About the School
Yes, we are recognized by the Ministry of Education of Ecuador, and we also have the "Bildungsurlaub" recognition for German students.
In Quito since 2000 and in the province of Manabi (Manta) since 1996.
In the area of Academia Surpacifico in Manta there are many internet cafes where you can have high speed access. In our school in Quito we have a computer for the use of our students, so you can have 2 hours for free weekly, but there are also internet cafes within close proximity of the school.
10 minutes walking distance
Our busiest time is from January to March and from June to October. Our less busy months are November and December.
We receive a maximum 20 students at any on time.
Yes, you can store the things you will not use during your trip in a secure storage space at the school. The student’s apartment is located in the same building as the school.
Certain times of the year are busier than others. January, February, June, July, and August tend to be our busiest months. During these months, we usually have about 15-20 students. In the slower months, the number of students drops down to 5-10. Students come from all over the world to study at Surpacifico. The countries from which we tend to get the most participants are Germany, Holland, United States, Switzerland, England, and Canada.
20 % German students, 20% from USA, 10 % from Canada, 10% from Switzerland, 10% England, 30% other.
In our school in Quito every student has 2 hours per week of internet service. In Manta we cannot offer internet access for the students, but there are several cyber cafes in the area of the school, that charge one dollar per hour for internet use.
As you probably know Surpacifico School offers students the option of studying in Quito or Manta. The facility in Quito is located in a big house. The house is surrounded by flowers and gardens. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. The classrooms are large and very accommodating. The school is located in Quito's central area, and is near most of the principle attractions.
Manta's school is located on the third floor of a building only blocks from Murcielago Beach, the city's main beach, as well as the downtown area. The top floor is used as student residence, offered only to students studying at Surpacifico. The school (and apartment) has a big balcony that looks out to the heart of the city. There are classrooms for individual lessons, as well as group classes.
Both schools are located in very safe areas of their respective cities. If you choose to live with a family, you will be placed within walking distance of the school.
We will send you a confirmation letter for participation in Surpacifico within 48 hours of receiving your application.
About the Program
Yes, you can extend your classes once you get here if you like it.
We organize different cultural and sport activities (2 or 3 times during the week) such as:
In Quito: visits to museums, Native American markets, old city, etc.
In Manta: nearby beaches, Machalilla National Park, local markets, etc.
During the weekend we also organize activities for our students.
In our prices are included the dancing lessons (once per week) and the typical cooking lessons (every two weeks). In addition we organize (in both the Quito and Manta programs) different activities every week at cost. This means that the students only have to pay for the expenses of the activity (transportation, entrance fees, etc.). Activities in Quito include visits to museums, Native American markets, old city, historical sites, etc. In Manta, we have activities such as visits to nearby beaches, Machalilla National Park (Isla de la Plata), museums, "Bosque protector de Pacoche (Pacoche Forest Preservation)", Montecristi (where the famous "Panama hats" are made), etc.
We have 2 volunteer programs: one on an ecological farm and another in Manta with a neurological pediatric center. The minimum time to commit for both of these programs is one month.
The teachers at Surpacifico are all very experienced in working with students at all levels of Spanish. Each teacher has a minimum of 5 years experience teaching Spanish. All are university graduates, and most studied Spanish and literature. Our school is certified by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Ministerio de Educación y Cultura de Ecuador).
About Spanish and Surfing
Surfing lessons: 6 to 8 am / 8 to 10 am
Spanish lessons: 9 to 1 pm / 1.30 to 5.30 pm
Playa Murciélago is a recently developed beach located within a ten minute walk of Surpacifico. This beach, which stretches for approximately one mile, offers excellent surfing opportunities for all levels of surfers during the high season. During the off-season months the waves are adequate during the right times of day, and are especially good for beginners, even throughout the entire day. The boardwalk along Playa Murciélago offers a variety of restaurants and small shops.
Montañita is a small surfing village located within a three hour bus ride of Manta, and offers world class surf year round. Puerto Cayo, and Canoa are other surfing villages along the Ruta del Sol, that have superb year round surf. Montañita, Porto Cayo, Canoa, each have hostels, restaurants, and friendly residents, making them convenient for travelers. San Lorenzo, a small beach town that also has great year round surf, is located within a forty minute bus ride of Manta, perfect for a day-trip. Over recent years the North American and European populations of Montañita have grown significantly, while Porto Cayo, Canoa, and San Lorenzo, have primarily Latin American populations.
The Spanish and Surfing program has 4 hours of Individual Spanish lessons and 2 hours of Surf lessons in groups of 2-3 people each day, from Monday through Friday.
Of course, you can book only for 1 week of Surf lessons with the option to extend here.
The Spanish and Surf can start any Monday of the year.
Yes, there is also a Surfing school in Manta that is not affiliated with Surpacifico where you can take surf lessons.
About getting there
We recommend our students to fly into Quito. We have staff members in Quito that can assist you with your arrangements to Manta. Guayaquil is a little bit dangerous for those who are not familiar with the city, and we generally feel more comfortable having people arrive in Quito where we have staff to receive them. If you choose to fly into Guayaquil, you will be responsible for taking a taxi from the airport to the bus station.
We will pick you up from the airport (or bus terminal) and bring you to the host family without any extra charges.
We recommend you fly to Quito. We will pick you up from the airport in Quito and bring you to a hostel to spend your first night there (if you arrive late at night). If you arrive during the morning or afternoon and you want to come immediately to Manta, we can arrange your travel to Manta as you prefer, by plane ($ 53 USD, 30 minutes) or by bus ($ 9 USD, 9 hours). We will also pick you up from the airport or bus station in Manta and bring you to the students’ apartment.
No, you don't need a visa coming form the U.S. to visit Ecuador. You can travel to other countries from Ecuador with only your passport.
We suggest you try www.exitotravel.com , you can tell them that you are applying for a language course with Academia Surpacifico in Ecuador and they will give a very good price.
We can help you book a flight from Quito to Manta, and you can also purchase the ticket in Quito. You only need to tell us the date that you want to travel.
You have two options for coming from Quito to Manta:
By bus: (9 hours, $ 9 USD) we can pick you up from the bus station in Manta and bring you to the apartment. If you want to travel during the daylight hours we suggest to take a bus from "Flota Imbabura" Bus Company, they have a bus leaving every day from Quito to Manta at 11.30 am. The Flota Imbabura Bus Station in Quito is located at: Manuel Larrea and Portoviejo Streets. It is common in Ecuador to use night buses, which are very safe and comfortable. The Panamericana bus company has buses that leave at night for those who cannot arrive in Quito during the afternoon. Remember that our transportation service people in Quito will be able to help you make your connection by bus.
By plane: (30 minutes, $ 53) we can book a flight for you from Quito to Manta, and you can purchase the ticket the same day you fly at the airline counter in Quito. We can pick you up from the airport in Manta and bring you to the apartment without any additional charge.
No, the travel between Quito and Manta is not included in the price. You have the choice between taking a plane or bus from Quito to Manta. A plane costs $53 and takes about 30 minutes. A bus costs $9 and takes about 9 hours. The school helps the students with booking the flight or with information about the bus schedule.
LODGING
We offer 3 types of accommodations: Host family (includes private room, all meals and laundry service), Students’ apartment (fully furnished apartment, without meals or laundry), and Hostel (private room with private bathroom)
There are some weeks when the students' apartment is full. You need to tell us the approximate dates that you are interested in to check how busy it is.
Yes, in both cities Quito and Manta, the students’ apartment has a kitchen; the students can use it any time they wish. In Manta the student’s apartment has a terrace with a very nice view of the ¬city and the beach.
Yes, every student has his/her own room at the student apartment. In Quito the student’s apartment is 10 minutes walking distance from the school. In Manta the student’s apartment is in the 4th floor of the same building as the school.
Yes, the course is also available with accommodation at the students' apartment.
Yes, it does, in both cities Quito and Manta.
Yes, it is possible; we have host families located near each other. However, you need to send us your application forms as soon as possible to reserve those families.
Yes, we can accommodate both you and your children. We can place you in a homestay with a family that also has children. Although Surpacifico does not offer classes to children under 6, we do offer child care with families. While you are in class, your children can stay at the home and interact with the children in the family under the care of the host mother.
Our host families are located very close to the school in both locations Quito and Manta, between 10 and 25 minutes walking distance.
Yes, it is possible to take surfing lessons in Manta. You can live at the students’ apartment instead of a host family. You would have a private room with bathroom and all the facilities of the student’s apartment in both cities Quito and Manta. But, you would need to share with other students at the apartment. Normally, at the apartment there are between 3 or 4 students at the same time.
To take the students apartment option of lodging you would need to share it with other students. Normally, at the students apartment there are between 3 or 4 students, but every one has a private room. Your sister's husband can stay at the student apartment without taking classes, no problem.
We have a group of host families prepared and qualified to receive our students immediately. We only need to receive your preferences for the host family (big or small, with or without children, smoking or not smoking, etc) then we will assign the host family that adjusts best to your needs. You can start your Spanish program as soon as you want.
You can be accommodated with a host family. We have host families who can provide vegetarian diets to our students.
The school and host families are located within 10 minutes walking distance from the surfing site.
Yes, all the meals are included with the host family
We have in Quito a fully furnished apartment for some of our Spanish students. You would have a private room. The apartment has a kitchen, a living room, a dining room and it is very close to the school (10 minutes walking distance). You would need to share all the facilities of the apartment with 2 or 3 other students. As this is a popular option of lodging you need to book as soon as you can in order to assure yourself a space.
We still have spaces for the "Spanish and Surfing" program for July, but you need to apply as soon as possible, because this is a very popular program for that month. You and your friend can stay with the same host family. The home stay includes all meals and laundry service.
The host family option includes the laundry service.
We recommend you stay at the students’ apartment. There you will have the option to have your own space and to spend your time with other students. At the students’ apartment you will have your own room and will share other facilities such as the kitchen, the living room, the dinning room and the terrace.
You can share a double bed and yes, it is possible to do the Spanish and Surf program for four weeks.
Yes, it is possible.
We will assign a host family for you according to your preferences: very friendly family, near to the school, with a girl about your age. Normally there is only one student in every host family; you will be the only foreign student at the family.
Yes, it is possible. We can arrange a host family for you and your daughter with a daughter the same age as yours (6-7 years old). Your daughter can come to the school with you and take Spanish lessons with a teacher or she can go to the same school as the children of the Ecuadorian family.
For lodging you can decide between host family and the student apartment option. In your case we think the host family option is better.
In both cities Quito and Manta, the host families are located very close to the school, between 10 - 15 minutes walking distance. And the area where the schools and families are located is a very safe part of the respective cities.
About volunteering
We take between 3 to 5 students/volunteers at a time.
We need to receive application forms for this program at least 2 weeks before the starting date.
Yes, you can decide to do volunteer work in Manta once you get here. We will help you find it without any extra cost.
You don't need to pay anything to participate in Reneup program. You only need to pay for your accommodation and and your Spanish Lessons (if you are interested to take Spanish lessons at our language school).