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15 Day Spanish Course with Surfing in Montañita
Montanita Spanish School, Via Principal, Montañita, Ecuador
Ecuador Surf Camp and Spanish Course
All difficulty levels
Instruction in English
Maximum 6 participants
Airport transfer available
This listing has the most popular offer available in in Ecuador
Get a fantastic surfing and learning experience at Montanita Spanish School! It is the perfect place to learn Spanish and enjoy the culture and lifestyle of Ecuador. Located on Ecuador's famous beach of Montañita, you can study Spanish with a stunning view of the beach right from your classroom while also learning how to surf and ride the best waves in Ecuador. Being a stone's throw away from the waves that make Montañita famous, you can also take salsa and yoga classes, or go scuba diving in some beautiful locations. It is an ideal place for studying, doing something new, and having some fun in the process!
Highlights
- 5 surf lessons (1.5 hours per day) per week
- 20 hours of intensive mini group Spanish lessons per week
- Uncrowded waves suitable for any surfing levels
- Friendly, luxurious environment in a quiet location
- Excellent and friendly teachers and staff
- 14 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
10 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Spanish
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer available:
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (US$ 100 per person)
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (US$ 100 per person)
Accommodation
Montanita Spanish School has accommodation, especially for the students: the cabañas. They are an oasis of tranquility located just a five-minute walk from the school, three minutes from the center of town, and two minutes from the beach. Nestled into the relaxed atmosphere of Barrio Tigrillo, these cabañas provide the best of both worlds, being moments away from the center of the action and providing the peace and tranquility needed to make the most of your time in Montañita.
The eco cabanas are very spacious and come equipped with a private ensuite, large bed, hammocks, and a fan. Just outside the door of your cabaña, you will find a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, large communal kitchen, and a large sitting area with TV and DVD.
Montanita Spanish School has made a big effort to be environmentally aware including much of the building materials. Montanita Spanish School recycles plastic and glass as well as using a compost system and recycled water in order to feed and fertilize the large and growing garden with an abundance of flora including herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
The accommodation has the perfect combination of a friendly and luxurious environment in a quiet location.
Private cabana with kitchen
Montañita Spanish School has two cabanas that are a little larger than the rest and are equipped with a small kitchen. These tastefully decorated rooms are the cream of the crop and are perfect for couples wishing to do their own cooking in private.
Shared mini dorm
This is the perfect option for those looking for high-quality accommodation on a budget. Keeping true to the rustic look of Montañita, the dorm rooms are all large and spacious allowing you to soak up the peaceful ambiance while saving that hard-earned money. With the options of either 6-bed or 4-bed dorms, you will not have a problem maintaining some personal privacy.
Homestay
Your Ecuadorian host family gives you the opportunity to be fully immersed in the Ecuadorian lifestyle. While settling in and learning a new language can be hard when you arrive in a foreign country, having the support of a local family and a connection to the local community can make all the difference.
At your homestay in Montañita, you will experience warm hospitality, helping you adjust quickly to your new surroundings. This priceless experience of being treated as a family member from day one has often been described as one of the highlights of a student’s trip, not only because of the rapid improvement in their Spanish skills, but also the homey feeling, the great food, and the lifelong connections they made.
All of Montañita Spanish School's homestay families are located in the center of Montañita, no more than 10 minutes' walking distance from the school. Since it is their responsibility to make sure that you are placed in a safe, clean, and friendly environment, they carefully choose the families to ensure that you get the best possible experience.
You will have a private room with a double bed, mosquito net, a small desk, a fan, and a small set of drawers. Some rooms come with private bathrooms while others share bathrooms with other students. Hot water can’t be guaranteed and the families do not have Wi-Fi. If you are traveling with a friend, you can both live with the same family since they can receive up to two students at the same time. Meals will be Ecuadorian style and the families will do their best to satisfy special dietary requirements, as both breakfast and dinner are provided.
Program
Mini-group Spanish lessons
Group Spanish classes include 4 hours of classes per day Monday-Friday in a group of up to 6 students. Typically there will be 2 hours of classes in the morning focused on grammar followed by 2 hours of classes in the afternoon focused on the application of the language. Group classes are offered at levels from beginner to advanced. Students are placed into the appropriate level of class based on a placement test that is taken on the first day
Private classes
The school offers private classes and private shared classes as well. Private classes are more flexible and can be personalized more to the students’ needs for four, three, or two hours per day. If a person is traveling with someone who is at the same level as him or her, they can share private classes together.
Surfing lessons
Montañita Spanish School has a private surf school built into the complex. With an extensive range of surfboards and equipment, they can accommodate your desire for surfing. They will take you directly from school to the beach and have you back in time for your next Spanish lesson or lunch break. Lessons are provided by a local surf Instructor and surf intern. With two to three students per instructor, they can give you lots of feedback and attention to get your surfing progressing quickly.
School hours
Normally 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. School may be open at other hours as well! The school normally locks the door at 5 p.m.
Timetable
On your first Monday please make sure you arrive at the school at 7.30 a.m. for important information, introductions, and an assessment test. A formal orientation and a walk through town will be held at 12, after morning classes. Please bring something to write with and something to write on (a pen and paper!). If you booked or want to join surf classes, don't forget to bring your swimwear, towel, and sun block!
The timetable for each week will normally be displayed at the school by the Friday morning before that week. If you have any requests or need any changes for the following week, please contact Antonio or the interns by Wednesday morning at the latest. Occasionally there may be changes to the timetable so please check regularly. If you are on the timetable for the next week, and don’t inform Antonio a week before a non-attendance, you are still expected to pay for your classes.
Please note the class hours are: 8:00 - 9:55, 10:05 - 12:00, 13:00 - 14:55, and 15:05 - 17:00.
Textbooks
The school has Grammar (13 USD deposit), Exercise (13 USD deposit), Vocabulary (5 USD deposit), Activities (5 USD deposit), and beginner's activities (5 USD deposit) books. Pay the deposit and they are yours for the duration of your stay. If you return the books in the same condition that you received them, you will get your deposit back. You can also keep the books if you wish. This is not compulsory but is recommended.
Activities
There are always activity whiteboards at the school. Please look and write down your name for any activities you wish to join and feel free to speak to the interns for more information. The school does not make any money on activities, the price is the actual price. Make the most of your time here and do lots of things! The school holds a welcome dinner every Monday, Our infamous BBQ every other Friday, and a surf trip every other Saturday. You can also join beach volleyball, water polo, sunset trips, and cooking classes to name a few!
Surfing lessons
Antonio is a local surf instructor. The interns keep a tab of your lessons etc. Please pay them directly for your course. The school also has a surf intern helping out with your lessons. Each Monday surfing lessons occur at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For the following 4 days of the week, they will either be in the morning or in the afternoon depending on the tides. If you would like to do
surfing, please bring your towel, Sunblock (SPF 50+) drinking water, and bathing suit to school on Monday morning, in case you have class at 8 followed directly by surfing at 10 a.m.
Surfboard rentals
These can be rented from the school. The rules are simple: You break it, you fix it/pay for it! Please check carefully before you take it out – if it is damaged (and not recorded in the book) do not use it – instead, tell Antonio immediately, otherwise you will be responsible for the damage. Please speak to Antonio about rental prices.
Buying surfboards
For longer-stay students, the school often recommends that you buy a board, use it, and a week before you depart, sell it again. This can work out to a very cheap "rental." There might be some boards for sale at the school.
National holidays
Please note that the school is not open on national holidays. If there is a holiday during the week, they will adjust the lesson plans for you to get the same material in the four days, and normal weekly prices apply. If there are 2 days of holiday in the same week, the program will teach a "Survival Spanish" course for the remaining 3 days, and then continue on the normal schedule the following Monday. If this is the case, the school will not charge you for the missed days of class, or if you already paid, they will reimburse you in the form of school credit (sometimes the Ecuadorian government decides spontaneously to add a public holiday, please have this in mind).
Location
Montañita is a funky beach town with excellent surfing and a charming atmosphere. The town has grown constantly over the last few years and is now the place to hang out on the coast. Although still small, it is a booming beach side retreat attracting both international and domestic travelers. The atmosphere makes it a great place to learn Spanish on the beach in Ecuador, meet other travelers, practice and perfect your Spanish with the local community.
Montañita is well-known for its awesome surf conditions. With a right hand point break at one end and uncrowded beginner waves along the whole coast, it has surfs to suit all abilities. You can even show off your skills in front of an audience as they watch the sunset from Montañita beach.
On top of this, Montañita is a town filled with things to do. Montañita is the best location for surfing in Ecuador and holds many international competitions. Or if you would like to scuba dive, there are many providers in the town. The diving is also world class.
Then there is Agua Blanca, an extremely important and interesting archaeological site with an interesting history of the Pre-Colombian Era.
Food
Meals are not included. However, street culture thrives in the Montañita village and the two main roads are lined with outdoor cafes, cocktail vendors, and artisans. The food is delicious and cheap, whether you want to taste the arepas, choclos, and ceviche from the street vendors or sitting down at restaurants with the best chefs in Ecuador. There is a great selection of pancakes and tropical fruit for breakfast and fantastic fresh seafood for the rest of the day.
Things to do (optional)
Outside of Spanish classes and surfing, Montanita Spanish School offers cooking and Latin dance classes. Also, the students have the opportunity to enjoy daily yoga classes in the afternoon, which are easily booked upon arrival.
Besides the options mentioned above, Montanita Spanish School likes to provide a close community within the student body and so organize a variety of activities that change from week to week i.e. BBQs, weekend surf trips, jungle getaways, dinners, pool tournaments, beach soccer, dolphin tours, cocktail workshops, chocolate fondues, sushi nights, bonfires, cooking classes, karaoke nights, etc.
What's included
- 20 hours of intensive mini-group Spanish lessons per week
- 5 surf lessons (1.5 hours per day) per week
- 14 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Meals
- Airfare
- Airport transfers (100 USD pick up, 90 USD drop off)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
GYE
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
103 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 100 per person
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE). Montanita Spanish School provides airport transport at an extra cost of 100 USD for a pick up/drop off service from from Guayaquil airport to Montañita. The cost for roundtrip transfers (Guayaquil-Montañita-Guayaquil) is 190 USD (100 USD pick up, 90 USD drop off).
Arrival by private transfer
24 hours a day, Montanita Spanish School can offer a meet and greet, and transfer from airport direct to Montañita. Price is 100 USD from Guayaquil. If you would like this option, please send them your flight details. The school will make the initial booking for you. If you have any changes to your flight details or any other changes to your transport, please let them know.
Arrival by bus from Guayaquil to Montañita
Direct luxury bus:
Montanita Spanish School highly recommends this. Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador. Many planes and buses arrive here. Go to the bus ‘terminal’ (Pronounced as ter-me-NAL) close to the airport. There you will find buses direct to Montañita with the company "CLP" (Cooperativa de Transporte Libertad Peninsular)which have daily departures at (approximately!) 05:00, 06:00, 7:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 16:30. It takes about 2.5 hours. The price is about 5.50 USD. At the terminal, CLP is located at office number 83 (easy to find – they are in numerical order). Here you buy a ticket for Montañita. CLP will tell you where the bus is departing – but normally it’s on the second floor.
Local bus:
You can catch a bus to Santa Elena (several bus companies go here, so departures are about hourly.) The cost is about 3 USD. Then once in Santa Elena, you transfer to the local buses to Montañita (about 1.50 USD). It’s a very small bus station so this is very easy to do. The total time is normally about 4 hours depending on transfer time.
Arrival by bus from Quito
There are direct buses to Guayaquil, Jipijapa, Portoviejo, or Puerto Lopez. From each of these locations, you need to change bus and get a different bus to Montañita. Puerto Lopez (only 1.5 hours from Montañita) is normally the easiest to do this catch the overnight bus. Total time will be about 12 hours depending on transfer times. OR take a flight to Guayaquil (about 70 USD) then catch a bus from there (see above). The main domestic airlines are Aerogal, Aerolitoral, Taca, and Avianca.
Arrival by bus from Manta
Go to the bus terminal. From there catch the bus to Montañita. Some will go direct (about 3 hours) and some will have a stopover (about 4 hours). Unfortunately, just because a bus that says "directo," does not mean that it will not make stops.
What happens if I arrive late in Guayaquil (outside public transport hours)?
An inconvenient flight, delay, or any other circumstance can always happen. So for you, not to stand alone in a dark city, some options:
Option A
Montanita Spanish School recommends the below-mentioned budget hostel where you can stay for 12.90 USD per night with air-conditioning or 10.90 USD with a fan.
Dirección:
Vélez 1021 y Av Quito
Ubicación:
GUAYAQUIL, GUAYAS, Ecuador
Option B
As previously mentioned, you can always have a private transfer to Montanita This is 24 hours a day, and Montanita Spanish School can offer a meet and greet, and transfer from the airport directly to Montañita.
Option C
If arriving on the 1:00 a.m. flight, many students stay at the airport for 2 hours, then catch a taxi to the bus terminal, and take the bus from there (see above). If you arrive in Montanita during the weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the school is open. Please come directly here to the school so the team can help you. The school is made visible by a big yellow banner on the street. To reach the school, you'll have to walk up (high) stairs. If you don't want to walk up the stairs with your luggage you can go to your accommodation first and then come to the school. If you arrive outside these hours, please go to your accommodation.
Cabanas accommodation: If you are staying at the Cabañas, go there and ask for Ronny. To get there, walk north on the main road from the bus station, (i.e. towards the hill.) After about 150 meters, you'll cross the only bridge. Immediately on your right is a road with a big sign saying "Montañita Cabañas 50 meters." That's the school!
Ronny is the manager of the Cabañas and will let you know your room. Please contact him if you can't find your way there or you can't find him. Ronny only speaks Spanish, but one of the interns is usually around to help. And they speak English :) Please note that bookings are taken under the condition that you may be required to change rooms.
Homestay accommodation: If you are staying with a host family, the school will send you a homestay confirmation email about two weeks before you arrive. This email will have details about your family, their contact information, directions on how to get to their house, a photo of the family, and a map showing where their house is.
Please note there are no street addresses (or in fact a postal service) in Montañita – so you will have to follow the directions and/or use the map that the school sends you!
Airport: José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Airport transfer available:
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (US$ 100 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookSurfCamps.com. All major credit cards supported.
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