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Experience Talks: “By the end of the language school, even those who had no previous knowledge of Spanish were able to communicate well with the local people they met and worked closely with them during the project and expedition phases.” Lydia Stevens, 2005 This is your introduction to a new continent, a new culture and a new language. The two week language course in Quito, plus a further one week refresher course in Cusco, will improve your Spanish language Skills immeasurably. It’s not all about the language and you’ll saviour the flavours of the local cuisine with an introduction to Ecuadorian and Peruvian cooking, there are salsa dance lessons to keep you moving, you’ll discover the secrets of ancient and modern Inca culture and the local literature and cinema will make Che Guevarra’s “Motorcycle Diaries” spring to life. Quito Language School: Ecuador (Weeks 1 and 2) Our Base Camp in Quito is the homely "Selva Alegre" hostel which has comfortable bedrooms, individual study areas and a roof-top terrace. The Spanish sessions are informal and focus primarily on developing conversational Spanish, don't worry it's not like school, the emphasis is on having fun and getting a feel for the language, rather than achieving top marks! It doesn't matter whether you're already fluent or have never uttered an "Hola!" in your life; each Venturer has his or her own tutor, allowing everyone to progress at their own pace. The afternoons are free to discover Quito; wander through the bustling streets of the colonial centre (a Unesco World Heritage site), practice your new Spanish skills in the city's open market, cafes and shops. Be sure to visit the 500-year old Plaza and Monastery of San Francisco, and wander through the Old Town to explore Quito's churches, monasteries, cathedrals, museums and plazas. The weekends offer a chance to get out of the city. We visit Otavalo's world-famous weekend market where you can buy everything from knitwear to a Llama! And our expedition skills training gets underway with a chance to climb Cotopaxi, the world's highest active volcano, for those who want to, whilst saner Venturers can opt to mountain bike down the volcano! The Amigos Language School: Cusco, Peru (Week 11) This Spanish refresher course in the 11th week of the Venture is a great opportunity to "top-up" your language skills. Whether your grammar's gone rusty or you're frustrated by vocab', this week of tuition will build on your existing skills and set you up for the next level. The Amigos School is a not-for-profit organisation established to teach Spanish to visitors and teach English to local street children. The fees we pay to the school subsidise the local children's English lessons. In the mornings we split into small groups each with its own language teacher. By now everyone will be able to "get by" in Spanish, so the emphasis is on extending vocab' and improving conversational level. The afternoons are free to join Amigos street children project. This gives you a great chance to try out your Spanish, whilst helping the kids to learn English, a crucial skill that will help their employment opportunities in the future. There is also plenty of time to visit Cusco's museums and galleries, marvel at the town's remarkable Inca stonework and check out its many cafés, shops and parks. In the evenings it's time to hit the salsa clubs and bars: You'll be amazed how much Spanish you can remember when you need to order a beer! We make a trip to the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas where the lofty fortresses at Pisac and Ollantaytambo guard its flanks . The Inca ceremonial site Sacsayhuaman (pronounced "sexy-woman") with its perfect walls made from 130 tonne stone blocks is a "must-see". As is the amphitheatre Qenqo with its hollowed-out stone altar and zigzag channels to drain away the sacrificial blood! Nice! Accommodation in Cusco is with Spanish-speaking local families, you can choose whether to stay on your own, or with a couple of other Venturers; either way your new family will be eager for you to practice your Spanish on them! Living with a family is also the perfect way to discover more about modern Inca culture.
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Inca Venture Phase 1: 
Inca
Amazon Venture starts in Quito, Ecuador's capital high in the Andes. The
city's pleasant climate, stunning setting amid snow-capped volcanoes,
spectacular colonial centre and bustling bars, cafes and clubs make this
the perfect location for easing yourself into the rhythms of Latin life.