone needs to go abroad. It is awesome experiencing so many cultures. Professors while abroad are very helpful and care about their students. I really enjoyed getting to know my professors and learning not only class content but also from their real life experiences. Traveling on the weekends was obviously my favorite part of this experience. I was able to visit a bunch of different countries. Wish I could stay longer.

By getting outside of my comfort zone as much as possible, I was able to experience parts of the world while figuring out new things about myself! Staying in a home stay is completely worth it because you get to practice your Spanish and meet incredibly interesting locals!

Living in Spain was such a great experience! From the food to culture and things to do, Spain has it all. I´m definitely going to miss my time here and all the great people I met. Studying abroad helped me grow so much as a person, and I won´t ever forget this experience.

This experience allowed me to reflect on the type of person I am, what I like and what I do not like, and really step out of my comfort zone. Studying abroad has allowed me to develop critical values that are important for everyday life. I have always believed that one of the best ways to erase ignorance is by traveling and my experience here has proved that.

No matter what academic background you may come from, whether it be Marine Science or Political Science, studying in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands is a must! From the perspective of a biologist, I believe that the Galápagos Islands are the best place in the world to observe evidence of evolution by natural selection, a key part of numerous science disciplines and the basis of life in general. As a student in the Marine Ecology academic track, I participated in research conducted off the coast of mainland Ecuador, as well as in the waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve and in the labs at the Galápagos Science Center on the island of San Cristóbal. After spending the first month of the program with my wonderful host mom in Cumbayá, San Cristóbal became my home for the next three months of my time abroad. I immediately felt at home with my host families and experienced a perfect balance of having them there for me as a support system but having the independence to explore on my own as well. I spent countless hours traveling around the island and enjoying all it has to offer; a typical day began with a hearty breakfast prepared by my host mom, followed by a beautiful walk to the university, which is located right across the street from a popular beach. After spending the morning in class, my friends and I would venture to the downtown “malecón” area for a bite to eat and then spend the rest of the day working on assignments at the university, spending time at the beach, or snorkeling at a beautiful nearby cove filled with several species of fish, numerous sea turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas and countless other marine organisms. My friends and I befriended many locals, and between sharing meals with them in addition to those spent with my host family, my conversational Spanish improved immensely and I now feel very confident in using my language skill back home. The culture of the island is incredibly rich for its size; there were events sponsored by the national park service and by the local government almost every week. These provided excellent opportunities to experience true “island life” and become a part of the environment and culture in Ecuador. It was incredibly hard for me to leave my new home as the semester came to a close, but I hope more than anything that I will be able to return in the future!

I truly can't recommend this program enough. As a double major in Latin American Studies and Environmental Policy, a chance to study environmental science while immersed in the vibrant, diverse culture of Ecuador was pretty much the perfect study abroad experience for me. Not only was I able to take interesting classes with knowledgeable professors from a wide range of backgrounds, I got to visit the largest Indigenous market in South America (Otavalo), spend a weekend in Cotopaxi National Park and hike to an altitude of 16,000 fasl, study and explore at the remote Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station in the Amazon rain forest, and spend three weeks in the Galapagos Islands. Not to mention the dear friends I got to study with, the host families who took care of me and treated me as a part of the family, and all of the day to day adventures that are par for the course when you spend an extended amount of time abroad. I am incredibly grateful for this program, and it has been one of the highlights of my life thus far. I can't recommend this program enough, or any of the other IES Abroad programs all over the world.

Going to Quito, Ecuador was a complete cultural immersion. Through IES, I took classes at the program center and at the local university, USFQ. All the while, I lived with an incredible host family whom I learned a lot from. Never did I ever think that my Spanish would improve so much after spending 4.5 months in Ecuador, but it sure did. I also traveled almost every weekend throughout Ecuador. One weekend my friends and I would be hiking an active volcano in the pouring hail and the next we were sunbathing on the coast. We had the amazing opportunities of visiting the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest, two of the most amazing places I have been to date. If you're seeking adventure, a cultural and linguistic immersion, and a step outside a comfort zone; Ecuador is the place for you.

I had a great time with AIFS. I was able to travel all over Europe and meet many new friends. I would not really change anything other than I wish it could be longer. I liked how easy it was to get in contact with the AIFS office to solve any problems I might have had. Classes here were not as hard as back home but I found myself learning more and enjoying the work I was doing.

This semester truly changed my life in a positive way. It changed the way I look at the world, other people and cultures, daily life, and even myself. I would highly recommend to everyone thinking about it!

I had an absolutely amazing experience during my semester abroad in Quito. It was such a wonderful opportunity to meet a diverse group of people from all walks of life, from Ecuador and as well as many other parts of the world. Through the IES Abroad field trips to the Amazon region and the Galapagos Islands, as well as weekend trips with my travel buddies to more local destinations like Baños and Quilatoa, I had the opportunity to see and do and live so many things I never would have been able to otherwise, like snorkeling face-to-face with sea lions in the Galapagos or climbing to the refugio on Cotopaxi, one of the tallest volcanoes in Ecuador (I actually thought that I might die on this trip, but I would still highly recommend the adventure, if just for the satisfaction of the accomplishment!). The community I became a part of was wonderfully supportive, from my host family to the IES staff, my professors, and the staff at my internship placement. The IES professors teach at the local university where you can take direct-enrollment classes, of which I would definitely recommend trying at least one, and they were all some of the best professors I've had. I already miss Quito and everyone I met so much, and I hope to go back and visit soon!

My semester with IES was a great experience. At the beginning there were a few field trips which helped in getting to know the area. After the first few weeks though there were only a few intermittent program activities and two optional trips. I really liked this, the program provided the necessary support, along with a lot of freedom to make the experience what I wanted to make it. The IES abroad advisors and directors were extremely helpful before leaving with setting up classes. I also liked that IES helped me find a volunteer opportunity.

Had a wonderful time! Staff went above and beyond to be sure each student had a safe and comfortable experience, and provided many cultural activities without making students feel like they had to participate. Housing situation was great- my apartment, as well as those of all the other students that I saw, was spacious, clean, modern and well decorated. Roommate situation was also great! Overall really great time and good balance of school work and fun.

Even though Ecuador is about the size of Colorado, the country has it all: tropical rainforests, the Andes mountains, big cities, tiny villages, the coast, and of the course, the Galápagos Islands. I highly recommend this program for anyone interested in environmental science or policy – it doesn’t even have to be your major! The host families that IES placed us in were awesome – my Spanish improved greatly, and I still keep in touch with my Galápagos family. I also recommend taking advantage of as many classroom trips as possible (including diving in the marine classes on the islands), as well as planning your own out-of-class trips: the most amazing part of study abroad is engaging with the new environment and culture that surrounds you. The IES advisors and on-site staff were really wonderful: they helped immensely with my endless questions throughout both the application process and also the actual semester abroad.

My semester abroad with the IES Galapagos Island program was easily one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Ecuador is a beautiful country with an amazing culture and great people, and the Galapagos Islands are truly a wonder of the natural world. The IES Abroad program allowed me to experience what Ecuador has to offer with a lot of freedom while also ensuring my safety and well-being. The host families I was placed with were extremely friendly and helpful and all the of GAIAS and IES staff were amazing. The classes were engaging, fun and interesting, but also challenging enough that it still felt legitimate for a college level course. Including all of the fun things to do in Ecuador and Galapagos, IES also had different group activities that were fun and also kept me engaged with the community as well as the other students. Overall, I would recommend this program from anyone who is interested in biology, ecology, environmental science, or social science, who has a love for nature, and who would want to participate in a life changing experience.

Being from Ecuadorian heritage, I always wanted to experience what it would be like to really live the life there and be immersed in the culture. Well, IES Abroad Quito provided all that and more for me. The staff was welcoming and helpful from the day I flew in to Quito unti the sad day that I had to say good-bye. I had an advantage to the rest of the students, as I had already visited the country multiple times and am also a Spanish speaker, but even so, there was a lot for me to learn as an incoming student! The staff at IES made sure to give us a tour of the city and Universidad San Francisco de Quito, it was like having my parents take me to the firsts day of school, and making sure that I felt comfortable enough to stay by myself. Academically, the system at USFQ is something outside of what I had been familiar with in the states. To clarify, the treatment is "horizontal", the professors treat the students as peers not as anything inferior, there is a great degree of mutual degree and respect between professors and students. All of my professors were AMAZING, they were genuinely intrigued and interested in giving off every piece of knowledge they had to their students. IES also offers an internship/service learning class where we get to really get immersed into the ecuadorian culture by volunteering in a community or in some kind of organization. This truly gave me the opportunity to not only indulge in something that would later be beneficial for my career, but it put me smack dab in the middle of the cultural commotion. During my internship at a wildlife animal rescue at USFQ, I met many professors, activists, and students that taught me more than I could ever read in a book about Ecuador; the biodiversity, cultural contexts, the language (and slang). The program made sure to show us around the beautiful Andean country with trips to the Amazon, the Darwinian islands of Galápagos, and also supported trips through small towns and sceneries that deem unforgettable for me. All of this was available to me through IES and it was great to know that I had their full support all the way through my journey! There is a saying in Ecuador that has stuck, and it truly signifies what the country and the people have left in me: the desire to go back... Me fui a volver.

This semester was such a valuable life lesson for me about the true value of building friendships, adjusting and being willing to adapt to changing and foreign circumstances as well as how capable I am to grow and learn everyday. I loved my program with my classes, my professors and my fellow peers. I met so many wonderful people and am really going to miss seeing everybody each day

I traveled a lot in Europe and had a great time. Met many amazing people and experienced a whole new culture. I learned to appreciate America more, because the lifestyle here is very different. I did enjoy Spain a lot. When I traveled to other countries in Europe, it made me love Barcelona even more and grateful that I studied here. Unfortunately, I do not think the academics were the best. Some of the teachers were not very nice and expect you to know the spanish language perfectly. The program leaders were very helpful. I had to go to the dentist and Inma was awesome! The soccer team I joined was so much fun and my roommates were very cool.