This 5-day/4-night study program takes place on the Ecuadorian Pacific coast at the Alandaluz Eco-cultural Tourist Center.  Excursions are designed to explore the Parque Nacional Machalilla, Ecuador's only coastal national park. While participating in this program you will have the opportunity to:

• Spend 16 hours studying Spanish with professors from the Vida Verde Spanish Center;
• Visit the Los Frailes beach;
• Take a guided whale watching trip (June to mid-October only);
• Go on a hiking and bird watching tour of Isla de la Plata (Silver Island);
• Experience snorkeling off the Ecuadorian coast; and
• See the tropical dry forest and cloud forest ecosystems in the interior of Parque Nacional Machalilla.

We designed both our Study on the Coast and Study in the Jungle
programs as a way for students to both study Spanish AND participate in responsible eco-tourism at the same time. By creating the Study on the Coast program option, we have found a richly rewarding and remarkably inexpensive way for students to experience the coastal region of Ecuador while taking Spanish classes.

Professors from the school accompany students to serve as teachers and to coordinate activities. Students receive lessons for 3-4 hours per day at Alandaluz. The remainder of time outside of class for exploration in the form of hikes, boat trips, outings, and organized activities.

Alandaluz, which means "winged city of light" is an alternative eco-hotel located approximately 135 kilometers south of the city of Manta in the coastal province of Manabí.  The guiding principal behind Alandaluz was to create a hotel that is self-sustaining with minimal impact on the environment.  The cabins, rooms, and structures that make up the hotel are built primarily from replenishable, local materials such as bamboo cane and tagua palm leaves.  The hotel architecture is different, unique, and fun. No single room is alike and several cabins have even been built as tree houses!  The hotel has its own private beach for swimming and relaxing.  There is also a restaurant serving predominantly vegetarian and local seafood dishes.  The grounds are interspersed with ornamental and organic gardens that produce many of the spices, herbs, fruits, and vegetables served at meal times.

Everything that can be recycled at Alandaluz is recycled.  An active waste management and recycling program at the hotel has eliminated the generation of most non-recyclable waste.  The hotel uses compost latrines which require almost no water.  The compost is later used as fertilizer. An innovative on-site waste water treatment system allows Alandaluz to recover approximately 90% of the water consumed at the center.  Treated water is used for irrigation.

In addition, Alandaluz has developed various workshops on ecological architecture, organic agriculture, recycling, and nutrition which are provided to members of the local communities.  Over 50 communities have benefited from training workshops held at Alandaluz.  By supporting Alandaluz, you help them to help the local communities.

• A 20,000-hectare marine sanctuary containing the only coral formations found on the Ecuadorian mainland coast.  Humpback whales and dolphins inhabit the waters from June to mid-October.  The whales pass through the park during their yearly migration from Antarctica.

• The Los Frailes Recreational Area, containing a spectacular, unspoiled white sand beach surrounded by high sandstone bluffs and tranquil, azul waters.

• The Isla de la Plata (Silver Island) which contains some of the same bird and marine species found on the Galapagos Islands.  Species include blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, albatross, and sea lions.  Spectacular headland cliffs provide launching sites for the sea birds and stunning views of the ocean.

• A 40,000-hectare forest preserve containing some of the last tropical dry forest remaining in Ecuador.  Over 200 species of birds have been recorded here, including parrots, parakeets, and seabirds.  The upper elevations of the preserve contain a small cloud forest inhabited by howler monkeys.

• Spanish classes (4 days, 16 hours);
• Meals;
• Lodging at the Alandaluz Eco-cultural Tourist Center; and
• Guided excursions within Parque Nacional Machalilla.
  General Itinerary
  A generalized itinerary for the program is given below. Please, remember that activities and schedules are subject to change based on student interest and/or weather conditions.

  Sunday:

  8:00 p.m.	Depart Quito on bus Transport Reina del Camino (18 de Septiembre y Manuel Larrea)
  *Students may choose to fly to Manta at additional cost and take a bus from there in order to reduce travel time.

  Monday:

  7:00 a.m.	Arrive at Puerto Lopez
  8:30-9:00 a.m.	Breakfast en Alandaluz
  9:00-10:00 a.m.	Free Time
  10:00-12:00 a.m.	Spanish class
  Afternoon	Visit to Los Frailes beach in Parque Nacional Machalilla. Swimming, relaxing, and short hikes in surrounding tropical dry forest.
  7:30 p.m.	Dinner

  Tuesday: Tour of Isla de la Plata

  7:00 a.m.	Breakfast
  8:15-11:00 a.m.	Boat ride to Isla de la Plata. Whale watching tour with guide (in saison).
  11:00-11:30 a.m.	Arrive at island. Lunch
  11:30-2:00 p.m.	Walking tour of island. View colonies of blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, frigate birds, albatross, and other seabirds. Possibly sea lions. Fantastic panoramic views of island cliffs and sea.
  2:00-3:00 p.m.	Snorkeling in island cove.
  3:00-5:00 p.m.	Return to mainland (additional whale watching possible).
  7:00 p.m.	Dinner

  Wednesday:

  8:00 a.m.	Breakfast
  8:30-12:30 a.m.	Spanish class
  12:30-1:30 p.m.	Lunch
  Afternoon	Trip to Salango Beach. Afterwards, visit to archaeological museum in Salango. Musuem chronicles six different cultures from the area, dating back to 3000 B.C.
  7:00 p.m.	Dinner

  Thursday:

  7:30 a.m.	Breakfast
  8:00-12:00 a.m.	Spanish class
  Afternoon	Hiking excursion into interior of Parque Nacional Machalilla. Vegetation and landscape make a stunning change from tropical dry forest to moist, cool cloud forest. Lots of opportunities for bird watching. Lunch included.
  7:30 p.m.	Dinner

  Friday:

  8:00 a.m.	Breakfast
  8:30-12:30 a.m.	Spanish class
  12:30-1:30 p.m.	Lunch
  Afternoon	Free Time in Puerto Lopez
  8:00 p.m.	Return to Quito

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