Spanish and Surf in Ecuador

About Montanita, Ecuador

• Montañita:  Montañita, which means “the little mountain” in Spanish, is the most famous surf spot in Ecuador, and is also one of the best surf spots in South America. Both beginners and advanced surfers can enjoy the waves or Montañita. Montañita also offers many bars and restaurants where a good party can always be found.
• Ecuador:  this enormously diverse country is located in the north of South America and is bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. The country has an enormous diversity of nature. Here you will find tropical rain forests, beautiful beaches, high mountains, special cities and also the famous Galapagos islands.

About the language school

• About the language school:  the language school in Montañita is a medium-sized language school where personal attention is one of the most important core values. In addition, a large number of activities are organized, which allows you to get to know the Ecuadorian culture and your fellow students in a very fun way. Unique to this language school is that it also has its own surf school.
• Accreditation’s & awards:  in 2009 this language school was nominated for the Study Travel Awards as the best Spanish language school worldwide.

About the language lessons

• Spanish lessons:  you take 4 Spanish lessons per day in small groups. The first two hours of focus on grammar, and the second two hours of focus on interaction. This is an approach that is widely praised. See here a video of the lessons made by one of our students.
• Spanish and Surf: in addition to the 20 lessons per week (see above), you get 90 minutes or surf lessons 5 days a week. These lessons are for surfers or all levels so feel especially welcome.
• Starting dates:  in principle you can start every Monday of the year with the Spanish or Spanish and Surf courses.
• Traveling Classroom: With this program you travel (at least) 4 weeks through Ecuador, where you learn Spanish at 4 different locations (Quito, the Amazon, Manta and Montañita). Read here more about this program.

About the students

• The students: you will learn Spanish in a truly international environment. This way you will not only learn a lot about the Spanish language and about Ecuador, but you will also learn a lot about the countries and cultures of your fellow students during your stay.

About the surf lessons

• Surf lesson:  Something unique about this language school is that the language school has its own surf school. You will receive 5 times 90 minutes of surf lessons per week from certified surf instructors. You will get 1 or 2 different lessons from 1 instructor, so personal attention is guaranteed.
• Material: outside the surf lessons, you can certainly also use free surf. The surf school also surfboards and can give you a good deal (as a student of the language school).

About the surf conditions

• The surfing lessons are given at different levels. The surf instructors will ensure that you get lessons at your level, even if you have never surfed you will learn this quickly.
• If you are an experienced surfer, we recommend that you purchase or rent a second-hand surfboard on location.

Accommodation

• Cabañas:  the cabañas is one of the reasons why you want to go to Montañita. Located in a beautiful area you will spend the night in a cabaña. It is possible to stay in the Cabañas  in a shared or private format. Next to the cabañas is a beautiful swimming pool, where you can jump in any time of the day. WIFI is also available. The private cabañas are often fully booked, so don’t wait too long. See a video of this fantastic stay here.
• Host family: you can also stay with a host family. The host family will help you with their Spanish knowledge and contacts with the local community. All families are a maximum of 10 minutes’ walk from the language school, and all families have experience with hosting Spanish students. You stay in your own room with a single or double bed, a mosquito net and a fan. You will also get breakfast and dinner, of course The Ecuadorian Style!

What is there to do?

• Yoga: yoga is organized daily before the school starts, on the deck terrace with views over Montañita, an absolute must! This is a paid activity, and can be booked on site.
• Whales:  between July and September you can spot whales from Montañita, this is always one of the most special times of the year. This is a paid activity, and can be booked on site.
• Galapagos Islands:  Montañita is an excellent base to discover the country. This way you can easily arrange your trip to the Galapagos Islands from Montañita. A must see! This is a paid activity, and can be booked on site.
• Other activities:  everything is organized from the language school. Think of a biweekly surf trip, a barbecue, beach volleyball tournament, salsa dancing and much more. You will never be bored! Some activities are included in the price, for other activities a (small) contribution is requested.

Location

Address

Via Principal, and la montaña 50 metros antes del Paradero de buses, 

Via the main street, a little further to the bus station, you see the school signposted.

The cabañas (accommodation) are a 5-minute walk away

How to get there?

• From Guayaquil airport you can take a taxi to the bus terminal (nearby) and from there you can take the buses to Montañita. The last direct bus (price $ 6) goes at 6:30 pm (takes around 3 hours).
• Until the evening you can also take the bus to Santa Elena, where you transfer to a bus to Montañita (about 3.5 hours in total).
• It is also possible to book an airport transfer. This ride takes around 2.5 hours. The price for this is € 90 per person per trip (USD $ 100).
• Once you have arrived in Montañita, you can walk to the accommodation or to the language school within 5 minutes.

Practical information

• Arrival: ideally you arrive on Sunday, but the school is very flexible with students arriving on other days. So arrival on Thursday, Friday or Saturday is certainly also possible, where you will then start the Spanish classes on Monday.
• Visa : for a stay of a maximum of 90 days a tourist visa is sufficient. There are no costs attached to this. This can be extended once for another 90 days.
• Currency: in Ecuador you pay with the US Dollar.
• PIN and credit card: in Montañita you will find a number of ATMs where you can use pin with a world pass (maestro) or with a credit card (Mastercard or Visa).
• Vaccinations: for current information about vaccinations, see this page.
• Wi-Fi:  Wi-Fi is available in the language school.

Basic packlist

• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit / Bikini
• Bath towel & towel
• Warm clothes
• Some cash can always be useful
• Mosquito repellent

Price list