Everything you need before you book. About enrolment, payment, courses, the Travelling Classroom, accommodation and arrival. Your question not here? Just get in touch.
With no obligation: fill in the online enrolment form (programme, level, dates, accommodation). It comes straight to our inbox. Or write to us by email or WhatsApp. We confirm your price and availability before anything becomes binding.
The booked period is paid in full before arrival, to the account of the language school in Quito (Ecuador). Your booking only becomes binding once you send us your flight details. Only then do we register you firmly for the course, the hospital or the project. If you decide on site to extend, you pay that directly in Quito.
By bank transfer or PayPal. You receive the payment details with your non-binding booking confirmation. An on-site extension can also be paid in cash in Quito.
All payments go directly to the language school's account in Quito (Ecuador).
Important for transfers to Ecuador: the bank charges a commission / transfer fee that is added on top of the price and is covered by you. Please transfer the amount so that the full price reaches the school (i.e. price plus bank commission).
As long as your booking is not yet fully confirmed and you have not sent us your flight details, it stays non-binding and you can cancel or change it free of charge at any time.
Once your booking is fully confirmed and you have sent us your flight, it becomes binding: for any later cancellation we retain 10 % and refund you the rest. The transfer / bank fees are covered by you and are not refunded.
Tip: we strongly recommend travel cancellation and international health insurance (see below).
No. There is no registration or booking fee. Learning materials, a certificate of attendance and WiFi are already included.
All prices are in US dollars (USD). Ecuador's official currency.
A minimum of 2 weeks of lessons (40 hours). Beyond that you can combine freely. You only pay for what you book ($12 per lesson hour).
The standard is private one-to-one lessons so the pace fits you exactly. Small groups (e.g. friends or couples travelling together) are possible on request.
Not at all. We teach all levels from absolute beginner (A1) to advanced. There is no placement test. You set your level together with your teacher on the first day so you start at the right pace.
Start dates are flexible. As it's private tuition we work around your travel dates. You usually start on a Monday; by arrangement other weekdays are possible too.
Yes, at the end you receive a certificate of attendance from the school. At no extra cost.
Yes. You can also learn Spanish from home in private online lessons. Beforehand, to prepare, or independently of a trip. Details under Courses.
Lessons & cultural program (about 2 extra lesson hours per week), accommodation, breakfast, transport (bus) and the activities described in the programme. Of the trip price, around $360 is for lessons & cultural program and the rest covers accommodation, breakfast, transport and activities. So nothing is added on top.
All trip prices are starting-from prices per person. Travelling solo or with others makes your quote a little different. You receive the exact quote after your non-binding enquiry.
There are no fixed departure dates. The start date is flexible and trips are planned individually by arrangement. Larger tours such as “Discover Ecuador” (up to 28 days) on request.
Only breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are on your own, so you decide what and where you eat. Prices for meals in Ecuador are low.
Baños, Cuenca, Otavalo and Puerto López are available from $662 per person, plus individual tours on request. All trip prices are starting-from prices; the exact quote follows after your non-binding enquiry. See the full overview under Prices and Travelling Classroom.
You can choose the apartment right at the school (private room, shared kitchen & bathroom, self-catering), the Valle de los Chillos country house (in the green, ideal for groups), Airbnb, and – on request only – staying with a host family with full board.
The apartment with breakfast is $15 per night. Most students now stay in the school apartments on a self-catering basis. Full board is available with a host family (optional, on request only).
Yes. We're happy to send you current photos of the apartments and host-family rooms on request, so you can get a picture beforehand.
Yes, on request. The airport transfer is a one-time $40. Just send us your flight details and the pickup will be arranged. If your flight is delayed, reach us at: +593 99 478 4118 or +593 2 255 7891.
Our courses and programmes are for adults aged 18 and over.
For a tourist stay, many nationalities (e.g. EU citizens) can usually stay in Ecuador visa-free for up to 90 days. Please check the current entry requirements for your country before travelling. Information without guarantee. We're happy to issue a confirmation of enrolment if you need one.
Quito sits at around 2,850 m (9,350 ft). Take the first day or two more slowly, drink plenty of water and ease in. You'll acclimatise well.
Escuela Atahualpa is centrally located in Quito: Luis Godín N20-29 y La Condamine, La Vicentina Alta, in the modern part of the city. You receive exact directions with your booking confirmation.
Your contact in Germany, Isabel, helps you in German and English (+49 172 7801280). On site in Quito the language is Spanish; English is usually possible.
International health insurance is strongly recommended. For clinical electives it is mandatory. The school accepts no liability for illness or accident costs. Also consider travel cancellation insurance.
Yes. The Spanish course is recognised as educational leave (Bildungsurlaub), including in Hamburg (§15 BiUrlG HA), North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin. We provide the proof of recognition (with reference number) and an application form for your employer. More under Educational Leave & Projects. You'll find the info sheet and all forms under Enrolment.
Yes. The clinical elective lasts a minimum of 4 weeks and is always free of charge. A 2-week language course (40 hours) is compulsory alongside it. Details and the relevant info sheets are under Clinical Elective.
Yes, volunteering in social projects can be combined with your stay. More under Educational Leave & Projects.
Write to us. We're happy to answer personally, with no obligation.